The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1868-05-28
UNsCRUPULoUs PURSUIT OF PARTY
SUCCESS.

| Love, in its infatuations, is as ready to
laugh at consistency and decency as at lock-
smiths. The world of reality, as well as the
world of romance, is prone to make liberal
allowance, in such cases, for the species OF
transitory delirium which is supposed to divest
lovers, pro td1to, of moral responsibility.
But what shall be said of politicians who
make chronic sport of consistency and de-
cency, not under the sway of mental intoxi-
cation, but with deliberation and upon sys-
tenn ? Or, to put still more important ques-
ton, what would have to be said of the intel
lectual and moral condition of country in
which such shameless course should not
only encounter no popular reprobation, but
should obtain, through the active or passive
assent of the people, the substantial success
which is the sole aim of these INSCRIPTIONS
any price The plea of confusion of mind
from honest zeal is, in their case, wholly out
of the question. They do not pretend to dis
guise their tergiversations, contradictions,
and insincerities. They parade all these be-
fore the public gaze, with the complacency
of men exhibiting the richest part of the
assets upon which they are conducting a
prosperous business.
The circumstances of the nomination of
General Grant have brought into more than
usual prominence the utter indifference of
the men who have contrived the ticket and
platform of the Republican party either to
the claims of principle or the suggestions of
cko&o
presidential candidate, pending his reticence
on all fundamental questions appertaining to
government, was itself scandalous. For none
were more denunciatory than these very men
of the idea of nominating silent candidate
with reference to general principles, before
Grant had pledged himself to the scheme of
impeachment and of military persuasion, as
contrivances for securing entire possession of
the government. The New York Tribune
declared that the nomination of such a man
would be equivalent to choosing candidate
of no principles, and would, therefore, be an
unprincipled proceeding Yet the Tribune,
concluding that Grant was essential to sue
cess, became as furious for Grant as though
it had never proclaimed it dishonorable and
inglorious to gain victory by subordinating
principles, consistency and candor to avail
ability. The Tribune was also one of those
Republican papers which formerly insisted
that the party would be dishonored, and would
be unworthy of success if it failed to insert
in its national platform the doctrine of i'm
partial suffrage, that is equal suffrage for
blacks and whites, in the Northern as well as
the Southern States. But now the same
paper accepts the platform just adopted at
Chicago as an excellent device, and one of
which the chief merit is, as political morals
go, that it eliminates negro suffrage in the
North, under any form, from the doctrines of
the Republican party, while fastening it upon
the South under most unequal conditions.
In open disregard of consistency, the Gin
cinnati Commercial seems eager to rival the
politicians who contrived the Chicago ticket
and platform. 1t indorses both of these, as
well adapted to the purpose of party success,
but it deprecates, as profoundly unstatesman-
like, the disfranchisement of the intelligence
and wealth of the South, and the elevation to
political preponderance there of the most
ignorant and irresponsible portion of the |
population. Says the Commercial
Before another convention meets, it is safe 70 !
predict popularity for the doctrine of the vale |
dictory of the lamented Governor Andrew, of |
Massachusetts,, that in the reconstruction of re-
VOTED part OF the nation there Is nothing so dan.
gerous as to ignore and exclude from power the |
intelligence and wealth Of the community. Ku |
klux Klans are the natural fruit of such policy,
" bile, en- the other hand, there is thing which |
will educate people so rapidly in allegiance to |
after they have become satisfied of |
their inability to overthrow It, as participation
in the conduct of its affairs and the responsibility
for its good or evil fortune.
The Commercial here admits that "there is |
nothing so dangerous" as the condition to |
which it is proposed by the Chicago platform
and ticket to consign the South and yet the |
same paper, for the sake of party success, |
supports without reserve both ticket and |
platform!