New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-05-05
rHr IrprpAI. pRPnRLTnAN PARTY.

\ I
the abuses of government in this country.
Both the Democratic and Republican
party have passed their days of usefulness,
and fallen into habits that are anything
but beneficial to the public interest. They
have both degenerated into partisan COM
pacts that hold success Of party and indi-
viduals paramount to the general welfare.
The great issues that divided the Re
publican and Democratic parties from
1860 until the close of the rebellion and
the work of reconstruction was completed
have ceased to exist. They are but dead
issues Of the past, and should not longer
be permitted to serve as food for partisan
purposes, and continue a disturbing and
dangerous element to the peace and pros
perity of the country. The present adj
ministration Of federal affairs and its vast
army Of ofice-holders are interested in
keeping up the machinery Of the Repub-
lican party, which has fallen into their
hands, as a means of perpetuating their
rule; but the Democratic party has no
such interest and motive for keeping up
its organization, for it is quite clear the
people will never restore that pa rty, as at
present constituted, to power. Therefore
it will be both wise end patriotic
in the Democratic party to disband
and cooperate with the Liberal Repub-
ican party, that has just been brought
into existence for reform purposes. When
it is once understood that the Democratic
party will do this the Liberal Republican
party will gain at once large accessions
from the followers of the old Republican
party, who still cling to it because they
fear the return Of the Democratic party to
power. To avert any such result, which
they honestly think would be most disas-
trous to the country, they will vote for the
reelection of President Grant, even
though they feel convinced he is disposed
to make this centralized military gov
eminent. They are willing to endure
Grant for another term, and then take the
chances Of getting rid of him, than to
think that in joining the Liberal Repub-
icans and Democrats in a fight against |
Grant there might be chance Of finally |
falling prey to the Democratic party.
We are satisfied Of this from the manner
in which the Cincinnati movement has |
been spoken of by Republicans in differ
ent sections Of the country, who are liberal !
and in favor of reform.
The Rochester New York; Democrat
and Chronicle, an influential paper, in an
article headed "Liberalizing the Repub-
lican Party, published few days before
the assembling Of the Cincinnati conven-
ton, makes use Of the following significant
language in regard to the same:
As we have thus uniformly sustained |
liberal policy with respect to both princi-
pies and men, we can not do otherwise now
than to hope that some good. in this direc-
ton, may be achieved by the Cincinnati
cOnfreres. The purposes sought to be at
tanned by the conference, so far as we have
indicated them, have secured for the movers
in the undertaking a measurable amount of
sympathy among the broadcast and clearest
Of publiuists. But when we contemplate
a party III which the Democratic element
shall be paramount, and the Republican
party cast aside as noble horse which has
Outlived its powers, our whole sense of the
fitness of things is violated. Cincinnati, as
a means of hberalizing the Republican
party, may be a success; but Cincinnati as
a doorway into the Democratic party, or as
a device to restore that party to substantial
supremacy, would be disastrous blunder.
1t is too late to prevent the proposed CON
ference, and unwise to bellttle it. 1t is a
fact, and must be treated as such, without
passion, prejudice or ignorance. If the Re
publican party did not need liberaliZing,
Cincinnati would be impossible it does
need it, as we have frequently shown, and
hence it takes its place as an element in the
political problem, to be considered and
either eliminated from the problem or
so as to become a decisive
power, according to the wisdom or folly of
is treatment. But that treatment can not
now be considered-we must wait until the
convention adjourns for that
Our present duty, therefore, Is with the
itself, and we are to consider it
entirely from its own objective point. To
promote the best interests of the country
by liberalizing the Republican party, and,
if possible, elevating it to still higher |
standard, is the prOtessed purpose. We
are skeptical as to its power to do this; but
Oh JnaU we are 10 JuuS6 "HtH It's FlGdl |
and controlling genius shall have
been made fully manifest. If it shall
diclIer and trade with the Democracy, or if
it shall adopt such line of policy as to
confront the nation anew with any of the
dangers and heresies from which the Re
publican party has saved it, then Cincin-
natl will demonstrate its incapacity to gov /
ern. But if it shall surround the past
achievements Of the Republican party with
more substantial Guarantees and shall give
satisfactory promise of advanced progress !
IN the future, then we may welcome il as
an instrument of good and commend its
lessons to the regular Republican cOnven-
ton to meet in Philadelphia a few weeks
later We trust it may have the wisdom
to do this, and that its entire action will be
such as not to imperiI the Republican party,
its finished or unfinished work, in any re
spect.
Since the writing Of the above the Gin
cinnad convention has met, and its treat
ment Of the political problem Of the pres
ent has been such as to commend it to the /
grave consideration and respect Of the en-
tire country. The Liberal Republican /
party which has grown out Of the Cincin-
natl conference, it is now quite evident, is
destined sto become a decisive power" IN
the land. The Cincinnati convention has
this new party, and given it a plat
form Of principles that must prove accepta-
BILE toBll honest advocates Of self-govern-
ment, Democrats and Republicans. And,
in addition to this, the convention selected
two pure, able, consistent and patriotic
e NIoa 1Eyy-