New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-02-07
"p1Ars WORDS

| AAS L stttyuStc, tuC OISdu "a VIC ~"
zens' Committee, in an article with tn
above quoted caption, pours forth to'
rent of virulent, vindictive and spitefu
epithets, aimed at the members of til
Republican party of this State, through
their representatives in the Legislative
and executive departments Of the govern
ment. The reaction proposed by thi
committee, instead of being peaceful
effort to modify Objectionable laws ant
repeal bad ones, as was the original plan
is to be transferred, it appears, to tn
political field, with the object of handing
over the power of the State to that frac
ton OF its citizens through whose treach
cry to the true interests of her people
Louisiana has already suffered SO much
In short, this boosted reform movement is
simply scheme to give the State into the
control of the Democratic party There
are, indeed, the names of well-known
Republicans to be found among the ere.
formers" but they are those of men more
remarkable for their negative social viz
tues than for political acumen; men, in
short, liable to be drawn by fine words
into an ambiguous position, where their
fundamentally may. work contrary to
their political principles
The Picayune, in its zeal for reform, as
if to sharpen the regret of its readers at
its recent change Of management pro-
claims its disgust at the ineficiency of
''soft' words and smooth expostulations
and selects in their place such expressions
as public vermin," ''emissaries from pan
demonium, ''spawn of sin, ETC., declaring
That those whom it processes to repre-
sent, namely, nearly the whole population
Of New Orleans, ''would gladly attend the
funeral" of every Republican member of
the Legislature tomorrow. No doubt it
and those ike-minded entertain such I'M
christian sentiments. Impotent manifes-
tations of malice, such as wishing or pray
ing for the death of over-strong opponents,
are not new in the history of defeated con-
spirators; and if the breath of such were
as full Of poison as their heal is, it would
be dangerous for others as well as for the
the objects Of their maliguity, to approach
them. We protest, however, in the name
of the decent portion of our population,
against the sweeping application of the
murderous wish.
In default Of the coveted ability to de-
stroy, this asp-like advocate of reform
threatens, in the name of its constituents,
to "afiix a brand Of execration and infamy
which nothing can hide or transform,
which ink can not blot out water can not |
wash out, fire can not burn out, steel can
not cut out" to all who will not bow to
is mandates. Being marked themselves
we allude to such only as are likely to
nave inspired the language quoted) with
he ineffaceable stigma of treason, they
would willingly see those who are fill
ng their abandoned places disgraced
likewise.
If the desperation of this new effort at
nseating the Republican party is at all
with that manifested in the
'icayeAaes ''plain words, y it is indeed utter
J hopeless. And so it will be found Hard
lords break no bones. The Republican
arty of this State may need reformation;
may have passed bad laws; may have
aised unfit men to power; may have ac-
some of its ends by gratifying
be cupidity of venal asses. But it is in
be majority. 1t has the votes, aud it will
now how to keep them. 1t is, moreover,
notwithstanding all the evil that can be
lid and proved against it, the hope of saliva
on for this people. Its motto is progress,
lstice,. enlightenment; and if it's high
ms advance but slowly, let it not be for
often that its road is encountered by the
lbbish accumulated during long years of
rule. If it's means are dis
cured by the arts of politicians, let it
: remembered thatwe do not live in ITO
a, but in Louisiana, and that fire is best
ught with fire.
In all the excitement of this reform
ovement, with the extravagant language ,
its organs, and the virulent spirit which :
is melted to assume, there is one hope t
feature-the prospect, namely, of thus
ousing to sense Of responsibility the {
linquent classes who have so long let c
e government of both State and city 90 7
default, and of forcing them by its /
into that participation in the a
ties Of citizenship which they have O
retofore neglected. There is in this S
ate no DISTINGUISHING clause to keep t.
ur Oldest and best" citizens from the t,
lis. Let them go up, then, and SO use O
,ir influence as to materially affect, if
y can not wholly change the course of O
airs. This will be much better than h
ling hard names, and wishing for the Il
nth of those who will not 'vote right" Il
will also be more dignifed. Outvote us S,
if you can; but, whatever you do, avoid te
/ language. 1t accomplishes nothing. Y,
THE DAILY INTERVIEWS. as
The congressional investigating COM d.