New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1868-10-24
POLITICAL DRpRAyrFY.

ments to prove that the Democracy shout
be returned to power. But no sane man c
either party denies that gross frauds an
outrageous robberies are daily perpetrate
by office holders and others who claim t
be Republicans. Such things are incidents @
all administrations. Corruption follows an,
party into power. 1t is no argument agains
a political organization to prove that Their
are scoundrels in its ranks; to make part.
responsible you must show that the deeds o
such men are defended and justified by the
whole political body. But the leading Re
publicans and the principal journals Of oul
party have denounced the dishonesty in
cident to its control OF the administration as
frequently ard with as much effect as has
been done by the opposition. No one au-
thorized to speak for the Republican party
has ever dared to justify the crimes COM
mitted by its individual adherents. On the
other hand the Democratic party has con-
troll of the executive department of the
national government. Many of the ap-
pointees of the President, selected from the
Democratic ranks, have proved dishonest.
No one attempts to fix the blame upon the
party. It is, alike with the crimes upon
the other side, an incident of the possession
of power and the control Of patronage.
Those who steal or embezzle from the gov
eminent do not do so in the name of De-
mocracy or Republicanism. Those who
hold like political views are therefore not
responsible, except in so far as they may
individually connive at the crime.
But there is political depravity of an
other kind. There are crimes committed
by members of organizations for which the
whole body is responsible. Ofenses against
life, liberty and property perpetrated in the
name Of and in furtherence OF the
objects of political body bind
that party with the responsibility
Of the crimes until they are repudated by
the organization. The reason is obvious.
Men combine in parties to accomplish
certain ends. They act and speak then,
not as individuals but as a unit. What
ever is said on behalf Of the party by any
member of it binds the whole, unless as a
whole it reprobates the sentiment If the
assassin strikes down his political opponent
n the name of his party he makes it re-
iponsible for his deed until he is condemn
ed and his body handed over to justice.
Such is the ofense Of the Democratic |
party of to-day. Before the tribunal of i'm
partial history will it be arraigned, and
lpon the testimony of an outraged race,
convicted OF thousand dark aud bloody |
,rimes.
In its platform suggesting to the South
I'm people disobedience to certain laws
which initiate against its prospects of sue
less, the Democratic party has aroused in
hese States a spirit of disregard for all |
aw. In our own city we have witnessed
within the past six weeks the daily press
lrging the people to trample the provisions
f Constitution and statute beneath their
Get; we have heard armed resistance TO a
aw of the State commended and the rioter
luded for his opposition to the enforce
lent of an act of the State Legislature.
A body of men assuming to be the exc
ltive head of their party in Louisiana
ficially urged the ostrasism and oppres-
on of all who should disagree in political
with them. Numerous primary
CARNATIONS have urged the same policy
language even more offensive. This has
ot been repudiated, and the Democratic
arty stands self-convioted Of intolerance
I'd persecution.
A leading Democratic journal in New
ork recently declared that General Grant,
elected under certain contingencies,
ould be assass;nated. A paper published
Franklin in this State in several inflama-
ry articles su ggested the commission of
e cri mes which so recently disgraced that
ace. The Democratic party stands ac-
lsed Of indorsing such advice, and makes
} defense.
But these crimes, great as they are, ap-
EAR Insignificant when compared with
hers for which the Democratic party is
silly responsible. Beginning with the II
assacre of the thirtie,h of July and end
g with the murder 10 Gretna yesterday,
page of American history will disclose
rker deeds than that which will relate I
is story OF violence upon Republicans in
g South. We need not recall the sick
ing details, they are too familiar. No
gan of the Demoeracyj no public assem-
y of the party has ever denounced these
ese outrages. Sympathy with the crimi-
i has been the purport of editorial and
Il
An enlightened world will in all time to
me hold the Democratic party guilty of
! these crimes. s- .l.t4
Can we not hope that change is nigh
e know that there are thousands in that
Arty who have no sympathy with those
no have disgraced it; men who must begin
} see that their leaders have brought them
, the verge Of destruction. We ask such
zen simply to pause and reflect.
THE JEWS AND GENERAL GRANT.