New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-02-10
SOMEWHAT EXPLANATORY.

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right and left, those that they have helped
turning upon them with the same indie
cency that characterizes the abuse of those
who do not know them. We doubt very
much If the men who mouth this term
| hourly have any better idea of what il
means than did Mr.. Joubert, who testified
before the investigating committee. He
defined a carpet-bagger to be ga man who
came here to make money dishonesty by
holding office, and then to leave" He ex-
cepted from this list all Northern men
VINO were his friends, and such as were
not DESTROYS to hold Office or to make
money Perhaps nine men out Of ten will
accept this definition, as the Times does,
as a lucid and correct response to
the inquiry as to what consti-
tutes carpet-bagger. And yet the
basis of. the answer is the purest
selfishness, mixed, in the case of Joubert,
with streak of malice. Its essence con-
sists in this: that whoever interferes with
another man is carpet-bagger, provided
he is stranger in the community. Clerks
insist that they ought to have preference
of situations owe: carpet-bagging statesmen
of better ability. Laborers fly into pas
sion if a carpet-bagging mechanic is pre-
ferred before themselves, and the lazier
the laborer, the louder his indignation.
Mr.. Joubert has been defeated by better
men than he is, and takes refuge in the
same splenetic anathema against his oppo-
nent
When reconstruction was set afoot to be
made successful in Louisiana there were
two classes Of men in the State, one of
which was recognized as ''the people, the
other of which was spit upon as ''the mig
gers. Both Of these classes claimed to
have equal rights in the community, but
''the people resented this pretension, and
denied that ''the niggers" were at all to be
considered in the organization of society.
Here there arose dispute, such organs of
public sentiment as the Times denying
what the colored people and their friends
insisted upon. This difference originated
various contumilious expressions, such as
i" nigger-lovers," carpet-baggers" and
scallawags.' These terms were used |
anonymously, all men being classified
as belonging to all these classes if
they avowed any respect or tolera-
ton for the new doctrine of polit-
cal equality. In this dilemma the col
ored people supported their friends, and
''the people" as represented by the Times,
adhering to their exclusive and domineer-
ng advocates All that is necessary, then,
% constitute a political rpet-bagger it
Will be seen, is that he shall be Repub-
lean, and this is the literal and proper use
hat the epithet is applied to in politics at
present. Such men as Joubert reduce the
erm little by applying it to such white
men as are honester and smarter than they
re, for Joubert is an holder himself
nd feels sore at the prospects of defeat
Thich he may yet encounter from men
hat are more trusted by the Republican
arty.
The term, then, is general one, and is
uite as much used in private matters as
is in public life. 1t is applied to any
tranger who advances himself over a
esident barnacle. Hundreds of Repub-
cans in the Stata We're born here other
undreds are naturalized citizens, and
ONE few are Northern men. The greatest
prevails against this latter class,
nd it is Of them that we desire to say a
God word. Mr.. Scofeld was Justly
at JOubert's ingratitude and in
ecency against Northern men, for taken
5 class they will compare favorably
18th any citizens in the State. 1t is true
lere are bad men here from the North,
ut the number is very limited. and it is
eing reduced to still smaller
st as the men prove themselves to be
nworthy. The Northern carpet Dagger
generally friend of the community in =
hich he lives as matter of interest, and
icy use all their great and acknowledged
tally to advance any and every locality
which they may cast their lots. They
i've helped Louisiana, and would have :;
'ne so to still greater extent than they :,
I'VE done if they had had better material :,
work with. As it is, the schools and I
ilroads that are growing up all around =
!, choking down ignorance on the one :,
nd, and opening up the rich lands of the
ate on the other, are monuments in their
vor that neither the jaundice of the Times {
r the malice Of Joubert can pull down p
hide away from sight +
A "VEXED QUESTION" u