New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-10-17
nBMooRACY RBPUDIATED.


1rcAN some months ago appears to have
been practically adopted by the people Of
this city. We wanted reform on Re
publican basis. The principles Of our
party were and are entirely satisfactory to
us and to the people of this city. They
are defensible not only in reason and
logic, but they have been proved by actual
practice. The people have no desire to
set aside the mild and equitable rule Of
Republicanism for the proscriptive, IN
tolerant and selfish Democracy. But we
recognized the necessity Of electing men
to Office who will administer the laws
faithfully honestly, economically, and IN
the spirit of the Republican platform.
None but Republicans can do this, and
hence the greatest danger our party has
encountered has been in the possibility
that the o. position would nominate men
for Office who profess to be Democrats,
but are really Republicans in their feel
ings and practices, able and honest men.
Few Of the candidates presented by the
fusionists combine all the essential'qualif-
cations. The majority Of them are wofully
lacking in political liberality. They have
been reared in the belief that there is no
political virtue outside of the Democratic
party in the South; that the term
South is limited in its meaning
to the white people, and that the old
residents and property owners alone are to
be consulted upon all matters of public
policy. Thus we see an army whose fol
lowers AMI voters belong to the lowest
order Of humanity, actually controlled by
q few political aristocrats who make a
trade manipulating the party. In all
public connections these leaders come to
the surface under one speeious guise or
another. This year they have assumed
the names of Reformers, Liberals and
Conservatives, respectively, and have sue
ceeded in associating with them some very
estimable citizens. But when the smoke
cleared away and the successful ones
counted, ii was found that the best men
had not generally received nominations.
The Reformers met in convention without
the formality of primary meetings, hoping
by iudiaious selection Of candidates to
obtain recognition, and by it effect fusion
with the two other conventions. But
as the real leaders of the Conservative
element had been left out, and the rank
and file saw no prospect of loaves and
fishes in the success of the Reform ticket,
the movement fell still-born. The Re-
formers were passed by in contempt, and
more favorable to the leading
objects in view made by straight-outers
and so-called Liberals. This disagree
ment as to names and precedence IN the
primary steps, added to the fact that there
has been, as usual, many more candidates
than offices, has weakened the Democratic
party beyond redemption, provided the
will exercise the wisdom
necessary to profit by the mistakes Of their
enemies. t
The dissatisfaction and Indifference
shown by the community for the fusion
ticket prove that it is not change from
RepubIicanism to Democracy which the
people want so much as a change in the
personnel of the ofice-holders. Not a
complaint has been heard against the Re
publican incumbents Of denial Of justice
on account of political or religious views,
of race or nationality. The sole cause of
discomfort has been the unsatisfactory con-
dition of the public credit. 1t is not even
claimed that the Democratic party has
proposed OF is likely to propose, any plan
to improve this condition that the Repub-
Icans have not already tried. Every in
telligent man knows that the public embar
spring from the people them
selves, and can only be removed by first
making The people more thrifty and pros
porous. It is not in the power Of any ad-
however wise, to do this.
The utmost that the State and municipal
rulers can do is to reduce the public ex-
penses, which would, if brought down to
nothing at all, be only negative in effect,
for our public expenses represent but a |
very small proportion Of what it costs to
i've. In the face of decreased products, |
the people Of this State spend too much |
money for what they do not really need.
We have too many consumers for the lin
ted number Of producers. But, for these
evils the Democratic party offers no rem
9dy, and only lays claim to superiority in
he one point of character Of their candi-
lates over any it is possible for the Repub-
leans to put in the field. But this claim
las no foundation in fact; and if our con-
7ention, now in session, will select the
light kind Of men they will be elected. 1t
S evident that the people are not so much
n love with Democracy as to want to try
t again.
THE DELAY