New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1870-09-22
HEAD Or HEART, WHICH,

Inc 81. LOUIS fepuOGcdn, winch is
tolerably fair paper in its general conduct,
is about as grossly partizan and unjust in
its politics as any journal that comes to our
table. The Democrat of that city, is much
superior to it in the accuracy of its polit-
icai statements, and in order that no mis-
take may arise in this regard, let it be un-
derstood that the Republican is Demo-
cratic, and the Democrat is Republican in
political sentiments. We shall not at
tempt to question the honesty of the Re
publican, for that would be unjust: but we
must certainly be allowed to challenge its
good sense and fair dealing. Sam Hous-
ton once repealed such an offer as this with
considerable indignation, because, said
be, Il prefer to be called knave rather
than fool, for this is Just what this apol-
ogy to my heart at the expense Of my head
amounts to-" AS q matter Of course, our
st. Louis contemporary can except to our
discrimination if it finds the compliment
unsuited to its case.
The Republican of the nineteenth in one
editorial gravely charges that President
Grant is conspiring with Governor Hol-
den to cheat North Carolina out of the
results Of the late election; and in another
article it just as gravely asserts that the
President has determined that Scott and
Whittemore shall succeed in carrying
South Carolina Both of these indecent
accusations are based on Geographic re-
ports from its own correspondent in
Washington.
In North Carolina tha late election was
carried by the Democrats, although the
State and federal power and patronage
were both in the hands of the Republi-
cans. If anything unfair was intended
why was it not consummated at the ballot
box, as the Democrats said it was to be,
if the party in power was corrupt and un-
principled? This question seems to an
swer itself, for corrupt and unprincipled
men can do corrupt and un-
princiAed things much easier
at the polls than after the ballots
have been counted and the returns made.
If, then, they did not commit a wrong
when it was convenient, why should they
be suspected Of design to do it when it
is difficult, and when the noise of its
commission must be heard all over the
nation? But suppose that Governor Hol-
den can demonstrate that the Democrats
took advantage Of Republican fairness in
North Carolina, and occupied their pre-
cious moments in cheating the people,
would it be unjust in General Grant to
assist Governor Holden in correcting the
wrong? It would not be very great
stretch of the imagination to suppose
that the Democrats did cheat, if they had
good opportunity, for they have done
such things. But taking matters as they
stand, with the record in favor of the
Republican party, what right has our St.
Louis friend to charge dishonest motives
on men who have acted honestly?
In South Carolina Governor Scott is>a
candidate. but Mr. Whittemore is not.
On the contrary he is now suffering under
the Gspleasure Of the Republican party
for doing what Democrats had often done
before. Is it fair or honest, then, to lug
Mr.. Whittemore's name into g. canvass
where it does not belong? Governor
Scott is fair game, we admit, and his
record is proper to he called before the
bar of public opinion; but his record has
nothing to do with that of any other man.
And since the Republicans themselves
rejected Whittemore from a seat in Con-
gress, what Justice is there in constantly
saddling him on Governor Scott and the
Republican party?
We repeat, then, that the St. Louis Re-
publican is either unjust or it is ignorant
in its political structures, and the decision
is with itself to accept which horn of this
dilemma it elects to ride upon. We
should certainly prefer to have its admis-
sion that these errors were committed
through want of thought; but if it will
not do this we shall insist upon bncKling
it down to q worse conclusion-that it
uttered a .scandalous suggestion and
asserted scandalous untruth willfully
and knowingly. -.r !
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