New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1868-02-23

turn to her altars, the fountairs of Ienrnino
Will pc opel, to which all classes can come
and drink freely without money and with.
out out price, society Will be reorganized upon
tne basis that loyalty and Industry are
respectable; free speech and nee press
VIII De among the great blessings Of the new
regime; oppression will cease to be the rslie
and freedom the exec eptiOn; cur citizens viii
Ieel their new responsibilities and assert
tneir true claim to all that is high and great
ana noble In their natures. URder this
work OF regeneration capital and immigra.
tion VIII how into our state, unequaled in
tne past; enterprise and industry will de-
Velop our immense resources, and give us
an enlightened system of agricultural; our
commerce will be expanded, our 1evees win
oe rebuilt, and Louisiana will start forward
~ sne race OF Improvement with an energy
ana rapldity that will soon place her In the
front rauk Of the most prosperous states of
tne Union, when the blessings Of peace and
people. - -
The candidates chosen by our nominating
conyention are known to you all. They
hee9 no introduction or encomiums at my
hanus. Their high character and
eminent services to our cause in the past
are sntheient guarantees of their future
conduct. The wisdom and Justice Of the
convention are shown by the regard for the
merits and claims of both races which com
pose our party. They have selected men
born upon free soil, never polluted bv the
foul touch of the slave owner, men whose
hrst inhalation was the air of freedom, edu-
Gated in the school of liberty. and who
present themselves for your snffrages de.
void of that bitter hatred and mean
prejudice fostered and incuicated
under the institution of slayery
Others are chosen who are identified with
race held in bondage for two centuries--a
race which has passed through Red sea of
oppression, and Just escaped the tyrantis
grasp. These are among the noblest of
their race. Their honesty and integrity are
above reproach; their attainments and ca
paoil1ties are Of the highest order. All are
eminently deserving the unqualified in
dorsement and support of our party.
we are told that our party is divided. i
don't believe it. It's fabrication concoct-
ed In the enemy's camp to dishearten us.
It's news, such as we received during the
war oyer the q grapevine telegraph" There
was always rebelin it somewhere. In the
contest upon which we are about to engage
we are confronted by the same foe we
met four years ago upon the battlefield.
We go forth to meet him in this war of ideas
bearing the same banner of liberty under
which God gave us many glorious victories
in the war Of blood and carnage. Is there
a man in our midst who stood by that ban
ner then who will not stand by US now2 Is
there man within the sound of my voice
that held dear to his heart the principles
for which the Union armies went out to meet
the enemy then who will desert his colors
nowl Is there man in the Republican
ranks that will straggle in. the rear and
allow his comrades to take the brunt of the
battle? don't believe there is man 90
dead to the duties and responsibilities of
the hour. don't believe there iB soldier
in the grand army of liberty that will dis
honor his cause and disgrace himself by
being deserter, bolter, disorganizer.
don't believe there is one. If there is he
comes from the enemy's camp and is q spy
in our midst, wolf in sleeps clothing.
All great armies have their stragglers and
deserters, and ours is not an exception TO
the rule; they are the despised of their com
rades and the hated of their enemies. Men
who are not for us are against us. There
can be no neutral ground in this contest,
There are only two parties in Louisiana.
One is the party Of liberty and equality, the
other of slavery and despotism, The line
between these parties is drawn as distinctly
as when the two armies confronted each
other on the battlefield, one under the ban
ner Of liberty, the other under the rag Of
treason. Now, gentlemen, choose for your
selves under which of these banners you
will serve. As for myself, my mind is made
up. l stand where I did four years ago,
under the stars and stripes, and intend to
stand there so long as that flag is the en-
blem Of liberty and Justice. 11 I
Let us reserve all our invectives and
sharp words, and husband them into one
mighty thunderbolt with which to smite
our common enemy. Bristling bayonets
pointed at our friends have no power; but
| directed against the foe they are inyincible.
But division or not, "ice intend 10 tight 70
! out on This line If il takes all sun5hter.p
This war Of ideas is grander than war of
| blood, and pray that 1t may be bloodless
throughout. But we must not change flags,
! for none but the stars and stripes caa ever
| triumph upon American soil. / want to be
under its protecting folds, even If we are
| attacked by the teroeious animals and un-
tanned bipeds that perform at the St.
! Charles theatre. They belong to the species
of .hyenas and tigers. They are carniverous
animals. The tiger Hubsisfs on prey. The
hyena, less raPacious, Is content with car.
rion. And those on st. Charles street had
a sumptnous feast upon an old carcass OF an
extinct animal once called the Democratic
The terrible storm of rebellion which has
| Just passed over the nation was instlgAted
by hostility to the sacred principles Of the
| fathers, and carried on in she name of slave
ry. In the establishment Of new govern
| ments these principles must be the founda-
| ton Of our new structure. They must
never again be called in question. Slavery,
their antagonist, must be torn out BY the
roots, and the seed must be burned that it
may never again disturb our national re-
pose. The question ofequal rights must be
4 settled now and, for all time, If it was q
truth in l776 that "alI men are created
equal, . 1t is no less truth in 1868. If men
| were entitled to life, liberty, and the pur-
suit Of happiness then, they are equally en-.
titled to them now. But until these vital
| truths are established In law and recognized
I by the whole people the spirit of slavery is
not exting1ished in this country. ~
Then our constitution sets forth no
strange doctrine-no new principles OF law.
| 1t is made in the light Of the declaration Of
Independence. aH eaN
Mr.. William Vigers, from the committee
on resolutions, reported the following
which were unanimously adopted;
Rescued, That we regard the reconstruc
ton measures of congress- as just and
benekcent; we firmly believe that if prop
erly executed they win institute and per
| petuate In this country equal rights, exact
Justice, peace, prosperity, and happiness
and we again pledge ourselves to stand BY
and support them. 81 nf4E
Resoloed, That we believe from our OBJ
seryations Of the proceedings Of the consti
/ tuti0nal convention now in session in New
Orleans, that the constitution it will adop'
| will amply secure to all men in Louisiant
their equal rights 70 life, liberty, properly
education, and franchise; and In this belle
we shall use our utmost efforts to promote
its ratification By the people Of the ststes
Ree0loed, That the namea upon the Radi
cal Republican state ticket, headed by ths
! Hon. 81. @. Warnoth, ard the Hon. o, j.
Dunn, are the regular nominees OF oul
party; and for this reason, as well AZ toi
their largo personal merit, must Command
the faithful support of all who honestly ae,