New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1870-12-17
q YaIr YfoPoGlIIoN.

printed confessions that we nave not
Judged them amiss. These admissions
are generally extorted from the victims Of
our censure, and come to hand with pro-
tests that they were gotten up on COM
pulsion. Conscience is terrible master.
it is SO ever present and SO ever pressing
in its demands, forcing the recalcitrant
mind into that act of self criticism, which
ends in making mankind better for an
honest apology 70 wickeder for an ohsti-
nate adherence to the wrong.
The Planters Banner is the latest peni-
tent in our sanctum, and its apology is
none the less acceptable because it is
made with all the clumsiness of great
big countryman. The Banner excuses its
past delinquencies by gently folding and
putting them away out of sight, and by
filing new bill of indictment against the
REPUBLICAN. This is an awkward way Of
atoning for errors, but it, is a
way so well known in court that
we shall not object to i'd adoption in
journalism. Lawyers who have fled
wrong pleadings quietly withdraw their
petitions and submit amended averments.
It is a delicate way of confessing and
rectifying an error of the judgment, and
as such is considerably dealt with by the
court. The Banner has just dons this
very thing, Withdrawing its former allega-
tions to our discredit in the matter Of in
difference to honesty and utter disregard
of principle, and entering an amended
allegation to the effect that it is our fault
to be constantly engaged in dressing up
error 80 that it shall SO nearly resemble
the truth that the innocent public will not
know the difference. At the same time,
it adds count or two which did not ap-
pear in the original cause of action, the
same being that the REPUBLICAN, has
favored miscegenation. social equality,
destructive labor strikes and dishonesty
in Office; and, further, that ouf heart
has been rejoiced when good citizens were
imprisoned and insulted; and
thatour love has abounded f0f the men who
got up the riots at Donaldsonville. We
might, in defense, set.up that these alle-
cations, being new, should be stricken
out Of the pleadings; but in order to meet
the issue on its merits, we prefer to ac-
cept of them, and to plead that they are
without foundation in fact. So the issue
is joined. .
The apology of the Banner is accepted,
50 far as it withdraws the allegation of
our obliviousness to honesty and truth
by charging that we defend these virtues
by masking error in their dress, yet when
it goes on to spoil its confession by lay
ing at our door other and still more i'm
probable offenses, the time has come to
defend Rome by invading Africa. And in
doing so it will be necessary to file repi-
cation that the Banner itself is the advo-
cate of all the evils it charges to our ac-
count; for, since we have never advanced
them by word or thought, by line or SEN
tence, there is but one implication, that
The party which is continually agitating
and demanding q point as the necessary
result of a. certain policy is itself the
friend and advocate of such suggestions.
This seems to be about as square an an
swer as can besmade on that head.
We have not advocated miscegenation,
social equality, riotous proceedings, nor
The insulting Of innocent prisoners. The
Banner continually insists that
these measures and actions are the ends
md aims OF Republicanism. We say
hey are not. Now, since the Republican
party is in the ascendancyin Louisiana,
md since the Banner insists that Repub-
icanism consists in miscegenation, social
equality, disastrous labor strikes, riotous
proceedings, and SO on, who is Urging the
success of these evils, but the paper that
asserts it to be the duty ofthe
party ID the ascendency to enforce such a
rule of social and civil conduct? The
stands arrayed against this
policy, and the Banner stands arrayed in
is favor, for it declares that this is the !
policy of the party in power. As a mat
er Of course, it is the indirect fomentor |
md 1rtisan Of these wrongful measures,
Use would it insist as we do that Repub-
icanisn has no such principles to con-
end for
That we have detested and denounced
he rioters at Baton Rouge, Donaldson
,illeand Franklin, whether directed against
he whites, against the negroes or against
)r. Mary Walker, the columns of the RE-
'uB11cAN will amply and emphatically de- |
lare. That we have opposed dishonesty in |
flee, the people of New Orleans will
'ear testimony. That we ever encouraged
he insulting of any citizen, whether IN
Ter arrest or in the enjoyment Of his hb-
rty. is at variance with our constant de- |
nand for peace and the supremacy OF
be law. Our platform is one Of justice |
nd political equality toward men, and OF
onesty and efficient duty toward the
tate. The record itself will show this |
ondition of things, and all the Banner
las got to do now in order to set itself |
light before the court and, the public is to |
withdraw the amended pleadings, submit
full confession of its mistakes and SUBJ |
nit to a Judgment that the case be dis
missed. with a recommendation from the |
'ench that each party pay his own costs.