New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1868-05-20
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Inc General Assembly about TO meet
will be one Of the most important bodies
that ever convened in Louisiana. II VIII
have the task of recognizing the industrial
and commercial interests of the State
placing in practical operation the kepuD-
lican principles OF the new Constitution,
revising the laws, adopting the Constltu-
tional amendment, and restoring law, order,
and prosperity where these have SO long
been strangers.
In this arduous enterprise the levers OF
the State can look with hope to, the Re-
publican members only; the Democratic
Assemblymen are members of a reaction
ary. anti-progressive party whose only
forte will be to hold back everything and
advance nothing.
The General Assembly will be divided
into but two parties, the Republican and
the Democratic, or, properly speaking, the
rebel party. There may be one or two
members of the guerrilla order who have
come for pay or plumber and who hope to
preserve an armed neutrality between these
parties.
But these may as well be counted as Dem
ocrats from the start for they are birds of
feather" and no man can long resist his
natural impulses. As there may be danger
at the first moment of some of our friends
being misled, we deem it important to call
their attention to the wide difference be-
tween the Republican and Democratic
parties. There are but these two parties
ia the United States. They are national as
well as State parties. Every member OF
the Assembly must either be Republican
or Democrat. The former is in favor Of
advanced ideas, of freedom and justice, and
the civil and political equality of all men,
sf universal education, and the settlement
Of all issues resulting from the war. The
latter is in favor of unsettling all that has
been done, and going back as far as possible
into the past. Every measure and every
act of the Assembly will be either in favor
of or against one or the other of these
policies.
From the first organization of each house
of the Assembly not step will be taken
but will be directly in favor of or opposed
to Republican principles and the success
of the Republican party in the great Presi-
dental contest now opening 1t is import
ant, then, that our friends note this fact,
unite as a party, and know their friends,
and organize and act in unison.
We may expect, perhaps, to see few
persons elected as true Radicals by Repub-
licaa votes sail for a while, under false
colors, as some did in the Convention.
But such men, if there be any such, who
would sell for mess of pottage their
birthright in the great Republican party,
which is destined to rule this country for
the next thirty years, will soon sink to
obscurity or be driven into the Democratic
party, where they will have long years for
repentance and regret.
Let the Republican members meet and
organize thoroughly. Let it be under
stood that in organizing the House, and in
electing officers for the Legislature, the
will of the majority must guide; and that
the interests of every good citizen, and the
interests of our party and our principles
require that all should submit to be so
guided. Let it also be understood that he
who opposes the Republican party in our
Legislature, or in Louisiana, opposes the
great Republican party of the nation, the
next President of the United States, and
Congress, and should expect to take his
place with Rebels and Copperheads.
Several intelligent and loyal gentlemen
have been elected to the Legislature
mainly by Democratic votes. We hope
that they also will understand that LOuisi-
ana is to have Republican State govern
ment for the next four years and half, and
that it is morally certain that our national
administration will be Republican, and
that therefore, not only propriety and
truth and justice, but also self-interest
require that they should identify them
selves with the great party of freedom and
progress. No temporary aud trivial ad-
vantages can compare with the Importance
Of belonging to great and dominant
party, or the consciousness of following
the dictates Of truth and of conscience
Especially should those who were loyal
during the rebellion remember that now or
never are the great issues of the war to be
peaceably settled on a basis which will give
US lasting peace and prosperity. The prin.
eiples Of our new Consultation must and
will be carried into practical operation in
Louisiana, and every interest of society
and the State demands that it should be
done haEmonieusly and immediately. Our
people require the enforcement Of law and
order, then rest from political contention
and then viii come prosperity.
MEXICAN way OF DOING IT.
Mr.. John Rranff Of Sfatan Islana w.,