The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1868-09-29
THE BLACK ELEPHANT.

The political hopes of the New York Tri-
bune and its store of editorial allegories and
anecdotes are about equally low. In the latter
respect 1t doesn't try any longer even to keep
up appearances, but exposes its poverty with
the pltiable recklessness which concludes the
strenuous but vain efforts of decayed and
pennyless dandyism to simulate the airs of
afhuenee and Independence. The Tribune,
for instance, without the least apology for the
injury which it inficts on the repute of jour
nalistic literature, brings in the worn out and
beggarly story of 'tthe elephant drawn at
rattle" piece of trumpery that the rsggedest
and hungriest Bohemian of the press would
now scorn to go out of his way to pick up for
the purpose of pointing moral or adjoining
an epigram.
Everybody has heard, says Mr.. Greeley,
"of the unfortunate adventurer who drew in
rattle an enormous elephant, with an appe-
lite corresponding to its proportions" Of
course, Mr.. Greeley, we have all heard of the
winner of the elephantine prize, and because
you are bankrupt in the way of illustrations
and illusions is no reason why you should
this case of unlucky success in withdrawing.
But let the poor man go on with his story and
rAA--@.-- e "a ssTla aoal,isitior of this
beast he continues" would have been
exceedingly delightful to its new proprietor.
only he could not afford it. and could neither
sell 1t nor give it away. The Democratic ex-
shareholders seem to be mostly in this per-
picking predicament. They would like hugely
to have the colored vote for Seymour, but.
even if it were to be had for the asking. their
attempts to ask for it are ludicrous in the ex-
treme."
The humor of the above comparison lies in
the utter want of analogy between the two cases
which are compared. The Democrats of the
South never took chance in the political
rattle for the negro of the South as a voting
chatteL Nor did the Democrats of the North
enter into this gambling scheme. The Radi- |
Gals started the game, and they staked the |
fortunes Of their party upon the issue. They |
won the black elephant for they had taken |
all the chances and were bound to draw the |
prize. And now they find it to be ruinous-
" expensive and terribly uncertain possession.
The cost of keeping it is evidently more
han the people, who must foot the bills for
he animals provender, are willing to stand.
The expenditures for the freedmens bureau,
or executing the reconstruction laws. for
Ieeping standing armies in the South, which
i'd about hundred millions to the annual
axation, afford some idea of what the main.
enance of the black elephant costs tie coun-
ry which, in an evil hour, and under the in
ucement of false pretences, became indorser
or the holders of the Radical prize.
How the Radicals have been disappointed
the negro as a voting chattel, may be seen
Georgia, where the State is as good as a
called certainty for Seymour and Blair in
labama, where the Radical Legislature dares
OF pass registration law in time for the
ection, knowing that the Radical ticket has
chance at the ballot box in that State: and
Louisiana, where the frauds and outrages
tempted by the Radical majority of the
- s-s---------
ope of carrying the State for Grant and Col.
I II there be lawful registration and fair
ection. All this is chiefly because the black !
ephant is, for his Radical keepers, danger
lsly locomotive and Grant in his propensi-
IS