Semi-weekly Louisianian. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1871-1872, 1871-09-24
THE MORAL OF CALIFORNIA ELECTION.
(From the Weekly Miss. } Leader.

/ i
| Two years ago the State of Cal
fornia went Democratic. This yea
it goes Republican. When thes
sudden changes take place men o
thought look for the reason. Som
will attribute it to the Chinese i'm
migration and its influence ON Stat.
polity; others, again, ascribe as tn
reason, the restlessness of its popu
latlon-its migratory disposition
and view in this fact the unsteadi
ness of its politics. There is an
other view of this change which
bears no relationship to the men
toned causes, and which we think
will account for the whole matter
1t is the split or Indifference in the
Democratic party caused by the
"New Departure" This new de.
parture, as we have said elsewhere
IN this issue, unbarred the doors Of
the Democratic party, and left those
who actually endorsed the doctrine
of the Constitution as amended as
"an accomplished fact" free to 90
where they pleased. The Democra-
cy, having by that move on the
political chess-board, said in terms,
eve embrace the leading tenets of
the Republican party" many took
advantage Of their freedom and
walked straight over to the latter;
while the old-fogy element who
cling to the Democratic idea as put
forth in its New York platform of
1868, "that the reconstruction acts,
including the amendments, are un-
constitutional, revolutionary, null
and void,' being out voted in the
Convention which nominated Gov
ernor Haight for reelection, became
Indifferent and considered tho or
ganization of the party as practi-
cally disbanded. Thus the Repub-
ican candidate Booth received
direct accession to his support from
the liberal wing of the Democratic
party, and the "old STYLE" having
no heart in the movement, were in
active and Indifferent to success.
The change in that State in two
years is shown to be some $4,000
votes in favor of the Republican
party, the reinstatement of Repub-
licanism in all branches of the State
for the National Republican nomi-
nees in 1872. This result, unex-
pected and glorious as it is, points
q moral, and that is, that the Demo-
cratic party lost its power all over
The nation when it abandoned its |
cherished principles-bad though |
they be-and for the sake Of power |
adopted the principles Of its oppo-
nent. This whole "New Depar-
'ure" scheme has unwittingly played
nto the hands of the opponents of
oro-slavery Democracy. Of course
'uch result was not meant, but
he step once taken could not be
'ecalled, and the Republicans all
'ver the country have not been
low to take advantage of it, as they
lad perfect right to do. The same
hing the young and liberal Demo-
racy of California did in this in
tance, is being done in other States.
of the restraints of disci-
line in their party at best, they
mbraced the first oppuriunity to
zee themselves from the party of
cad issues and exploded ideas.
nd when the bngle sounded the {
eparture from the old landmarks j
the party, it was rightly inter-
reted by this class as blast of s
= iisintergration and I
very man was at liberty to seek t
olitical affiliation with the party l
olding his own ideas, and capable /
affording him protection, and t
olding out some protects for the '
ture. All hail, new and vigorous
alifornia! Welcome back again s
the true fold, thou gallant sister +
the far West! t
Our PUPLIc ScHooLs-We have I
sretofore congratulated the friends a
nnh1ic edncafion ,1non tho vorv n