New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-04-23

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tine, III .thsv assss - aboys he lad
eFship of : ihciion or class they claim =
represent and CONTROL They never rio
to the dignity Of craftsmanship, and con
sequently fail to command the respects an,
adniratiop ofall classes Of citizens. ANA,
gifted by nature with high mental abilitie
and blessed with education, may SO com
portAimselfin politics as to command th'
respect of not only those whose views ar
the same as his own, but of those alst
who do not agree with him in politics
He can do this and continue firm to pnn
ciple and party, and the intelligence o.
the country will applaud his ability, con-
sistency and honesty, though it may not,
in all cases, agree with his views.
A man of this kind has a soul
capacious enough to desire to dc
good to all, and consequently arouses in
his behalf widespread fellow-feeline
that lifts him to the lofty eminence Of
craftsmanship without an apparent effort
on his part to attain such distinction.
Such man scars upward and onward in
the path of greatness, away from the grow
cling class politicians who rely upon the
prejudices Of race for political power and
promotion. 1t is true men often obtain
high political positions in this country by
appealing to particular class Of voters;
by appealing to our Irish and German
fellow-citizens and to our fellow-citizens
of African descent; by stirring up the
prejudice of ace rather than advocating
the enforcement of great principles
But it can not be truthfully said that
such men are statesmen, that they
are useful men, or that they are
entitled to the confidence Of the
great body of American citizensswho are
deeply interested in the stability of the
republic. 1t is wrong to seek political
promotion in this country through infu-
ence not strictly American. All citizens,
naturalized as well as native, are regarded
as American citizens; are entitled to the
protection Of the government, and are ex-
pected in return to discharge with fidelity
all the obligations imposed on them as
American citizens. Yet we have class
politicians in the country, who appeal to
American citizens as German voters"
''Irish voters" and ''colored voters"
Appeals of this kind are an insult to the
men thus addressed, because their authors
make them with view of furthering their
own ambitious ends, and with full
knowledge that they are wrong. This
subject should be we'll understood, for in
the past it has been source of trouble.
Many of our citizens recollect the Bitter
political feeling engendered by the growth
of q foreign political element in our
midst, not many years ago, and the de-
velopment of native American party to
dispute and counteract its influence. The
few men who gained Office by marshaling
the foreign vote cut but sorry swell
when native Americanism was fully
aroused, and could the mischief have
ceased with them downfall there would
not have been much lamentation. But
the mischief did not cease then. Political
prosecutions became frequent and alarm
ing, and many poor foreigner was made
to suffer in consequence of the false
teachings of ambitious men, whose only
for Office consisted in
their being foreigners. They rallied,
for selfish purposes, the "Irish" and
German" voters, regardless of principle
and the welfare of the country; and
succeeded in causing political storm
that took years to allay. This YVES the
work of class politicians the work of
men of foreign birth and of different
who had become natural
lied American citizens; yet forgetting
their solemn duties as SUCH, had sought
Office by appealing to men as '!:Irish
voters" and German voters" The lesson
Of such conduct should be a warning to
men of the present day. It is wrong to
appeal to American citizens in this
way. Yet it is done. In the past the ap- j
peals came principally kom Irishmen. to
[rishmen. Now the Germans are being
played upon. Carl Schurz, it is said, OBJ
aimed his position as United States Sen
ator from Missouri by the German influ-
ence. If this is true, it is to be regretted;
and the course of Senator Schurz gives
coloring to the truth of the assertion.
While denying that he is a Demo-
crat, he denies allegiance to the Re-
publican party by claiming to be
m Independent Reputlican-in other
words, a German Republican. This
is much lauded by the
Democrats, and he is regarded by them as
he true exponent of German opinion in
Missouri. This is pretty good for an
American Senator. The New York World
;riumphantly asks: upon what single
point of practical politics is Mr.. Schurz
n. harmony with the administration, or
indeed with the drift of the Republican
party?" True enough. And if he is not
in harmony with the Republican party, in
Gods mama ~o och vhok v,or%v 10 he II,