New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1870-09-24
THE spTRIr or ITT0LERAH0E.

ILL ~ eV1u6nt NAns sseS ksesOs1F : ~ rs7,N7
few years ago are rapidly paa6ng away.
To-day Republican actually stands Upon
| . perfect equality with Conservative.
Such was not the case in 1866. It was
far from being SO in 1867 and 1868, when
| it was fashionable for great, strong, cow
| ardly rufians to boot at, and abuse the
little newsboys who attempted to sell the
REPUBLICAN,. It was considered hetero-
dox to be seen reading our paper in
the cars, while Brick Pomeroy's infamous
Lacrosse Democrat was preferred to the
milder efforts of the Times, Picay,sne and
Bulletin. Our people have reformed. To-
day the Democrat has been almost forgot
ten, and the REPUBLICAN leads the public
mind. Our political friends have shared
our fortunes. At first, they were pro-
scribed. Merchants who advertised in
our paper could not get customers. 1t
was commercial and financial loss to
be known as an earnest Republican.
With these facts patent to every man Of
ordinary intelligence in the city, the
Bulletin yesterday morning tries to
put q different face on the matter:
The commercial spirit now, as at all times,
and now more perhaps than at any other
time, is inclined to consult itself little with
dogmas and abstract principles, but to care
greatly and especially for practices and re-
suits.
Why, then, should citizen become OBJ
noxiOus to ''the great mass OF business peO-
pie in louisiana '-peOple in whom the
commercial spirit is predOminant-when he
afiiliatcs himself with the political organiza-
ton which is now in power in this State!
We can conceive but one reasonable an
swer. 1t is this, that they have learned, by
an experience as instructive as it has been
trying, under the rule Of this party, rule
persistently miscellaneous in practices and
evil in results, that its future ascen,lency is
to be distrusted and feared, and that the
citizen, however high or previously es-
teemed, who deliberately and openly en-
braces it, as it stands unrepentant and un-
regenerate in word and deed, justly and
logically incurs a share Of this distrust and
fear.
Possibly the " commercial spirit" had
little to do with the origin Of prescription
for political opinion, but it suffered itself
to be brooked terribly by the political
spirit" of secession, intolerance and all
uncharitableness. Our merchants could
not command public opinion founded
upon senseless prejudice, and meekly
bowed before it. But, says the Bulletin, it
was in consequence Of "trying and in
structive experience" that our political
friends were prescribed. In such a case
we should expect the feeling to grow
stronger with time, which it does not.
On the contrary, it grows weaker day by
day. 1t existed in greatest force in 1866,
before there had been any experience.
1t has about expired in 1870 after nearly
four years of practical application Some
other reason must be assigned for its ex-
istence than experience, for that is quite
fatal to its duration.
The truth is, political persecution of
Republicans was begotten Of prejudice,
which was the last weapon Of the rebel
lion retained by the followers Of Lee
when he gave the others to Grant at APP
pomattox Courthouse Time has blunted
its edge until it is no longer formidable
to anybody except those who attempt to
use it. The Republicans have lived it
down, and conquered it by their example,
which shines with peculiar lustre be-
side that of their enemies
The commercial spirit Of New Or
leans, like that of any large city, is en-
tirely mercenary, and invests only in
such ventures as pay or promise to pay.
Our merchants, as q rule, decline to put
out dollar unless they think it likely to
do dollars work, and they leave to those
who have nothing to lose the task Of run
ming the politics of the State and city.
Our Oldest and best merchant, Jones, is
not going to run the risk Of losing his
country customer, Smith, by exhibiting
any sentiment either of politics, morals Or
religion for which Smith is known to
entertain antipathy.
And as Smith has just lost all his 'nig-
gers through these hated Radicals, he
never lets an opportunity escape for
speaking his mind freely. He keeps poor
Jones in constant fear that he will not
buy his pork and beans Of him if he is
ever caught reading Republican paper
or recognizing a person of that political
faith, either white or black, as worthy Of
notice. The commercial spirit in Jones
is by no means aggressive. It is merely
commercial submissive, only this and
nothing more. Next year perhaps he will
bow Smith out Of his counting room on
Tchoupitoulas street, lest he should lose
Republican or a colored customer whose
favor is worth more to him than Smiths
is since he has not done so we'll OF late,
and is in bad odor generally on account
of his domineering ways and exactions.
Jones does not care, of course, who his
political master is SO long as he raises
good crops and ships promptly. At
present, Republicanism is becoming quite
fashionable, and Jones will not stand
Smiths airs as patiently as of yore, though
he is not yet ready to break with him.
So the Bulletin will observe that expert
ence can not be cited as reason for the
prejudice against Republicanism. On the
contrary, the more it is known the better
it is liked. III the next election we shall
carry the city by five thousand and the
State by thirty thousand. And when the