New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1870-12-10
AT uHPRoYIrAJLB REMEDY.

4 AAAAADA4AS
| A good thing has at last found an utter
ance in the New York San. There is nj
earthly use for third party at present
The people of the United States can find
in the platforms Of one or the other o.
the two great parties that now divide the
voters Of this country, all that they want
In fact, the necessity is not so great 70,
platforms as it is for men; and if the PEG.
pie will pay more attention to the material
they select, there will be infinitely less
cause for complaint about the measures
that will result. Platforms are mere
shadows, unless they are committed to
wise. discreet and honest agents. Proba-
bly, we have been injured in this respect
! 0y doing our work out Of the regular order
of mechanical undertaking.
More attention has been paid to the
superstructure Of politics than to the
foundation. We have attended to the
principle without taking proper account
of the man. Honor and capacity are Of
greater necessity than rhetoric and de-
clamation; and if politics has de-
generated, as the advocates of third
party declare, until the present organiza-
tons can no longer be relied on, this has
been the fault Of the people that they for
get to select capable and righteous rulers
to enforce their just and liberal princi-
pies. What use would it be to make an
honest principle and intlust it to thief
to carry out. WY denouuce monopoies
and then elect monopolist to represent
the sentiment? Or what is worse, why
declaim against injustice and bad govern
ment when our public servants are selected
from those who are purchasable?
Let us take q view Of the field as it pre-
sents itself. There are already two parties
contesting for political supremacy in the
United States. They divide between them
five or six millions of voters. If the Re-
publican party were perfectly honest, and
Of admitted capacity, does any man be-
ieve that honest and capable Republicans
would legislate in any other way than for
the greatest good to the greatest
number? This is the tenor of
the Republican platform at present,
and this is what good men would strive
for under any and all circumstances. If
the Democratic party was recommended
by any such high qualities as those we
have mentioned above, does any voter be-
lieve that its members would support
proAigate or unjust legislation? And yet
the platforms of both of the existing par
ties pledge all and singular their members
to Just, honest and economical admins
tration of the government. The difficulty
is that bad men succeed either as Repub-
icans or as Democats, and they laugh at
platforms and mock at public calamity.
We admit that the Republican party is
dishonored and disappointed by this
kind Of men in its ranks, but We charge
that the same evil prevails to a greater
extent in the ranks of the Democracy.
Where is the corrective? Will third
party promise not to prevaricate with
promises, and engage not to speculate
with public funds? This is just what
both Of the existing parties are pledged to
discountenance. All platforms condemn
prevarication and population. Then
what can he done? Purge existing par
ties. Disregard platforms in favor Of
honest and capable men. Let the mass
of mankind, who constitute all parties,
look more to the men than they do to the
declaration of principles. Here is the
remedy. The Republican party was once
SO poor that its enemies could only charge
It with fanaticism. It had then great
leaders and great ideas. The sway Of the
men who led the way was not disputed
and their action was never charged to dis
honesty. The following was good. The
men behind trusted the men in front, be-
cause through the entire mass there ran
that spirit Of confidence which is only
born Of knowledge. Every man had been
tried in his place.
If this old sentiment could be revived,
the Republican party would again rally
the sentiment of the world. What was
that old sentiment? Reliance on the vir-
tue of mankind and trust in humanity. |
Good men are incapable Of robbery or
falsehood. The third party processes the
same principle, but its chief aim is to
secure honest and capable men. What is
to prevent them from accomplishing this
desire within the Republican organiza-
ton, which is already heralded by bril-
liant reputation, and which marshals three
millions Of men in its ranks? Of this
multitudinous army three-fourths are ad-
mitted to be intelligent, capable, honest,
and patriotic citizens. They have no aim
but the good Of the country. All they ask
is to be told the better plan, and they will
be swift to adopt it. They know the value
Of honesty and capacity. Point these
ont, and an overwhelming support is
Then why ;ntrude a new