New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-03-14

The Proper Time to Agitate for Reform.
From the New York Naton.l
In view of the discussion now raging,
and which has been raging for some time
past. over the various Investigations"
which have been proposed, the question
which. though not new, is very interest
ing-presents itself: What is the proper
time and place to agitate for the removal
of abuses and the improvement. of the ad-
ministrative machinery! 1t has arisen fire.
auently already in slightly different form,
in relation to the duty OF voters with re-
gard to what they believe to be abuses of
their power on the part of caucuses and
nominating conventions. Some persons
have held, and an increasing number ac-
tually hold, that the time for All electOr
to speak out his mind on this point is after
the nominations have been made, and while
the candidates are already in the field,
and the public attention fixed on them.
But the political managers have always
maintained that to do 50 then was to i'm
peril the election, and, through this. to in
jure the party; and that it was, therefore,
the duty OF those who thought the success
of the party essential to the best interests
of the country to keep silent till the cleo
ton was over. and to vote the regular
ticket: but, the minute its success was
assured, to make such remOnstrances as the
case seemed to call for, and in this way pre-
vent the recurrence OF the thing complained
of. To this, on the other hand, the re-
formers have replied that if they waited
till the election was over, their remon-
strances would fall on leadcn ears: that the
managers, who live from day to day. and
have the deepest confidence in the forget
fulness of the public and the chaugeiulness
of the political sky, would be little troubled
by threats which, at worst, could not be
put into execution Tor year Or two: and
that the people. who can i'll afford the time
they have to give to political affairs during
the canvass, and are little disposed to listen
to general preaching on the subject OF po-
ltical purity which has no application to
pending events, and are total V opposed to
crying over split milk, would pay small
heed to denunciatiOnS which. however ad-
mirable in the abstract. could produce no
immediate practical effect. Indeed so well
recognized is the futility OF pOst-election
preaching Cd the proprietv of nominating
none but good men for Office that there
would be no difficulty in getting all the cor
rupt politicians in the country to engage in
it heartily if it were made worth their
while: and that ali men who have seriously
considered the various plans for keeping
bad men out of office are very generally
agreed that scratching or, in extreme
cases, "bOlting," is the only one OF any real
efficacy.
Now the question comes up-and it must
be admitted that it is very serious ques
tion-what is a Republican to do who is not
satisfied with the administration: who
either has lost his confidence in the Pres-
dent, or who believes that, though person
ally pure himself, lie is surrounded by and
is influenced by men of whom the same
thing can not be said, and that. if he is re-
elected, their influence will be strengthened
Il III I al.
large body Of Republicans of this kind who
are firmly rooted in their dissatisfaction.
and who believe that it rests on sufficient
evidence. there is no denying. What are
they TO do
All are agreed that they ought not t. 90
over to the Democrats. NOBODY IN the |
Republican ranks looks for anything good |
in politics from Democratic hands, or
doubts that Democratic administration |
would introduce fearful confusion by re-
openin z questions which should never be
reopened, and trying experiments which
should never be tried. Therefore. ali con-
cur that reform, if to be sought at all
should, if possible, be sought inside the
party lines" as the phrase goes All the
discontinued people in the nation are in
deed cordially invited by the party papers
and orators to come into the party as the
only place IN which great problems can be
solved or great grievances redressed. SO
far. therefore. the path is clear; it is the
duty of reforming Republican to seek
his reform by agitation within the party.
The next question is, by what methods are
reforms to be sought within the party! To
this the fathers of the church give abso- |
]utely no answer. We do not know single |
party chief or newspaper to whom We can |
refer an an xious layman for light on this
most important subject. We can tell him,
however, what he must not do. He must |
not band himself together with Others of |
his way of thinking, and draw up platforms
differing from the regular party platforms,
and nominate candidates other than the |
regular party nominees, because this Is
what the Missouri Liberals have done or
propose to do, and we are assured by al the
party organs that this is base and foolish
thing to do, because apart altogether from
its hostility to General Grant, 1t threatens,
bv creating split in the party ranks to |
bring the Democrats into power, than
which there could be no greater calamity. |
Nor must he write or speak in critical or |
manner of the adminlnls- |
tratioD, tor two reasons One, and OF course |
the principal one, is that his criticisms, II |
unfavorable, are sure not to be well
The things with which he is dis
st;ed-say the management of the New
Work or New Orleans Customhouse for
Lot things with which
man ought to be dissatisfied. A
arsat many other men as good as he are
sn . d;ssatisfed with them; besides which,
+he President. if he gets time, will make
the changes called for; that he has not
made them already does not zen against
his view. because he fouhu the system
uhich he administers eXlstimS DIS ~ - NJ"
T I,a ad \" represents the party;
.ne dun - IN nower supports 1t, and
Inc ps afsy lie for it before the country.
$ respon nat therefore,. attack the admins
oa can NIL nj ont attacking and helping to
; 1;a.;Sa and weaken the party; and If you
1 1;ride and md" weaken the party you endanger
bs delivery Of the country to the lem IN
,crats. You remember what IN nap an.%or Of
Missouri; tho bolt there sent the so'n0r 0'