New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-03-07
THE DEMOCRATIC SALE.

| vlOuSly stated, IL Involves 'no "o'oA"'0 'AAe
of the Democratic party. The question
now recurs, can the sale be carried into
! effect?
Unfortunately for the Democratic par
ty, young ambitious men have got con-
troll of it. They want Office, no matter at
what cost and never having been identi-
fed with any of the successes Of party in
the past, they are willing to abandon the
principles which they only know by theory
for temporary expedient which holds out
to them the glittering bauble of success
| Conscious Of the party weakness i'll Lou
isiana, they were easily convinced OF the
impolicy of drawing party lines, when the
prospect of large Republican accessions
We're held out to them. Besides, the idea
of creating divisions among their oppo-
nents has always been a favorite Demo-
cratic theory. They did not reflect that
the Republicans with whom they were
bargaining were in Office that they held
in their hands al the power of the opposi-
ton, and that to become identified with
| them was to surrender the Democratic
party to their absolute control and dlcta-
ton. Yet such is the case.
As fatuitious as it appears, the
State and parish central committees
when coalescing with the Custom
house Republicans never looked be
meath the surface to discern that the
only divisions in the Republican party
proceeded from the fact of General Grants
anxiety for second term of the Presi
dency. That in fact the dissension was
between the federal office-holders on the
one side, and the great mass of the party
on the other; that the one represented
fraud and corruption and the prostitution
of their high offices to ends of personal
gain; that the great mass Of the Repub-
lcan party were cutting loose from their
unfaithful servants, and We're entering
upon crusade to purify American insti-
tutions and reform the abuses of govern
ment Startled into terror by the spirit
of opposition everywhere prevalent, the
federal executive and his stipendiaries
sought alliance with the Democratic party.
But only in Louisiana have they been
successful in their negotiations.
In this State the Governor had already
indicated his adhesion to the reform
movement, and the party as an organiza-
ton were becoming identified with it.
The separation effected at the August con-
vention was the legitimate consequence of
it. There was presented squarely the
issue The Customhouse people were
upon one side, and on the other the great
mass Of the Republican party. They
represented not merely a political prin
ciple, however. 1t was rather national
necessity that they We're recognizing
Reform That was the great idea. Re-
form everywhere in the national govern
ment, in State and municipal administra-
tons.
The key note Of the great movement had
been struck by Mr. Trumbull in the Sen
ate, and the sentiment had spread through
the Union, effacing party lines and unit
ing the great heart of the people in the
struggle for pure government and pure in
situations. The Republican party of Lot
isiana recognized the issue and adopted it.
In this way the Customhouse people lost
their old party affiliations, and sought to
renew their strength by uniting with the
Democrats. But the open coalition would
have been easily understood and properly
appreciated by the public. Something
must be done to hide the bargain and sale.
SO the pretext Of local reform was hit
upon. The registration and election laws
were proclaimed enormities by Packard,
who was the author of them; the militia
bill and the police bill We're denounced by
the men who framed and passed them,
and to whom alone belongs the response
bility, and the blame, if any exists. But
this was only pretext. They did not
want the laws repealed. For when the !
Governor and the friends of his admins
tration sought to do it, they opposed it.
They only wanted to shift the RESPONSE |
bility of these laws from the Customhouse |
people to the shoulders of the Governor. |
They failed in it, and hence their bitter |
The Democratic leaders knew Of this |
plot from the beginning 1t would be an |
insult to their intelligence to doubt it. |
They. entered, therefore, into the fraud
ulent bargain and sale with their eyes |
wide open. They stipulated for some
State and municipal offices, certainly, in
case their scheme was successful but the |
main feature in the contract consisted in
their agreement to bring the whole De-
mocratic party of the State to the support
of General Grant for the Presidency as
against any reform candidate who might
be put in the field.
To effect all this it was Of course neces-
sary to get Governor Warmoth out Of the
way. Hence the plot organized with
skill, and which rendered the
session of the Legislature so abortiye Of
good so fruitful of evil 1t is true the
revolution was arrested at the last mo-
men!, but the conspirators deserve no
credit that it did not proceed to riot and
and terminate in blood.
The Democratic leaders, therefore, who