Year: 1873

| Among Others who have said their say con-
cerning the new popular movement In LOulsl-
ana, Senator West, of that State, gives his
opinions. The plan for new organization
according to the declaration set forth by the
| Beauregard Committee coHtemplates the uni
| fcation of the people of Louisiana " OF what
"ever race, color or religion" Heretofore, the
trouble with Louisiana politics has been that
party lines were drawn with apparent refer
ence to arraying the cOlOred citizens In one
distinct organization. 1t is hardly necessary to
make any argument to exhibit the danger to
society of such an arbitrary and unnatural
division. Senator West accepts the pre-
amble adopted by the Peoples Com
mittee; he admits that the salvation OF
the State from debt, disorder and disgrace, and
its restoration to material prosperity, depend
on the adoption by its citizens Of the prnci-
pie of equal rights and justice to all, regard
| less of race or color. But he opposes the new
movement because it proposes the creation OF
| q new party; he thinks the needed reforms
may be secured by the union of all who pro-
! fess Republican principles; and that they will
be jeoparded by "distraction among those who
entertain them" These views are worthy of





/ form the staple argument of men
who are naturally alarmed at any pros
! pect Of the detection of portion OF
| the dominant party in Louisiana. Senator
| West has not succeeded in establishing
! in the State which he represents such an in
fuential position that his views in an emer-
gency like the present are of striking value ;
but his argument is older than his party.
Here's where you get your moneys worth"
is the proud boast Of every faction when men
ask how any element Of voting strength can
best be utilized. Senator West Is suspicious
of ANYTHING which involves the creation of n
new party. 1t is also reported from Washing
ton that this movement in NewOrcans is
looked upon as merely trap to draw the
negroes into party antagonlstic to KellOgg's
State administration. This is the cry of
Demetrius the silversmth, who objected to
certain new doctrines preached in Ephesus
because he saw that his craft was in danger,


Believing that the Reform party in Louisi-
ana proposes organization on the only safe and
logical basis consistent with the general well
fare, We wish that it may greatly succeed.
We do not believe that it will "entrap the
negroes" for any purpose whatever; and it
would be real misfortune to the negroes and
to the State if the cOlOred voters should so
generally join in the new movement as to
make it distinctively one Of race and color.
The hope of the South is in such thorough
informing of the colOred people that they
shall divide on questions of public discussion
as naturally and freely as do other men. The
day of peace and OF delverance from po-
ltical darkness is postponed as long as
it is possible for political managers to
handle the vote of any race, nationality
or colored element. Worse than this,
SO long as such management is possible OF
any non-pOlitical body of men, North or South
faction fights race hatreds and party decep-
tions will be rife and explosive materials will
be steadily accumulated. For this reason, il
for no other, all good men hail with satisfac-
tiOn every step in educational progress made
by the cOlOred people Of the South. Intelli-
gence is everywhere needed among those who
have the right of suffrage; it is specially
necessary now to the vast number of newly
enfranchised who are peculiarly susceptible to
specious appeals to their ignorant prejudlces
| There can be no harmony in the South worth
the having, and no just disposition of parties



irrespective of race and color as of any other
accidental circumstance. But these artificial
distinctions will continue as long as there is
| no general diffusion of the intelligence that
makes people free.


Perhaps the time has not come for the for
nation of any such party as that proposed by
the Peoples Committee in Eew-0rleans
Senator West and his coadjutors in the Re-
publican party undoubtedly hope that the
movement is premature If the colored voters
Of Louisiana are not yet capable of Judging
| for themselves, the times are not ripe for the
creation of an organization which shall abso-
lutelY ignore all distinctions Of race or color,
and be pledged to economy and reform in the
State government. None Of these objects can
possibly be secured by continuance of the
party in power. What has the Kellogg OF Re-
publican party in Louisiana done for the ne
gro, for the citizen, or the State that it should
be reinforced by union of various elements 7
Rather, what has it not done TO destroy
the peace and prosperity Of the State 7 The
wasting of revenue, tho violation of justice,
and the precipitation Of armed conflicts upon
the soil OF Louisiana form part Of the fruit