The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1848-10-16

We have before expressed our qualification at the
moderation with which, up to within short period
the present political campaign has been conducted
The forbearance which characterized the proceed
ings Of each party was creditable to both. We
had hoped never to see this spirit of Cancellation
and good feeling laid aside; for however sincere
any one may be in his own opinions, he must be
aware that if he would preserve his own rights in
tact, it is necessary TO concede to others as full an
exercise of their privileges as American citizens as
he claims for himself To deny opponents full lib
erty of thought, speech and action so far as is con
sistent with the laws and the preservation of pub
lie order, would only, and could fairly, be made
pretext for resistance and aggression their part
The spirit of our institutions demands, and the
safety of the Republic requires, that the voice of
reason alone should control our popular elections
and he who would influence them in any other
manner is guilty of treason if not to the letter of
the Constitution, at least to those republican prin-
cipes Of which we boast so much. true repub-
ican government depends for its very existence en-
tirely upon moral force It is this which gives it
its peculiar character, and chiefly distinguishes it
from monarchies and missionaries, where the mi
nority rules by the power Of the bayonet and the
cannon. As long as we preserve this distinction
we may boast Of our superiority over other nations
but when that difference no longer exists and brute
force trumphs over argument and reason, we must
cease TO exalt ourselves over other countries and
acknowledge that our Democracy is a real tyranny
though with gilded name, a mere sham, and a
cloak to cover the same vices which exist else
where. Demonstrations Of violence can be of no
use among us, unless they be made with the DELHI
crate intention of overawng the will of the major
ity, to whom force would be superluous 1t is
therefore only the minority whom such proceedings
can at all benefit, and we are sure that no Ameri-
can would openly avow a wish to see the rule of a
minority established in our country by trampIing
upon the rights of the greater number.
As we have before expressed pleasure that the
political canvass in city had been free from ac-
rimony and personal bitterness, we must now
evnc regret that such has not continued to be the
case. We are sorry TO say that ill-eeling has been
produced among us, which if not checked, maygead
to the most unpleasant results. In this state of af
fairs it is the duty of the leading men on each side
not only to be moderate in their own conduct, but
to discOuntenance in the most emphatic manner
any display of personal violence, and to use every
effort TO allay whatever undue excitement may be
apparent among their respective partisans. We do
not object to any degree Of enthusiasm, so long
Is limited by each party to its own cause and its own
candidate; meetings and music, professions and
banners torches and transparencies, are all harm
less and may be necessary 10 draw out the voter,
out blows and clustering, fights, ill-teellng and
force are not necessary to give expression to the
popular VIII, nor to preserve the purity Of the ballot
box. There have been Of late some occurrences in
our city which must greve every real lover of his
country and her institutions. We are pained that
they have taken place but they cannot now be
remeded, and we can only hope that the good
sense Of ouF citizens and their appreciation Of what
is due to themselves and to others will prevent such
exhibitions IL future