Baton Rouge tri-weekly gazette & comet. [volume] (Baton Rouge, La.) 1865-18??, 1868-01-09
REPUBLICAN DEGENERACY.

Pi'n6 w oh 0'oi
hand to attest in favor of Republi
can form of government, pure AM
simple, are strangely in contrast wit
the theory and principles of Repub
llcanlsm as interpreted and eluci
dated by its latter-day disciples.
In periods anterior to the late civi
war in this country, our father
taught that in Republicanism was t,
be found the summum bouum of al
earthly human government, and ex
amples OF every day practical illus
tration abounded in support of til,
truth and wisdom of this teaching
Then it was, that honest precept and
principle, profession and practice
formed the rule, and not the excep.
ton, as now-a,d days, among those
claiming to be the embodiment OF
the Republican idea and element.
Republicanism and Democracy were
then consentaneously blended SO as
to appear convertible in terms and
essence. Now it is Republicanism
and Radicalism-the old parties in
the northern sections having gone
astray after false gods, but leaving,
happily, a modicum of conservatism
behind-enough to leaven what re-
manned of the ancient sturdy De-
mocracy and of kindred organiza-
tons. and enabling them to swell out
and coalesce and, with Briarean
strength, to cope successfully, as we
have seen in many Of the States,
with the fanatical horde that is es
saying to sweep out of existence the
last vestige Of Constitutional govern
ment in the land.
A sad and striking commentary
upon Republican degeneracy is ex-
hlblted by the special manner in
which an exceptional instance in
the downward scale is harped upon
and noted. Witness, for example,
the noble declarations in support
of the sacred principles of civil and
Constitutional government uttered
by Gen. Hancock, on assuming COM
mand of the Fifth Military District.
In the palmy days Of the Republic,
sentiments thus enunciated would
have appeared commonplace, be-
cause OF their universally among
of whatever class or sta
ton. In times like these, however,
they come with oracular significance,
soaring in strains of such peculiar
grandeur and patriotism over the
groveling aud angry partizan clamors
OF Radicalism, as to elicit not only
the admiration and gratitude of an
people, but likewise of
President johnson, himself, who
with marked manifestations of pleas
ure, not only gave his official sane
ton to the declarations of Gen. Han |
cock, but submitted them to Con-
gress with an accompanying mes
sage requesting that some public
recognition be made by that body
of Gen. Hancock's patriotic course.
1t is, however, not to be presumed
that Congress, as at present constitu-
ted, will do anything Of the sort, but
rather something Numerically op-
posite. AT all events, the President
has done bis duty in the premises
and his conduct will endure in noble
contrast with that of the degenerate
Republicans, who can see nothing
good or praiseworthy, nothing gen
timely Republican, in any one who
Ices not come down to their own
political level.
u We extract the following from
he last number of the Feiciaua Dem
,crat, of Clinton
Editor East Fe1lciana Democrat
| learn from a man in Michigan.
hat he will forward to the proper
'wner, double cased gold watch
which he is Informed was taken from
gentleman who resided in q small /