New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-02-11

efforts to regenerate our contemporary. We
have Bible assurance that in time the
worst of sinners may become good and
wise; and who knows but the Picayane
may eventually put aside all of its evil
ways, and become shining light for the
dissemination of Republican doctrine.
1t announces strong political truth in
saying that the people are opposed to coali-
tons. The mere fact of uniting discord-
ant elements in single point Of opposi
ton shows lack of principle. By this we
do not mean honesty Of purpose, but that
they are destitute of broad political doc.
trine, such as claim the fealty of parties,
and control or shape the legislation of the
country.
1t is impossible to conceive anything
more radically antagonistic than the Re-
publican and Democratic parties. A coali-
elements would at first blush appear i'm
possible. 1t would be so indeed. The
boiling wing, or Customhouse faction, Of
the Republican party were not in love with
the principles Of the Democracywhen they
united with them to crush out those who
had put them aside as unreliable and
unworthy. They wanted to be restored to
Office and power. These in their posses
sion, what guarantee had the Democrats
that they would keep their faith to. them :?
Certainly their promise was not sufficient.
They had broken faith in separating from
their friends. Why would they be more
steadfast to their new associates? But the
coalition itself was founded in bad faith to
the people What right could the Gus
tomhouse party have TO give, or the Demo-
Gratis accept, offices to which they We're
not elected by the people? No well in
formed person will contend that the places
of the late Senators Pierce and Fish should
be awarded to their defeated Democratic
opponents. They could not represent the
people of their districts, because the popu-
lar voice had declared against them. To
have occupied their seats would have been
a usurpation less excusable than the defecs
ton of the Republicans who abandoned
their constituents, for the reason that the
people had declared against them.
But the mere idea of this coalition pre-
supposes radical defect somewhere. The
party which discloses an ability to coalesce
and render homogeneous the popular ele-
ments of society must have great prin-
ciple to sustain it. The Republican party
has done this, despite the fragment which
thirst for Office and vicious principles
have thrown into the lap of the Democ-
racy. Nor can this coalition of the bad
clements Of political society be disguised
under the name Of reformers. The antag-
onism springs up on the threshold of the
coalition. These same disorganizing Re-
publicans were the authors and contrivers
of the very laws which have melted the
bitter opposition of the Democrats. The
leaders who have carried their betrayed
followers into the enemys camp are the
men who framed, advocated and passed
the registration and election laws. To
unite now in reforming the abuses these
laws created involves an acknowledgment
that they were wrong then, or are insin-
cere now.
But are the Democrats sincere? They
cried loudly for the repeal Of these meas
ures before the Legislature met, and dur
ing the instruction they studiously
stirred up and kept alive the agitation.
But when the General Assembly did re-
peal them, instead of rejoicing in the act,
as a great step toward reform, they have
as persistently sought to throw doubt upon
the legality Of the act, and are row striv-
ing, might and main, to prove it uncon-
stitutional.
In the face Of these facts, is it singular
that the impression is left that the coali-
ton owed its chief incentive to the cohe-
sive power of plumber, and that g reform
of abuses had little to do with it,