The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1901-11-17
4 BIT OF SOUTHERN HISTORY.
TIE LOUISIANA ATTEMPT TO
ABOLISH THE COLOR LINE.
the Indication Movement OF SIS Designed
10 Give (1vl and Practically Social
Equality TO the NcsrO-Prominent
white Wen In Nt-Causes Of Its Failure.

10 Give Civil and Practically social
Equality TO the Negro Prominent
white Men In N-Causes OF Its Failure
NV ORLEANS, Nov. Io.-The publication
4, THE Sun Of Nov. 8 OF a communication
from Simeon Belden, ex-Attorney-Genera
n Louisiana. giving resolutions said to have
been adopted by a Democratic mass meeting
4, New Orleans on July is. 1873, calls attention
20 the most critical period probably in
the history of Louisiana and Of the South
At that time n very vigorous and deter
mined movement was started to accept the
equality cure and practically social equality
OF the negro.
The movement was supported by some
NJ the most prominent men in Louisiana,
and. for a time, promised success. The
scccptance OF the resolutions and policy
laid down 10y the Unifcation party, as IL
was called. would nave revolutionized
the South, and changed its history.
me proiect failed and the whole tendency
NJ the Southern people was turned in ex-
sctly the opposite direction. The unihoa-
tion or equality movement OF 1873 was
followed and defeatcd by the White League
movement OF 1874.
Sothinr has been written Of the unifca-
zion movement, and IL was almos: COM
nletely forgotten when Mr.. Belden resur-
scted Il in The SUN. The truth Is that
n majority Of the men who o part in
4 became stalwart White Leagucrs soon
nfterward and are to-day advocates Of
The more extreme measures to keep the
races apart. Hence. they have discount
tenanced all efforts TO recall this move
ment and are unwilling TO have their names
identified with IT,.
In his communication 20 THE SUN. Mr..
- IL a-n a1f.he arrnr The
resolutions he gives were not those OF
the mass meeting of July Is, but were tho
platform of a principles adopted by the
tnifcation party upon which II proposed
20 20 before the voters. They were adopted
by a committee of 100 prominent citizens
who proposed 10 organize the party on
these new lines, and We're published a
week or more in advance Of the meeting,
and signed 10y more than 900 voters.
Nor was IL a Democratic mass meeting as
Mr.. Belden says. One-third of the signers
10 the call, and one-fourth Of the persons
present at the meeting were negroes and
had always voted the Republican ticket
and there were some Republicans among
the whites,
The mass meeting was for the purpose
Of organizing a new or unification party
which throwing aside all differences that
had previously existed and all old party
fealty, would unite the whites and negroes
IA a ~distinctively native Southern party,
which would throw of the supremacy of
the carpet Dagger and work together for
the redemption of the South.
In order to accomplish this end. II was
proposed to grant the negro everything
he asked for in the way Of his civil rights.
that il complete equality, and practically
which is called social equality to-day in the
Southern States.
In this movement, the leading colored
men Joined heartily. In New Orleans the
free colored population had always en-
loved a greater freedom, even in the days
Of slavery than was possessed by negroes
IN other parts OF the South. They had
constituted a considerable proportion OF
the Fire Department and police force. and
the battalion OF FREE men OF color was
recognized as an important element In
the local militia.
This battalion did good service at tho
battle of New Orleans, and when the Civil
War came on the free men OF color were
among the first 10 offer their services TO the
Confederate Government. Hence there had
grown up in New Orleans a colored aris-
tocracy, men of wealth and education,
many Of whom had been ducated in Paris.
70 whom social recognition was a matter
Of far more importance than the ballot.
II was these men who were the political
leaders OF the negroes and IL was 10 them
that the offer of racial equality was made.
il was accepted and the list OF signers 10
the call for the unification meeting con-
tans the names OF bananhe laleheuVe,
afterward a embe of the Returning
Board which made Hayes President. james
Lewis, Administr ator Of improvements
and United States naval officer at the port
Uf New Orleans; &. 4. Antoine, Lieutenant
Governor, DIR. l.. c. kondanez, the moot
prominent GSolored physician IN New Or
oolored minister J. Henri Busch, afterwaId
United States Minister, Senators i /.
Allan and j. II Glanden, Aristide Marie,
one Of the wealthiost aud most attic
at the %cOloret property holders OF New
Ofieans, and & hlll"uN, famous AZ al IN
yeutor 81 sugar machinery.
While the negroes might naturally be
expected 90 enter tho movement, the whites
dId 80 only IN dire extremity. A. the tim"
a.. white people q louisiana were engaged
lu thrr desperate struggle With ia" regiH"
q the cafp"thaEg"rs. The stat" oi ahalfs
lai almost reached anarchy aud many
lvrs v-r. being lurt in conflicts between
aur.-i baudr of thr OPPOSING paru-r ia"
stale AID ArW Orleans gtY dsbtE had bssH
i-l up Goo nearly ~tlyJ.Us.OO and VA" ta1
f.ir ra.-tu o. o aud d per cent
ll tnr tuNtluou 81 anarchy and fuln
Z. aUItD- agtufI g. accept ths fun equality
e.. flr ut4T.t- and the latter were asA"i
1 .IIn hauas u duNlrg uut thr "aIJsi
larruIr HUt p4ltaug thr POLITICAL anaiir
e. 'HH Hfa., aIf pty n tl" haudr Il il'
ia..rs uI.f. HIu hla'k
sHr fH u%aftltaI establishment - "a
~ ruUt IUfsIy -rTIuUa al, Co To- con.
H#I .f a. fr Ir.par 81 thr south without
I....I f. ....T. NIH nrI, Go ruft together
... 'f f.s..tTa U Hf thr n..Itr a Nlaf
a.m atl l~.ufIHts" hai tH move
t HlHs.Irl On could have UIrfnI
o. ..'.F nHH r a..Iu miH Ausl
,ru.t i-siU auaus us D.m
l%aHrrf ani tfuI-rfp
H.. F.. IaHf rfHI.f ~