New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-09-22
Third Ward Republicans in Council

fore the Third Ward Republican Club Of
this city last evening, by Hon. L. A. Shell
don:
Mr.. President and ow-citizens-The
discussion of political subjects should be
conducted with fairness and candor. No
trifing is admissible. II is one of the evils
OF American politics that partisans descend
TO instrumentation and manifest spirit
of matignty toward their opponents. The
subject is too grave to indulge in anything
but truthfulness and fair dealing. We are
a republic The people rule. They choose
the officers who make, adjudge and execute
the laws. The laws govern our personal
conduct regulate the rights of property
and all the relations Of life between man
and man. SO that when we vote and make
mistakes, We do an injury to ourselves, our
families, our neighbors, the nation and, SO
far as the United States can influence or af-
feet other peoples, we perpetrate a wrong
10 all mankind. The people should never
forget thiF, and should strive to discharge
the great right and grave duty Of voting
with the greatest amount of intelligence
possible to attain, and with perfect hon
esty. We hold political meetings and
political discussions, and have newspapers
for the purposes of educating. the people
in their political rights and duties.
Our government is novel in its organza
ton and underlying principles In most
countries men rule by right Of birth, or by
means of force. In this country we hold
to the doctrine that no man has particular
right to office, but that one man has as
good q claim to rule as another. As all
can not rule by holding offices, we do the
the next best thing, and choose from among
ourselves the individuals who shall make,
adjudge and execute the laws. Amy mans
right to office, therefore, depends upon the
voluntary and expressed consent and
choice OF the people.
In conducting the affairs of the govern
1Aent By the people and for the people, it is
but natural that there should be differences
concerning men and measures. The discus
sion and settlement of these differences is
the business of the political campaign.
These differences also produce what are
known as political parties. The presenta-
ton of the merits of parties, touching their
men and measures, is the chief mission Of
those who engage in the discussion. With
perfect fairness and candor, | shall en-
deavor to submit such views as l entertain
upon the issues OF the present canvass.
| am Republican, and have been since
the organization Of that party. l was reared
and educated q Democrat OF the strictest
school, and from strong partisan feelings, /
disconnected myself with that party and
joined another for what | conceived to be
good public reasons | joined and still ad-
here to the Republican party, because / be- |
ieved in universal liberty, and have sup
ported its measures of acknowledgements and |
the comforting of suffrage upon every citi-f
zen, because it is folly to confer liberty |
unless the means to protect that liberty are |
also Afforded The Republican party, also, |
is the patron and promoter of universal |
education, under the belief that he who is |
educated is a better citizen and a happier |
being than one who is not. The Republi- |
can party has advocated and adopted the |
principle that mans happiness and lib |
erty can best be secured if he is the |
p0ssessor of home from which none
Can drive him, so long as he does
not violate the law; hence law
has been enacted under which any citizen
may have home upon the public lands BY
settlement and cultivation for five years
This party also believes i'll the rights and |
rewards Of labor; that wages should be SO
remunerative that the labOrer may have in
abundance all the necessarics Of life and
the opportunity to acquire something be-
yond; hence by law Of Congress all
laborers upon the pubic works are not
compelled to work but eight hours per dav, |
and without any reduction Of the wages
previously allowed. l submit that in Ill
these particulars, so far as it is proper the
government has faithfully carried out all
these principles for tho Welfare of the peos
nle under its administration BY the Eepuh
lican party.
Having stated in general terms she prirr.
ciples and doings OF the party, it becomes !
necessary to discuss the complaints made
OF Its public administration by ita oppo-
nents. Being in power, and having made
record, we are in an attitude to be found |
fault with by our antagonists; while thew |
have the advantage OF not having been in
power, and not having made any record
can 20 before the country upon their naked l
pretentions promises. 1t is q noteworthy l
fact, and it is well to state it right here, t
that they pledge to the people OF this coun-
Try just what the Republican party does.
and precisely what the Republican party c
has heretofore advocated and brought to Q
SO far as relates to the liber- a
ties and rights OF American citizens. c
The grayest charge against the Republi- .
can party is that it advocates and practices t
the GENERALIZATION Of power in the hands of a
the general government. During the late 0
war 1t Is undoubtedly true that the forms t
81 the constitution were not followed, for
that instrument was made only for a time Il
)t peace. War is the law of force, and in II
such cases force must be brought to bear b
against force, otherwise the public peace h
tnd national existence can not be main Il
aimed. Since the close of the wal the gov II
'rnment has been rapidly travelling back to tC
constitutional forms and powers. as inter
lreted in olden times / believe in the | q
Jules OF Interpretation of the constitution NJ
Is expressed in the Kentucky resolutions | T
# l79S and the Virginia resolutions of 1890 IL
nd az followed by Jefferson and jackson, Il
hat 1T ls-a government of limited powers; Of
hat it can exercise only such as are az
peciically granted and such as are N
lcidGnt to and necessary in the car h,
wing out of coded powers, But we insist n,
irther on the modification expressed by W
hief Justice Marshall, that the representa- M
YES OF the people are the judges of what Sc
overs are granted and what are incidental Ia
nd necessary thereto, instead of the courts
he judges of the United States courts are ~
npointed for life, and can not be reached ia :"
y the people,. while senators and repre- Ia
'ntatives are elected for short terms, and Ia
they make mistakes the people can ap ~
" the corrective. We think this is more W.
'nsistent with the spirit Of popular gov o Of
'ument than the theory heretofore main ~.
laed w. the Democratic party. W W
We MAINTAIN further however, that the ~
overs ol the government nave been en- o. e.
fgeu lh me following particulars First D..
liEeFsa5 liberty Is guaranteed; second, iii
liNersai suffrage; third equal civil riGhts an
Id fourth, equality Of REPRESENTATIVE in tne
)ngress. 1t will be observed 1bot tl,a VII
lendments, in express language. ernnov,- eNI
Congress to enforce these rights NV an con
oprtate legislation, but in no case can pla
ngress deny them to any citizen These mel
anges are tor the benefit Of all the peunla ify
ualiy and neither Congress nor the }9r'
2tes can disturb any citizen in the eniov- DE
ant Of these rights. L am for this cen 10y 10y
.!!zatlon. Each citizen under them must g oN
d secure, whether in this State, Calitor- W.
or Malno, against any deprivation of ~ ~
~ great nights through legislation en- ~
-ea under the influence OF local or sec
nal prejudices aud interests. These 7,rin-
les destroy sectional feelings and pride Ii
Z nattonalze our patriotism, and. / be- | mir
'e, that through their proper applicatio,, offie
uty Is at hand when every citizen Will A1na