New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-04-05


have elapsed since the people delegAtedta
Democratic administration since they
directly authorised the installation Of .a
Democratic President for he'avowed puf-
pose of having the government admins
tered in accordance with the tenets of the
Democratic party. True, it may be
claimed Andrew Johnson's administra-
ton was Democratic; but when it is recol-
lected he was chosen Vice President at the
same time that Abraham Lincoln was re-
elected President upon Republican plat
form, it cannot be truthfully said the peo-
pie designed having the government adj
ministered upon Democratic principles =
the very principles that inaugurated the
rebellion not yet subdued when new
lease Of power was granted to the Repub-
lcan party by the people in 1866. The
verdict Of the people in granting this
new lease of power at that time, together
with the success that had attended the
Union armies, had most damaging effect
on the followers of the rebellion and its
sympdthizers. Their condition was be-
coming daily more desperate, and the
prospect utterly demoralized the more
implacable enemies of the republic.
They were bloody and vindictive in feel
ing, and, satisfied as they were compelled
to be. that the rebel armies would finally
have to succumb, new and terrible
scheme was concocted that ended in the
death of President Lincoln, just after
he had entered upon his second pres
idential term, and at time when the
rebelious armies had surrendered. The
strength and full object Of the plot and
the number Of persons who secretly
hoped for its success can not be known
to the great body of the American people
who unhesitatingly denounced the cruel
assassination of President Lincoln.
These are matters that are only known to
God and those who entered into the plot
and those whose sympathies were with it,
to be expressed when the action, of the
plot was crowned with complete success.
There are other matters connected with
Mr.. Lincoln's death that are not hidden.
Among them the matter Of succession to
the presidency of the republic and the
policy Of the new administration. This
was vital matter, as the success of the
issues Of the war in . great degree de-
pended upon the complexion of the ad-
ministntion. The country soon learned
that President johnson had q policy
styled my policy that did not meet
the views Of . very large majority Of the
people-did not coincide with the views
ofthose who elected him-did not harmon
ize with the views Of Congress The
policy of Mr.. johnson, If carried out,
would have placed the government Of the
Southern States in the hands of the men
who had been actively engaged in
the rebellion and the Democratic party.
The people were not prepared for this; and
as the President arrayed himself against
Congress in the work of Reconstruction.
the people strengthened that body until
the President was powerless and ut it's
mercy. If MI. Johnson's administration
was intended to be Democratic, it was de-
prived Of all power by the people to mis-
represent them; and, if the men who plot
ted the death Of Mr.. Lincoln expected to
benefit the Democratic party By placing
Mr.. johnson in the presidential chair, they
too were foiled by the same agency. And
when the Democratic party, forgetting
the claims of Mr.. johnson, nominated
Seymour and Blair, and took issue with
the Republican party upon the question
Of reconstruction, they suffered another
defeat at the hands of the people, who
elected Grant and Colfax.
These, it is true, are matters of the
post matters that have been 80 repeat
eddy and necessarily decided BY the peo-
pie that it would seem like folly for the
Democratic party to hope for another
Democratic administration until time
sufficient has elapsed to eAace its misdeeds
from the minds Of the people The evils
of the last Democratic administration ten
years have not sufdced to wipe out The
war which it permitted to be forced upon
the country, has left evils in the shape of
ku-kluxism, taxation, public debt, de-
preciated currency, large standing army,
etc., that will take something more than
Democratic promises to correct. It is all
very well to talk about "a cessation of
vindictive legislation and military
in the Southern. States
where ku-kluxism exists, and q "recoe-
milton of their equal rights, including
self-government and political equality
with the other States and peoples of the
Union" But as democracy in its
palmiest days failed to do these things,
md used its power to extend and further
he interests Of slavery and the slave |
lutocrats; to give the slave States an
over the free States; in fine.
% make slavery the cornerstone of re-
publican government in country COM
prising forty millions of freemen-it will
be hard to convince said freemen that it |
would do them now, even should they |
trust it with power again.
This being the case, present appear
ances indicate Enthusiastically that Repub-
llcan rule is likely to continue for a