New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-03-15
THAT ADDRESS,.

lished in the Citizens Guard yesterday,
signed by John Ray, Charles W. Lowell
and J. Henri Burch, a select number Of
persons who assume to represent the Re-
publican party of this State, but who in
reality only personate a small body of in
dividuals known as the ''Customhouse
clique" is about as mastery a production
as anything that emanated from that great
coalitionist and revolutionist, the Hon.
George w. Carter, when he was designing
his somewhat notorious raids upon the
State House. 1t is true there was a little
more of the ''blood and thunder" style in
the pronunciamentos of the pregnant
George, but he was playing a des-
perate game, and he no doubt
felt convinced that the Chinese tactics
adopted by him would serve to brighten
the enemy, and 10y giving the noted coali-
ZIONIST m easy victory, place him in quiet
possession of the much coveted citadel of
the State. But as the ''blood and thun-
der style failed to secure a victory, and
as the nature of the present engagement
is pacific, the triumvirate who are attempt
ing to exercise authority over tie Repub-
licans of this State at this time have
eschewed the fierce, clustering, Carterlan
strategy for the time being, and,
adopting a more courtly style, expect
to win by cool impudence. Their
address processes to emanate from the Re-
publican State Central Committee Of this
State; but as these gentlemen are a part
and parcel of that small body Of men who
attempted, under the lead of Carter, to
establish a Gem Legislature. with a view
and for the professed purpose of %electing
Mr.. Ray Lieutenant Governor, and de-
| posing Governor Warmoth, and as they
disgracefully failed in their professions
and pretensions then, SO they will dis
gracefully fail now in establishing their
right to speak, as the duly elected Re-
| publican State Central Committee, to
the great mass Of Louisiana Republicans.
These gentlemen are only authorized to
speak for a few hundred Republicans who
are attached to the political fortunes Of the
Grant of~ice-holders in this State. Out
side of New Orleans they are few and far
between. In this city they can muster q
few hundred, all told, by giving places to
some and making promises to others; but,
as men can not live always on promises,
this number will continue to huctuate as
Grant stock rises and falls. Nothing but
a united Republican party can secure this
State for Grant. There is nothing more
certain than this; and as things look o
that is next to impossible.
The course pursued by the federal office
holders in the State, and apparently sus-
tanned by President Grant, has proved
very damaging to his prospects of re-
nomination by the aid Of the Republicans
of Louisiana. Party organization is GER
tainly necessary, but it has got to be
effected in a manner that will inspire the
confidence and enthusiasm of the rank and
file Of a party. The federal officers in a
State compose but a very small fraction of
the people; and where they render them
selves obnoxious by attempting to leave
the people without choice in the selection
Of candidates for the highest offices
within their gift, they injure, instead
of benefting, the prospects Of the
candidate they are seeking to force
upon the people. The Customhouse
clique, of which Messrs. Ray, Lowell and
Burch are only the representatives, have
done more than attempt to elect Grant
delegates to the Grant convention to be
held in Philadelphia next summer! They
are attempting, through the aid of enc
mics of the Republican party, to control
the nominal ons for State Offices and
these men feel confident that with the aid
of the Presidents name in the very i'm
portant political canvass that is about to
take place, they will be able to deceive the
colored voters of this State and effect the
full purpose Of the coalitionists. which is
hostile to the Republican interests of the
State. Should the coalitionists succeed in
this State the date of that success will IN
doubtedly be the commencement of the
decline of the influence of colored voters.
If the President continues his war upon
the Republican State Administration he
makes war upon the colored voters of this
State, for they elected the pres
State officials. The address
put forth by a Republican State Central
that represents the coalition
lists is not, in fact, a document that repre-
sents the Republican party Of Louisiana.
1t may be good enough for President
Grants purposes, and those who are or
ganizing with a view of forcing his re-
nomination, but it is not good enough for
the free and independent Republican voters
of this State, black and white, who mean
to be left untrammeled in their choice of
the next President. It is simply sheer
impudence for Messrs. Ray, Lowell and
Burch to pretend to represent, in their
address, the Republicans OF Lou
PASSING STRANGE.
The extraordinary document lately pub
lished as the address of the Provisional
CanfraI Committee Of 4Io Roforr,