New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1870-09-21

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| If anything vd&e wanted TO break the
back Of the Democratic camel the straw
which. was put upon the animal last
Sunday by Messrs. Booth NcCaleb 4 Co.,
acting under the firm name Of FINANCE
/ Committee" was the Ultimate weight to
accomplish that task. It's just possible
that the design Of the partners in the
commercial and political enterprise was
to bankrupt the concern, for they spent
their fund of ammunition with such
wasteful extravaganza and in such utter
uselessness, that nothing but despair,
stupidity or wickedness can be invoked to
excuse them. They mixed infantry,
artillery and cavalry all in one reckless
charge, and their disorderly advance was
stumbling half the time over its own
wasted bombs and broken guns. Heaven
save us from ever following after such
lead; and if we must need
have opposition in this life to quicken
our own energies and capabilities, let US
never encounter another Falstaffian brig
ade like that which confronts US at
present as the representatives OF the
Democratic party. Claiming to represent
the wealth and responsibility OF the
State" it pleads like an Italian beggar
for aims; and setting itself up as the sum
of intelligence and honesty, it sends
abroad in the world a petition which vlo-
lates the laws Of language and admits the
political depravity of its authors. There
never was such manifesto issued before
to the people of any State, and it is al
most shame to the Republican party
that it can find no worthier opposition in
Louisiana Let us cite a sentence, which
NAV be chaste, but which is not correct
English:
We would narrow the matter down to a
question of selt-preseryation. and how to
comb out the political verlnin which are
us.
If the Finance Committee will wash
itself well with good soap, shave of its
hair, and change its linen, perhaps the
vermin will not infest it SO numerically.
And in order to effect this reformation
and escapade, we are perfectly willing
to respond to the following appeal, pro-
vided good security is given that the
money will not be misapplied
The time and some of the money we are
able ourselves to supply; but it has
been made our duty, fellOw-citizens, to ask
you for money with which to pay these un-
avoidable and just expenses.
The committee does not represent the
wealth of the community, which accounts
its own poverty. tits only the creature
Of hope, and we are assured that if it is
helped this one time more, then it will
hold such lordly rein on the taxes and
of the public. that it will never
need another advance. The Finance Com
nittee is now waiting to be embraced.
Its addresses are like the sands on the
open at every corner to accept
the benefactions and bonuses Of the people.
The charity box at church, or the solicit
tation for Peters pence in Italy, exceed it
not in activity and importantly. Its voice
is tempest or a whine; either bully-rag-
ging dollar out of the weak or implor-
ing it out Of the strong.
And do the people propose to respond
to this old man of the sea, who seeks to
saddle himself upon the people and then
to ride them to death. Let them do it if
they dare. Let them pat their heads in
the mouth of the hungry hon and see
how they recover themselves again from
iron Jaws which will close down heavier
and darker than they did in the old game.
Then there was some responsibility and
respec liability in the Democratic party, and
it could be relied on not to plumber too
heavily even though it did no work. 1t was
satisfied to spend the taxes in salaries,
and to grant a few monopolies, but it
could be persuaded to take no step in
advance. To-day, the party has lost its
and its responsibility. 1t
is merely blood-thirsty. 1t has the cry of
the horse leech's wife as its only password
1t will bleed the State as no people were
ever bled before. We had a sample of
what the Democrats could do in the city
government under Conway; and now
it should be the prayer of every citizen
that such party may never be elevated
to power over the State of Louisiana by
the voluntary contributions of the people
of New Orleans. Let them get their
money from the saloons where they spend
their wages.