The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1868-09-16
ACTS VERSUS PROMISES.

Inc RADICALS promise tno oounuy Po"oN, ~
some indefinite period of the future, If they
are intrusted with an unlimited prolongation
of power.
But. having had power for the past four
years, why have they not given the country
peace already? If they possess the key 70
peace, true peace, blessing which includes
all other earthly blessings, why have they
refused the use of this inestimable instrument
tality to the country's sorest need heretofore
They have no answer to these questions.
Bv their own silent confession they are the
supreme criminals of the hour, responsible as
thew are for the calamities and miseries Incl
dent to the denial of the supreme blessing OF
peace.
Interrogating particular results OF their
policy, we find them directly and actively
guilty in this relation. We see, for example,
that in Tennessee Radicalism has converted
civil government into warlike en-
campment. We see here in Lou
isiana its opponents in Legislative halls embel-
fishing their burning eloquence with the
threat of applying the torch to the habitations
| of their opponents, while the appearance OF
Radical procession is dreaded as the probable
| signal that city is to be devoted to confa-
| grafton and rapine. We see, in short,
throughout the unfortunate section where
! political system, conceived and modelled
under the purest Radical inspiration, has
| been imposed upon unwilling communities
| by force and fraud, that the conditions of true
peace are utterly wanting, and that whatever
| quietude is maintained is but the ominous
lull of suspended anarchy, and the prelude to
some fearful catastrophe.
So much for the Radical promise of peace,
compared with facts of the previous and ex-
| listing Radical domination.
The Radicals also promise that they will
give the country prosperity hereafter, along
with financial retrenchment and economy, If
legislation affecting the financial, commercial
and industrial interests of the country is con-
fded to their control for series of years to
| come.
Well, Heaven knows, the people. have
longed sadly enough for prosperity these
four years past, and why has not the Radical
Congress, exercising unrestricted legislative
authority, responded to this desire? The
Radicals dare not refer to their record for
vindication in this matter. 1t is as barren of
evidence in their favor as the public treasury,
under their policy, has become void Of real
net value, and the poor mans pocket of clear
profit or hard cash.
Let us again, since the Radicals will not and
dare not answer, interrogate facts.
The last official statement of the public
debt showed that the financial burden of the
country had increased from September /,
1867, to September 1, 1868, in the sum of
$40, $3.50, GAS. And this increase is not an ex-
ceptional or accidental fact. 1t is simply one
of the outcroppings of the extravaganza and
profigacy which have marked the whole
career Of the Radicals since they have been
in power The public debt has constantly
increased, since the close of the war; from
year to year. Still worse, the increase has
been at an accelerated rate. We are now in
the fourth year of peace-such peace as the
Radicals afford the country-and larger adj
dition is made to the public debt than in any
previous year of that period There has beer
nothing to prevent the reverse of this history
except the fatal propensity of the Radicals Il
extravagant and proAigate expenditure. Is i
any wonder, when their policy continues to b
more and more removed from retrenchmen
and economy, that the credit of the United
States should be lower now than it was whel
the war closed-not equal to that of Turkey
! nearly twenty per cent. below that of Brazil
and not much higher than that of Mexico?
As to the delinquency of the Radicals il
} respect to the commercial interest of tn
country, let the fearful and shameful declin
of American shipping show.
7 In 1860, the tonnage of the United State
/ was 1858, sos. At present, according to tn
bureau of statistics at Washington, it
} only 3, 563, OPS. In the same period of eigh
years the tonnage of England has increases
} from 4OOO,O0 to 100000, and that q
: France from 100000 to 100000 1t
a only the pernicious legislation of the Rad
3 calls, discouraging foreign commerce, grind
g ing industry with taxation, repelling capital
3 disheartening enterprise, that can accoun
D for this humiliat1ng falling off in the mel
chant marine of the United States, since th
e natural resources of the country for shiI
building and for materials of navigation, sa
: or steam, are unequaled
e After this, let the Radicals promise as the
3 will, on what substantial grounds can the
claim the confidence or even the pardon {
d the people? Impunity never reformed ha
S dened criminal. The Radicals will assured
not change their policy if, instead of bein
punished by Punishment from public trust
they are rewarded for their delinquencies an
atrocities with q new lease of power.
We cordially accept the unanimous invit
is ton of the Minute Men of '6S, to attend the
It banner presentation Saturday evening mex
o | az ,ba National Theater IL promises to be