Year: 1874

This gentleman is on visit to ShreHe-
port, whore he lived prior to his election to
his present high position, and from which
State Senate, and served with honor to
himself and the race he represents. Like
Lieutenant Governor Dnnn, he is of pure
African descent and is equally distinguish
ed with that great representative of the
negro race for good sense and integrity.


The presence of Lieutenant Governor An
tome in Shreveport has been welcomed by
public meeting held in the city hall last
Wednesday night. 1t was largely attended
by white people, and embraced great num-
Der of the most prominent citizens of that
place. The Southeastern Telegram Of the
seventh instant, contains an account Of the
meetings and gives synopsis of the speech
made by the Lieutenant Governor, from
which we extract the following:


Governor Antoine thanked the audience
for the honor rendered him in calling upon
him to address them. After relating some
incidents connected with the early days Of
reconstruction, and the efforts himself and
other colored men had made, when they





standing with the white voters, and the
difficulties they had to encounter, he con-
graduated them upon the progress they
had made up to-day. He believed the two
races were getting along more harmonious
" in CaddO than in any other parish in the
State. He saw in the audience tonight
great many representatives of the white
race; and they were staunch and reliable
citizens too. This he considered should be
q nf rofi6oofinU all
the day had come when the white man
would throw aside his prejudices and come
to their meetings and listen to what they
had to say. 1t would have been much
better and saved much trouble if they had
done 90 years ago. In speaking Of eOcial
equality, he said that the colored
man didn't want it. That was ques-
to regulate himself. What the colored
man wanted was the justice and equality
he was entitled to under the laws OF the
country. He noticed there was more lib
erality toward the cOl0red man, and less
distinction made on account Of his color,
in Shreveport, than there was in the city Of
New Orleans. One of the great difficult
ties had always been that the white man
visited the colored mans house too much:
He then spoke Of the active part he had
taken in fighting Warmoth, in connection
with his Democratic friends of Wilder
ness" tame, and was greatly surprised to
see these self same Democrats, during the
last campaign hand-inhand with War
moth, whom they had pronounced every
thing but an honest man. He then spoke
of the new issues that we're coming up
prominent among them cheap transporta-
tion-and the effect they would have
upon the political parties. He thought
the day would come when colOred men
would be found to q great extent on op-
posite sides in politics, but that would be
some time, in the future, as the colOred
man knew the Republican was his party
of the two great parties Of to-day. He said
that great many were ready to come into
the Republican ranks, but they claimed
that the colored men wanted all the offices
and would give them no chance. This was
a mistake, as the colOred man, as general
thing, was not over.ambitious. He was Ger
tain they would not want the nomination
for Congress in this district, as every body
that had anything to do with it before had
died, except George L. Smith and Aleck
Boarman-they were the only living Con-
gressmen up to date.


The meeting was presided over by Sen
ator Harper, and Mr. B. c. White, of the
Southeastern Telegram, acted as secretary.
Lieutenant Governor Antoine was followed
by number of speakers, the most promi-
nent among whom were Mr.. c. L. Fergu-
son, Senator Harper, C. w. Keating and
James Hefner. A vote Of thanks was ten
dered the Lieutenant Governor for the
manner in which he had discharged the
duties of Sepator and Lieutenant Governor.
Arrangements had been made to give him
a formal welcome, but as the boat did not





arrive until after midnight, his friends were
deprived OF this pleasure.