Year: 1874

one voice, acclaimed the justice OF the
Union soldiers fight. and approved OF the
principles for which it was made. Indeed,
there are but few men now living IN our
land, fresh as it is from the field Of carnage,
but rejoice that the Union was preserved
and the great cause Of its threatened in
tegrity remove6-extirpated forever. 1t
was not the people OF the South that war
was made upon, but it was upon a sys-
TEN, for which our fathers all over
tho land, from New England to the West,
from North to the South were responsible,
but which the morality of the age demand
ed should be removed, and who will say
to day that notwithstanding all the sacri-
tees that have been made on both sides,
they are not glad the contest has ended in
the emancipation of the slave, his entire
entranchisement and elevation to the high
est rights and privileges of citizenship.
There are those who would curtail citizen
ship and enfranchisement but they are few
in number. He who understands the
genius OF republican government, and
weighs in the scales of justice the rights
of man against the prejudice of race
or caste, will not long be so ignorant
of the laws of nature as to demand
a limitation upon his brothers rights
while claiming unlimited freedom for
himself. You caIt not inflict an injury,
an injustice upon your brother, without
making as deep a moral wound upon your
self. The blood may follow the knife of the
assassin, but the hand that struck the blow
feels the grasp loosen under the pangs of a
conscience dying within him: and the ex-
ercise of the power to Oppress and iDjure
our fellow man in his civil rights-in his
political liberty-begets an immortality
which makes it easy for some tyrant to rise
up, and, under cover of some immediate
oil
power in his own hands and inevitably
Overturn the liberty of the country. Let
us hope that the long exercise of our po-
litical rights aud the success of our insti-
tutions has put it beyond the power Of any
man or set of men to perpetuate dynasty
or hold long in subsection the rights of the
people.


The last remaining cause of irritation
growing out of the changes produced by
the war relates to the civil rights of our
colored fellow-citizens. Colored soldiers
Two battalions of colored soldiers, side by
side with white regiment of Louisiana
troops, fought here fifty nine years ago
under General Jackson. 1t is proper that
a word should be said in their behalf, and
in behalf of their race, when we meet to
recognize their services by strewing their
graves with flowers, and raise monument
to commemorate their deeds. There is no
question SO much discussed in the little
home of the poor freedman as his civil
righte. 1t takes precedence over every
other subject. To his limited understand
ing the restrictions imposed upon his
civil rights appear to be the source OF all
his misfortunes. The very rags he wears,
and his scanty meal, look to him as
the result of his social prescription,
and he longs for the realization of his
dream. in which he fondly sees his family
and himself elevated; his children edu
Gated, and prosperity, ease and comfort
everywhere assured He looks and longs
for the time when he can go anywhere his
fellow citizens can 60, and enjoy all the
privileges and cOurtesles extended to them
He sees in his refusal, humiliation; an
evidence Of contempt, which, poor and ig-
norant as he may be, wounds his pride
hurts his feelings, and excites him to acts
of retaliation.


Our white fellow citizens stubbornly re-
fuse to cOncede to the cOlored citizens their
civil rights, to the extent of admitting them
into theatres, churches, railroad cars,
hotels, etc.


Some of them assume that pride of race
and separate association Of black and white
is nece ssary to the peace, happiness and
prosperity Of both; that the association of
the two races begets mixture OF them,
which Injuries both and improves neither;
that the pure black man is stronger, more
healthy in body, mind and morals than the
man of mixed blood. Others, ignoring all
discussion as to the laws relating to mixed
races, assert with energy the proposition
that no law should require social recognl-
ton of one class by another, and that what
are called public rights are social privileges;
that white society is quite bad enough
without introducing to its civilities, and en-
couraging by its courtesies, the race OF peo-
pie until recently slaves, who are, by the con-
ditiOns of servlrude, necessarily wanting in
those attainments, and that cultivation
which fits man or a class of men tor social
intercourse with another. Then there is a
still larger class of white people who utterly
refuse to admit that they are moved by any
feeling of prejudice. That as keepers OF
hotels, theatres, managers OF raslrOads and
steamboats,, keepers OF bars and beer
houses, ETC., they would willingly entertain
any respectable, intelligent. well dressed,
colored man, but for the fact that if they
open them to one they open them TO all;
that there would be general rush OF all
classes whose presence would drive away
their customers, ruin their business and re-
duce them and their families to beggary;
that for these reasons they are obliged to
refuse entertainment to any co!ored men.
There are as many and as various reasons
for keeping up social distinctions as there
the same end. They all exclude the col
ored man, while they admit the white man.


Thus we are in the midst of social agita-
ton which is constantly source OF contu-
sion, producing conflicts, law suits, humilia-
tions, sufferings and heartburns, affecting G
the peace and good order of society, the
character, capacity and integrity Of our
officials, and bringing to our doors lncalcui-
able in Jury and confusion.


True craftsmanship is required to solve
the problem, bring order out of this conflict
of opinion, reconcile the different classes Of
people, remove this prejudice, these hu-
miliations, these heartburnings, start to a
healthy growth the plants Of confidence.
good feeling and good will in the hearts OF
all classes, and make it possible for the
people to unite without regard to color or
race in political organizations, having
other objects in view than the offices OF the
government and the money and power per-
tanning to them.


SO long as the question is unsettled, so
long will the agitation continue. So long
as the agitation continues so lcng will the
colored people stand in solid phalanx with
the few white people who have the courage
to brook popular opinion and popular pre-
judice on one side, and on the other the
white masses If the question could
be presented free from all external
or side issues-lndependent of all party
or personal interests, it would still be
difficult of adjustment, but far easier
and more speedy. But political parties have
taken sides, organizations both struggling
for the control of the State and nation.
choosing one or the other view as a political
war cry, complicates the settlement and
en- harrasses the country.


Then how are we to adjust this difficulty!
How are we to secure the rights Of one
class, and not do it at the expense of the
rights and convictions of others Mutual
forbearance and respect for the opinions OF
each other is necessary. A righteous cause
NAV be lost by the manner in which it is
You may do right thing in