The Donaldsonville chief., 1916-03-25
A SPURIOUS ISSUE CONDEMNED

That the attempt of a coterie OF
/ politicians and partisan newspapers
to inject negro issue into the pend
| ing Louisiana campaign is trick OF
the trade pure and simple--a ruse
to influence the ignorant and thought
less vote by the imaginary fear OF a
revival and return of conditions be-
longing to dead and buried past I'M
possible of reseurrection-is such an
apparent proposition it seems almost
a waste of time to discuss it.
Two of the most consistent and in
fiuential Democratic newspapers IN
north Louisiana, the Shreveport Jour-
nal and Ruston Leader, have con-
demned the raising Of this fictitious
issue in particularly plain and force
full terms.
The Journal said: "With every de-
sire to serve, to the extent OF its
ability, the interests Of the state De-
mocracy and it's nominees, the jour
nal cannot subscribe to the senseless
fear of some of its Democratic con-
temporaries, who see in the possible
election of Mr.. John NJ. Parker the
threat Of return Of the Negro to
politics. Whether the apprehension
of negro domination voiced by the
Democratic journals referred to is
real or simulated, we have no means
of knowing. But we do know that it
is groundless and foolish. The negro
is out of politics in Louisiana and is
going to be kept out, whether Mr..
Parker. or Colonel Pleasant is elected
governor. The constitutional limlta-
tions that bar the black man will not
be abridged or abrogated in this age
and generation, If, indeed, they ever
will. The Democracy has higher
claims to the continued confidence of
the people Of Louisiana than the spu-
rious one that it alone can save the
state from the return of the negro"
No less clear and emphatic is the
condemnation expressed by our Rus
ton contemporary:
cit should be matter of regret
that the negro question has been in
jected into our state campaign. It
can accomplish no good, while its agi-
tation always reyives unpleasant
memories and rekindles animosities
that should have been relegated to
oblivion long ago. The negro has
been eliminated from the political af-
fairs of this state and the issue should
remain buried forever. Such is the
desire of the best element of the race,
because they know that it is for the
best interest Of their people to remain
at peace with the white people among
,ryb,y,o III axy lrvvr r,,d who k,apa tha "
herent right to rule the country.
While there may be a few demagogues
who, for personal motives, may wish
to revive this dead issue, they are few
and far between. There is not an in
telligent, patriotic citizen Of Louisiana
who has any such desire, no matter
what may be political views in
other respects. They all realize what
a ba1eful effect it would have on the
social, political and material welfare
of our beloved state, which is in such
a progressive and prosperous condi--
tione under the present regime. For
the sake of peace, the good of society,
the prosperity Of the state, let the
negro alone in his contentment, ex-
cept to encourage him and assist him
in working cat his destiny, as an i'm
portant factor in the Industrial ac-
tivities of the country
AS the New Orleans Times-Picayune
pertinently says: This is good,
sound common sense and should be
echoed and taught everywhere in
Louisiana. With the peace, quiet and
order that now prevails in this state,
the politician who seeks to stir up
this old and dead issue, to disturb the
peace and prosperity of the state, is,
as the Leader properly designates
him, "a demagogue who is trying to
revive a dead issue to his own adj
gantage;;' in other words, he is try
ng to get job for himself and does
not care how much it may cost Louis
ana and its people or how much
,rouble it may stir up. The movement
deserves to fail and we are glad to
see that it is falling"