New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-01-12
THE PERIL OF REPUBLICANs.

|
ton O. 1868 fully established the pre-
dominance of the Republican party in Lou
isiana and this fact was yet more fully at
tested by the election and the census re-
turns of 1870. The Democrats accepted
the irresistible conclusion, because they
could do nothing else: and while some OF
them were in favor of continuing the strug-
gle upon the old issues that had divided
the two parties, another section of the
Democracy insisted that the Republicans
would be beaten by a stratagem. This
suggestion produced complete democrat
ization of the party, for the mass of the
Democrats insisted upon adhering to
principles, while the minority contended
that victory was the main stake, whether
won upon regular platform, or by any of
the devices known to guerrillas. This lat
ter wing at once departed from the old
landmarks, or. rather, it overthrow the
landmarks, and set up new decree, and
selected new set Of leaders. All the old
war horses were slaughtered or turned out
to pasture, and campaign was set on foot
that had no other object than that Of beat
ing the Republicans by any and every
stratagem known to political warfare. The
disbanded Democrats assumed one name
| in this place, another in that, and were all
! things to all men. The Conservative Re
v,r111 rfx no e.,
lican parishes; the Peoples party
was in the field in parishes that
were about equally divided and
the Democratic party" set up its banner
in localities where there We're but few Re-
publicans. The principles of these guer-
rillas We're as varied as their names We're
different; and their professions of attach
ment to the Republicans were regulated
as the chameleon fixes its shade by the
color of the voters in whose presence they
were delivered This was one part of the
scheme and the easiest to be beaten; for
as it is in Russia, when a native is scratch
ed, a Cossack is found, SO in Louisiana
when one Of these glerrillas was unmasked,
a Democrat was detected. 1t soon became
evident, therefore, that a supplemental
campaign was necessary, because the peo-
pie refused, as they always do, to hide
themselves behind a masquerading guise
when they assume to march in a body.
While not quitting their guerrilla cam
paign, the Democrats designed another
scheme, which was to attack one element |
Of the Republican party in order that by |
breaking down one enemy they might |
overcome all their opponents. They |
massed their forces against Governor
Warmoth because they recognized in him
the chief obstacle to their success This
attack was planned two years ago, and it
has been kept up Systematically ever
since. They had design to assist Wick
life in his contest with the Governor,
and would have done 50 if the evidence
against that bad and desperate man had
not been SO overwhelming as to defy de-
Tense. The public will remember the
equivocal position Of so many Democratic
Senators at the time of Wickliffes trial;
and it will also remember that
the Bulletin boldly declared in favor
Of the arch defaulter, not because be
was honest, but because he was the enemy
IF the Governor. And since that time
Town to the present the people, and es-
oecially the Rpublicans, will re-
all that whenever contest has
arisen between the Governor and
my delinquent Republican Of sup
}osed influence, the Democratic press has
remained silent, or it has
spoused the cause Of the delinquent.
And to-day when man worse perhaps
han Wickliffe has dared to provoke even
,loodshed to uphold himself and his Of
enses, where one the Democratic press
nd the Democratic leaders to be found
,ut in the defense Of this man, whose
fenses are even palmer than were those
f the fugitive State Auditor?
Is the design of the Democracy not plain
0 every reasonable Republican? Can
ny man recount the facts which we
ave recalled without coming to the con-
fusion that the Democracy, which has as |
1any names as the Ku-Klux have masks, |
attacking the Republican party through
ne of its accepted defenders? And can !
ny party stand idle while one of its pillars
being beaten down? Absolute destruc-
on stares every Republican in the face
nat consents to this destruction which is
eng leveled at the Governor, for when L
e falls the same enemy which has de-
;royed the leader will fall upon and de-
lolish the followers.
The Republican members are doing
lemselves injustice in thus seconding the
forts of the Democracy, for they are al
wing themselves to be used against their
wn friends; and the result VIII be, if they {
re abused in this way successfully, their {
forts will be turned TO their own discom-
ture. Let them act, then, like RepUb-
cans and not like Democrats They are
it'll their enemies; let them come TO their
lends.
HE PUBLIC SCHOOL LIBRARY. j