New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1870-08-13

it with pride and pleasure, as being the
exposition of principles which all good
and true men can and will sustain. We
can scarcely wish there were plank
mose in it, and certainly would object to
see one less. rsr- .-. Eel
In this series of resolutions is presented
an epitome Of what the Republicans of
this State have done, and what they are
pledged to support and sustain in the flu
ture. The Chicago platform Of princi-
Piles, under which the great party of the
nation achieved an easy, but decisive VIC
tory in 1868, is appropriately reafdrmed. In
that document may be found the line of
policy to be expected from the Republic
cans of Louisiana in the management Of
national affairs.
Inssthe next resolution is areaffirmation
of the principle that has been the chief
cause of division between the two great
parties of the countryIequal rights for
all, which carries with it the correspond
ing equal obligations. Had the men who
lived and ruled the world centuries ago
adopted this sublime principle, lived up
to themselves, and taught their children
to it regard it with peculiar veneration, we
might by this time, most likely, have be-
gun to enjoy the long promised millen-
MUM. Its incorporation as fundamental
rule into the constitution of the United
States, and a rigid adherence to it in prac-
tice, would have deprived Judge fancy Of
the opportunity of asserting that any
race Of people was deemed to be without
rights, and would have made such ter
rible war as that of the rebellion simply
impossible b..
In republican or representative gov
eminent the perfect freedom Of every man,
legally qualified, to vote is an obvious ne
cessity. Unless this can be secured, the
ballot is a fraud, and any election farce.
A popular election is the only peaceable
means by which people can make their
wishes known. Anything which defeats
such fair and free expression is, therefore,
a great public wrong, and the highest in
terests of nations demand its removal.
Intimidation, bribery, and forcible meas
ures to deprive voters of their free action
are crimes against the State equal to trea-
son, and should be punished as such.
For the aggregate will Of the majority of
the people is the sovereign law, and to
obstruct that or turn it aside, or prevent
its expression, or even to check or in any
manner circumscribe it, is to directly at
tack the life and authority Of the SOW
ereign power. Therefore, intimidation
before election OF at the polls is treason.
Equal protection to the poor man means
that the rich and wicked shall not escape
the penalty for his misdeeds. We have
all seen the efforts made by the bar, the
pulpit, the press, the jury, and every
other exponent Of public opinion to screen
villains because they happened to have
money, or belonged to what is known in
polite slang as good families. As rule,
the sycophantic press of New Orleans
rush to the rescue of the most worthless
and unworthy characters, if they happen
to be rich. Under the meaningless appel
lation of "oldest and best citizens"
many rogue that walks the streets of
New Orleans has been whitewashed and
saved from the penitentiary. The privi-
leges of wealth are sufficiently great with
out excepting it from the penalties pre-
scribed by our criminal laws. Under
Republican rule, offenders of all sorts
will be punished, and the poor man no
longer be condemned before conviction,
and the rich presumed at all hazard and
against positive proofs to be innocent.
Law and order, essential to the safety
of life and property are to be preserved.
Tumultuous rioters, raiding here and
there throughout the country, shooting,
expressing and harassing defenseless peo-
pie will be checked
The system Of internal improvements
will be continued under such restrictions
as reasonable economy may impose.
Lines of transportation, those sinews
which bind the remote places of States
together, will be constructed, and our
swamps reclaimed from the alligators and
the lowlands rescued from weeds.
An appeal to party unity and harmony
concludes this excellent platform. With
out these no party can exist. Discipline
and obedience to lawful authority are
absolutely essential to the prese rvation
and efficiency Of numbers.
The convention which has just adj
iourned after nominating State officers
and adopting the platform, was composed
of some of the ablest men in the State.
Their action upon all the business perfected
was harmonious, and actuated by spirit
of Cancellation. A debate of some earn
estness sprung up on the. last day, but, for
for the prospects of success, arose
more from personal considerations than
from any divergence of views respecting
the general policy of the party. Earnest
ness and zeal are valuable qualities in our
party, and when directed against the
common enemy, constitute the artillery
arm of political campaign.
With unexceptionable candidates, an
approved record, and platform such as
that just adopted, the Republicans. can
carry this State next fall by at least 20, 600 |