The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1868-10-17
The Duty OF TIT, SOUTH.

We again earnestly bsseech our people to
lose no time in diseharging the important,
and indeed, the Imperative duty of registra-
ton. Whatever fortune may be in store for
the Democratic party at the presidential cleo
ton, we must carry Louisiana for the Demo
cratic electoral ticket We can, and we must
carry this State. We must show, by the con-
elusive testimony of an overwhelming MAORI
ty, that the power of this State resides in the
hands of the white people. Every thoughtful
man knows that, even at this time, the So
called reconstruction measures are an utter
fxilure-that the fraudulent governments
which they have called into being do not
represent the public opinion of the States in
which they exist that their authority is
maintained only by physical or moral com.
pulsion, and that, in one way or another, they
are doomed to extinction. But, thus far, the
Republican party has had the advantage of a
seeming success of their scheme They have
managed to impose upon the country
the idea that the reconstructed governments
in the South, whatever their origin and what
ever their character. are at least an actual and
a permanent fact. In this way they have re-
tanned the support of great number of
voters, constituting that large class who are
averse from change of any kind, and who adj
here to the status quo with the persistent
tenaeisy characteristic of blind and unreal
soning conservatism. The persons compos-
ing this class have voted with the Radicals,
and thus given to the Republican party the
advantage of an ostensible victory in the
October elections, and of an apparent ap-
proval, by the people, of policy to which the
country was really hostile. If we are to get
nd of these intrusive governments we must
undeceive the so-called conservatives of the
North. We must prove to them that the
people of these States are just as hostile now,
as ever, to the odious tyranny which has been
imposed upon us, and the sooner we do this
the sooner will our purpose be accomplished
Not even the most besotted Radical, or the
most dogmatic Conservative would affirm
that the reconstructed State governments
can maintain themselves in defiance of the
persistent opposition of the white ma
jority in the South. Our duty is to exhibit
evidence of the prospective and inevitable
failure of the reconstruction scheme SO con-
elusive, that it will be convincing to the most
intelligence. We can achieve this
result by beating the Radical electoral tickets
at the November election. Democratic sue
cess throughout the South would prove the |
reconstruction measures to be fraught with |
the seeds of speedy decay and death, and it |
would greatly diminish the logged porti- |
nacity with which they are supported by the |
Republican party. The object with which |
these States were reconstructed on the |
trooly loil plan was to secure their adhe- |
ZION to the Radical party. If that object
ails, there will be no longer anything more
han sentimental interest on the part of the
Radicals in the final destiny of their =" trooly
oil allies; and sentimental interest will
lot lead great party to waste any energy, or
make any sacrifice in their behalf
1t is plain, therefore, that our position diff
ers from that of States which have no inter-
st in the election beyond that of party vic
DRY. Far more depends on the result in
louisiana and throughout the South than the
ssistance which the electoral votes of the
southern States might give to the Democratic
andidates. Our vote in November is the |
rst step towards the solution of problem
hitch can be solved in our favor only in the
manner above indicated. We say again that
re must carry Louisiana. 1t is more impor-
ant now than ever. 1t is more important than
Ihen the prospects of Democratic success
7ere far more encouraging than they are at
resent and if there were an absolute certainty
Democratic defeat in November it would
each the elimination of necessity. We,
nerefore, say to our citizens, registerl reg
ter at once.