New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-05-12
WHICH SIDE 2

Party subdivisions and factional dis
putes are the almost inevitable conse-
quences to even the noblest of parties in
the uninterrupted possession for q consid-
cradle time of political power. In the
hour of danger before the battle, minor
questions of difference between comrades
are tacitly ignored, and the party acts,
rank and file, as one man; but after the
victory is secured, and it becomes p
ent that a long time must elapse before the
enemy will be again in a condition to fight,
then the combative spirit, deprived of a.
legitimate outlet, turns the hand of com
rade against comrade, and disputes which
would have been thought insignificant in
the face of the common enemy, turn
friends into enemies. Then the routed
foe learning of these discussions, turns
them to his W profit and to the discern
future of the silly wranglers. Such a state
of affairs has often occurredin the worlds
history; not only in military matters,
but in political; ~oftener, indeed,
in the latter, where causes of dis
pute between members and divisions
Of the same party are constantly
likely to arise. This is the present dan
ger of the Republican party in this State.
Its large majority, its thorough o~rganiza-
ton, the admitted ability of many of its
leaders, the apparent weakness and blind
ness of the Democrats-all seem to promise
a long tenure of political power. But
these apparent advantages of the now
dominant party will infallibly become dis
advantages, if they lead to factional dis
sensions, as seems but too likely if
Messrs. Black, White, and Gray each
tries to gather around him a little coterie
of self-interested supporters, devoted more
to his personal ACKNOWLEDGMENT and the
furtherance of his private schemes than
to the success of the party. We know
not of a more pitiable sight than a little
group of intriguing politicians, gather
ing together in secluded spots, and
discussing their petty plans for out
whiting their self-made adversaries
of their own party F; sporting"
this man, and slandering that, and won
chow Smith will Co." and de-
batting whether it is worth while to give
Jones his price or not. It is pitiful; and
especially when there are great questions
before the country, involving the very
principles upon which the government
should be administered, and when there
is a great opposition party always on the
watch, and ready to take advantage of
every blunder. (Which side do you
take 2" referring to such factional SQUAD
bles, is an insult to an honest, patriotic
He takes no side. He seeks
the interests of the party at large, be-
land for that reason only be be-
the interests of the party at large to
be identical with those of the country.
Messrs. Black, White and Gray, during
the intervals between the cauvasses, may
harmlessly meet, night after night, or
morning after morning, each in his re-
subcommittee room, surrounded
BY his expectant followers, and indulge
that species of subcommittee gossip
par compldisdnce, 'talking politics."
but which, in reality, is only riyaled in
by the cackling of a coterie of idle
Did women; but when the time comes for
lction, it is to be hoped that the para
Mount claims of party allegiance will be
..ecognized and acted upon by all, even to
he entire destruction of every private
Isheme concocted in any f~actional in