New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-03-08
He Plants Himself on the Re.
form Platform.


for New York he was interviewed by a
Times reporter, with the following result
Reporter have been dispatched by the
editor of the New Orleans Times to inter
view you concerning some important topics
which materially affect the interests OF the
people. request your assent to the propo-
sition.
Warmoth-I have neither taste nor desire
to under 90 such an operation. | acknOwl-
edge no direct accountability to any news
paper, much less the New Orleans Times, a
journal which has prosecuted me with unre-
hitting acrimony.
Reporter-Now come, Governor, don't you
think tina. statement Will admit Of some
ruoditicat ton,
Warmoth-No, sir. hardly.
Reporter-BU1. Governor. people complain
of your reticence. very large proportion
Of the population suspect your sincerity,
and might not such an interview as that
now proposed serve a mutual purpose in
correcting errors and dispeiiing doubts!
Warmoth tconsidering)-Well.p perhaps it
might. Conscious OF my integrity, l shrink
from no scrutiny. aud there the Governor
considered again, finally rose, slipped the
door bolt. looked at his watch and reseated
himself well. what do you want to know
Reporter--Well, a great many things, if
you are really disposed to answer. First.
in regard to those reform measures you
promised in November last. and afterward
reiterated in speeches and messages on sew
eral occasions. The Legislature didn't seem
to pay much heed to them and pardon me
for speaking plainlvl you are very gen
orally suspected OF having willtully de-
,ceived the people: your sincerity is very
gravely doubted.
Warmoth (Interrupting). Is it Well.
/ believed the Times has doubted everything
lever said, and seemed to be willing to swear
shat l only sent in my special message on
the subject for mere bunc0mbe. In the first
place, you have done and still do me great
Injustice in seeking to hold NE responsible
for not only what the Legislature does that
is wrong, but also what it does not do that
is right. True, the executive has great
power to prevent, 10y the use OF his veto, the
enactment of bad laws. but he can not, even
with it, always succeed in doing so and
know of no power that the Governor has.
any more than any other citizen possesses,
to influence the Legislature to pass good
laws. He may, as have done. recommend
specific reforms. and that, too, in very
strong language, but ne can not make the
members vote as he recommends. He may
lead the members up to the water. but he
can not, any more than you can, sir, make
them drink.
Reporter-But it is extensively. if not uni
versally, believed that you could and did
control the Legislature.
Warmoth-( Smiling. Absurd Ii so
there would have been no occasion TOR this
interview, rest assured.
RepOrter-Pardon me. Governor. for any
seeming discourtesy, but in order to arrive
at the ends aimed at | must necessarily
speak plainly perhaps distastefuily
Notwithstanding. Well, 1 guess l
can stand 1t after " hat have gone through
for the last four years
Reporter-Ihen permit Inc to put direct
question Were you really sincere and in
earnest when you recommended the amend
ments to the election and registration laws
which stripped you in a great measure of
the power to control electionsi or was it
only piece Of political strategy that IRE
call ''sharp trick.
Warmoth-(Excitedly). You surprise me
by asking such question. Did | ever, to
your knowledge, make a recommended ton
10 the Legislature that | did not crystalize
into law, where the opportunity presented
for me TO do So Do you believe NE ca
pable Of such duplicity and CONTEMPT for
the dignity of the position | hold as to
make an official Recommendation which do
not mean.
Reporter-WeL, Governor. if half they
say about you is true. must confess thai,
in common with many others, | am Just a
little credulous.
" arm Otl-l ala not surprised at tie low
opinion in which you hold mankind, con
sidering tie association you must be forced
into in the Times Office.
q Reporter-Weil. that is a matter of
opinion, where the lonors are easy; but, 10
come back to the main question.
Narmoth-l DO not believe anybody
really ana honestly doubted my sincerity
why should / want extraordinary power
IL the administration OF the elections OF
the people! Have | not been once elected
and served almost tive years as Governor
Of this State! Could reelection com
pensate me for the odium that wo1Id
attach to me If il was believed that had
succeeded by fraud and corrupt measures
In short, the respect OF my feliow-citizpus
is more to be sought for and regarded
than the holding of high office. even with
out the faint or suspicion OF fraud, which
would attach TO NE ii 1 were to resort to
unfair or dishonest means to secure my re-
election.
HE WONT RUN FOR REELECTION AS A RAD
ICAL.
Rnporter-Am |, then, TO understand by
this that you are not candidate for re-
election
Warmoth-I am too tired and weary Of
official life to want to be elected again. I'M
! less it should be by the will OF the people,
freely and honestly expressed at the ballot
box. and in such way that no man or
iournal-not even the TmeS-could say
that it had been done by fraud or intimida-
ton. .
Reporter-Then YOU will not be a candi-
date for Governor az the LeXt election