The Louisianian. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1870-1871, 1871-05-04
THE POLITICAL OUTLOOK.

we nave reacHeu grave crislS III the
history of the country. We have also ar
rived at the supreme crisis in the history
of the Republican party. Tried in its in
fancy by defeat, sorely tried afterward by
a great war, the party OF human right
and human liberty has now come to an
ordeal more severe than either political
defeat or civil war; for now its enemies
are within. Every pirate bearing down
upon the National Treasury now flies the
flag of Republicanism. 1t is the curse of
the possession of power under our pres
ent vicious civil service system that it
makes the best and bravest party hack
for office-holders and plunderers. The
strength of the party is its weakness for
now the sharp political contests have
come to be fought within its lines. The
struggle for control has not of late been
between Republican and Democrat; but
between Republican and Republican. In
the presence of such dissensions and in
the presence of the New Hampshire defeat
we may not disguise the fact that this is
the most critical moment in the history
of the party.
fit were merely the success or failure
of one set of office-holders, we should not
greatly care. 1t does not concern us
whether a Republican Irishman or DEM
ocratic one get the pay and perquisites Of
a custom-house, or whether Mr.. Cramer
or some diplomatist represent the gov
eminent Of Copenhagen. To accomplish
the success of a party" considered from
the office-seekers standpoint, we would
not dip our pen in the ink-stand.
But the nation and the human race
never needed the Republican party more
than they do now. We have only Just
come to understand that the war between
slavery and barbarism, on the one hand
and liberty and civilization, on the other
is not yet fought out. Beaten in the open
field, the Rebellion yet lives in the law
lessness of Southern scoundrelism. Beat
en- by ballots and beaten by bullets, it
shows, like other venimous creatures,
wonderful tenacity of life Liberty is not
yet established at the South. Freedom
of speech, freedom of the press, freedom
Of political action are yet hardly known
there. If the Democratic party were to
come into power tomorrow, the whole
work OF reconstruction would be tax en-
from the negroes, and under some form
or other slavery or its equivalent would
be restored.
Let us remember one thing. The lost
cause is not an abandoned cause. When
the Rebellion fights us again, it will be
with the arms, the forts, the ships, and
the prestige of the Government itsel.
When we vote at the. next presidential
election, we vote face to face and ballot to
ballot with the Rebellion. The battle of
next year will be more decisive than the
taking Of New Orleans and Vicksburg and
Richmond together. If under Repub-
lican administration the whole South is
full of lawlessness, what would be the
state of things with Fernando Wood and
Sunset Cox in the Cabinet? If mayors
of cities are shot, banished and abducted
while Grant is President, what will be
done when Hoffman reigns? If they do
these things in a green tree, what will
they do in dry?
The lesson of the hour is plain. Every
patriotic consideration demands that Re
publicans should stand by the party of
liberty and human rights. No dissatisfac-
ton with the President, or with any other
leader can justify lukewarmness in the
cause. And we warn the Administration
that it cannot afford to divide the party
by pushing any object, however desirable.
Let Santo Domingo stand on its own
merits. 1t should never have been an
administration scheme. And appoint
ments to office should hereafter be made
with some regard to fitness. The Re-
publicaa party is of too much value to be
made pack-horse. 1t cam OF afford to
carry into presidential campaign a race