New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-03-31
The Cincinnati Conventions
lErnrn tha EhiCaGO tn pune.

When the Republican party hrst appeaieu
to the people, its demands were suln nm T up
in the string legend: Free Sol. Free
Sneecb. Free Labor and Free Men, The
Treat end of free soil, free labor, and free
men have been gained, and the meeting OF
the Cincinnati convention WILL determine
whether the Republican party can tolerate
free speech without ceasing to exist. The
rioht of the people to peaceaby assemble
was made part Of the fundamental law long
before the Republican party was organized,
and that party owed its origin to the persist
ent denial of that right by the party pre-
yiouslv in power. The Republican party is
now in power, and those controlling the
government were elected by it j.; and we
insist that the long established right of
any portion OF the people. Republicans
or not, to assemble in convention or other
wise, and to present their claims, and
to take such other political action as may
seem to them good is too sacred to be called
in question by office holders, office seekers,
OF the managers and directors of parties or
caucuses. When the Republican party,
through its official organizations, State or
national, or both, undertakes to declare
that any person who shall attend public
meeting, or participate in convention,
composed exrlusively of Republicans, to
demand political reforms which the party
neglects or refuses to adopt, thereby ceases
to be a member of the party, 1t will be
adopting the same policy which overthrew
the Democratic party Ihe Cincinnati
convention is to be Republican or nothing
Vt has been called by Republicans, for Re-
publicans to promote Republican principles.
If that be treason, Messrs. Morton, and
Conkling. and Murphy can make the most
of it.
Right here arises the question whether
the Republican party Is an organization for
the election or appointment OF particular
squad of men to office, and therefore mere
Marty of plumber, or whether it be a party
having distinct and declared policy of
government, which it seeks to carry out for
the benefit Of the country and of the human
family If it be the former. and the sole
purpose of the party be to distribute plum
der among Leets, Stockings. and other ia
vorites, then the party is fraud, and the
sooner it is replaced by some other organi-
cation the better But if the party have a
higher purpose, and the national welfare is
sought. then it is a pertinent inquiry. DO
these persons who are to meet at CINCINNATI
propose any departure from the doctrines
of Republicanism What do they say of
themselves, In the resolutions leading to
the call of this convention they say:
|, That we, faithful now, as We were in
the dark days of the war, to the vital prin-
ciples of Republicansm, by no act or word,
directly or indirectly, will endanger the
rightfnl sovereignty of the Union.
3 That no form of taxation is Just or
wise which puts needless burdens upon the
people.
eminent patronage for the control of con
yeutions and elections, whether in the in
terest of individuals or of party, with its
consequent corruption and decentralization
of political life, demands the thorough and
genuine reform of the public service.
4. That local self-government, with i'm
partial suffrage. will guard the rights of all
citizens more securely than any centralized
authority.
). I'VE demand, with equal suffrage for
all. complete amnesty for all. that the in
tellect and experience OF every State may
be welcomed to active service tor common
welfare.
g. That true Republicanism makes it not
the less our duty to expose corruption, de-
nounce usurpatiOu of power. and work for
reforms necessary for the public welfare.
We. therefore, invite all Republicans,
who desire the reforms herein set forth. to
meet in mass convention az Cincinnati,
etc.
Is there anything in this declaration that
is inimcal to Republicanisln Is there a
word there which any Republican ought to
object to as part of the platform at Phila-
delpaia: We hold that it is perfectly
proper for any Republican who chooses to
do so to attend the Cincinnati convention.
Those who 60 will stand in no danger of be-
inc read out of the party, for they will be
too numerous to be spared. Every congress
sional district in the West ought TO be, and
we presume will be, represented there. The
State OF Illinois ought to Lave a hundred of
its leading Republicans at Cincinnati, for
they can exercise an influence far more po-
tent upon the next Presidential election
there than they can hope to exercise at Phil
a1plnhia