New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1867-06-12
THE CONVENTION,


now in session at Mechanics Institute is a
body whose acts cannot fail to interest
every thinking mind in the community. 1t
may be called the first State convention OF
the Republican party in Louisiana; for at
the time of holding that of 1865 at Economy
Hall there was no organization of the party
extending throughout the State. To this
body, therefore, we may look for formal
declaration of principles, the platform on
which the party is to stand during the
coming contest. What that platform will
be there can be little doubt, for there is no
division in sentiment among the Repub-
! licans of louisiana
We acknowledge but one banner, and on
it are inscribed those well-known Republi-
can principles in whose TRUTHS our strength:
The government Of the people, by the
people, and for the people" Equality be-
fore the law practically carried out
Universal suffrage-the only guarantee
pledge of universal JUSTICE" "The State is
bound 10 educate its citizens" Besides
| these general maxims there are local wants
which cannot be ignored, viz the revision
of the State laws, so that they may be in
harmony with those of the United States !;
declaration of the views of the party on
local matters, such as the rebuilding of the
levees by national aid, the abolition of the
cotton tax, and the protection of the sugar
interest. Now is the time to take our stand
on all these important points and the radi-
cal Republicans who have been chosen to
represent the party interests are just the
men, in our opinion, to do SO boldly and
firmly,
1t is an encouraging sign that the econ
sentative" papers have recently ceased
their beasts of the influence which might
be expected from members Of their party
over the newly enfranchised citizens.
They are beginning to learn the futility of
such hopes, which could have sprung only
from the same spirit of selfdelusion which
counted on European support during the
late war. Failing in the design of drawing
strength from that quarter, the ''conserva-
tive reconstruction Democratic partyn
have taken new tack, and attempt
now to represent the Republican party as
composed almost exclusively of blacks.
They hope thus to rouse spirit Of race,
and to do the very thing of which they ac-
cuse us, nemely, to divide the State into
black and white party. In this also they
will fail. OF the twenty-five thousand vot-
ers now registered in this city we have no
hesitation in saying that at least twenty
thousand are radical Republicans, and, un-
less the convention now in session makes
some fatal blunder, (of which there is no
danger, that number will be greatly in
creased before the election.
As we said the other day, we shall be
glad of such accessions, and have no fear OF
being demoralized by weakened recruits
Where there is so much enthusiasm in the
rank and file falterers will be carried
along in spite of themselves, and though
lukewarm converts do not strengthen the
cause they join their loss weakens the
enemy. However, we have no fear OF
being troubled with such. No weak
man would leave the other side to join us
now. 1t requires, on the contrary, great
moral courage Ia G man of any standing to
make such change at such time. We
repeat, therefore, that we welcome ac-
| cessions.
We also welcome opposition, and trust
that the papers that have charge of the in
terests of THE ]" conservative, national re-
construction Democratic party will exert
themselves to their utmost to promote those
- 80.