New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-03-03
JUDCR sLOANAKER ON REFORM.
His Letter to the Irish Republican Club
of the Third District.
Ann, Or ANA Marnh . 1870

NEW CLEANS, La, Marcn z, lo|-.
To william s. Moore. ESQ.,, President of the Irish
Radical Republican Club OF the Third District,
city of New Orleans:
MY DEAR SIR have the honor to
acknowledge the receipt of your kind invita-
ton to address your club, at its next regular
meeting, on the existing political situation,
especially on the reformatory needs OF the
hour; and. further, your invitation requests
my views in writing, in case my personal
attendance is impossible, which will be the
case on the night OF your meeting, as pre-
vious professional engagements require my
attention. Hence, l herewith submit my
views for the information and dehberatlon
of your club, although l extremely regret
that am not allowed the pleasure OF en-
bracing the opportunity of addressing them
in person. For the kind invitation l pray
leave to return the club my unfeisned ana
grateful acknowledgements.
The all absorbing topic in political circles
is the contest between the two wings OF the
Republican party. the Democratic Custom
house combination, the citizens reform
movement, and the doings and adjournment
Of the Legislature of this State.
AS to the first, would say that the events
occurring hereunder you must he duly ad-
vised of, as the Capitol of our State has
been the principal theatre of the political
belligerents. Aud while an honest differ
ence of opinion should always be tolerated
within the lines OF the party, still l hold
that the CustomhOuse faction have nothing
20 Justify their action, for in their Opposi-
ton they became revOlutioLists, and made a
barren attempt to subvert the constitution
and government of the State, and for no
other reason than that they were personally
displeased with many of the constitutional
authorities. Again, you will remember
their disgraceful conduct at the last State
convention, when. with the military arm OF
the government, they insulted the true
manhood Of the citizen, and set at defiance
the genius and purposes OF our federal gov
eminent. Therefore. their recent Demo-
cratic combinations in the Legislature and
otherwise is fit epitOIne 'Of their former ac-
tions, and all of this demagoguism is predi-
Gated in personal ambition and against the
public good. Hence, in view of these cir
cumstances, have from the first given my
adherence and support to the only Republic
can party in this State. under the leadership
OF Governor Warmoth, who, while
he has many faults, has done more
than any other Southern executive
in preserving the principles and policy of
the party: in the maintenance of the rights
of all classes of citizens, in the perform
ance of the delicate task of enforcing the
new order of affairs as the results of the
war of the rebellion. But political reform
seems to be the order of the day. The
people, who are really the government, be-
cause they have to pay all of its expenses,
and without whom, therefore, no govern
ment could live an hour, are apparently
waking up to this vital fact. Government
is not only their creature, drawing all its
authority and sustenance from them, but
government is instituted to serve them.
Why, then, shall they not insist that gov
eminent shall serve them as well as rule
them; that it shall be under them always
and not above them, and that it shall do
their work, not only faithfully and ecOnOm-
ically-in a word, at the least expense-but
without any attempt t. place the servants
above their masters, the officials OF the
people above the people!
There seems to be an awakening OF popu-
lar spirit in the country in respect OF pOpu-
lar liberty and rights and government. 1t
is quite time that this assertion of the fun
damental principle of rule on this continent
should be emphatically made. The people
for a long series Of years have been subor-
dinated to their servants-the politicians,
and they should now rise from the degra-
dation to which they have been reduced,
and declare their rightful sovereignty. As
rhey are the source of all political power.
they should see that that power is not given
up to demagogues, and, If so parted with,
should be recalled and exerted By thu IN
selves directly, and not by taithless agents.
From having in the beginning absolute
power in their hands, the people have given
it up picemeal. until now they have practl-
cally no power whatever in the manage
ment of their own political affairs. There
is not a single officer. State or national. not
excepting even the Judiciary. whom they
directly elect. Professional politicians come
between them and the polls, and they
only allowed the poar privilege OF eleetlng
as their servants those whom conventions
and CaucuSeS nominate.
This is all wron9--tun fundamentally wrong;
and the people. if they care at all fer
their liberties, will speedily see that it is
thoroughly corrected by becoming poll
ticlans themselves.
From the time that our fathers raised
the battle cry of freedom until the pres
ent hour we have, as nation, boasted OF
our republicanism and gloried in the SOY
ereignty of people. Our history, since
the formation Of a permanent government.
has not been devoid of interest, and
stirring events have demonstrated the
vitality and power OF the people to
maintain a free republic. We have men
among us, however, who profess to be wiser
than the founders of the republic. Taking
advantage of the eXigencies of the times,
they shout for reform, and invent all man
ner OF schemes for the pretended ameliora-
ton of the general condition of their fell
lows. and the improvement of government
that has stood tie test OF time and the as
saults of powerful enemies. That d neces-
sity for reform exists, none will deny; but
it will be found that it is the policy OF our
rulers, and not the form of government.
that calls for reformation. Could the plans
of our so-called retOrmers be contaminated,
the powers of self-gOvernmept would be
given up. and the people reduced to con
dition OF sertdOm.
The General Assembly Of this State, es
pecially the one Just adjourned, was a dis
grace to the people, and if we desire to
strike at the root of all our evils. the people
must look in future to this most important
branch of popular government. The move
ncnt in favor of political reform III the .te-
publican party, that now appears to be
spreading all over the land, like an cpl
demic. will accomplish little, if anything
worth accomplishing, unless it places lar
better order OF men in Congress, in State
legislatures and in municipal councils In
short legislation is at once the chief source
of political evil in the country and OF pOlltl-
cal regeneration. The lawmaking power
elsewhere is fundamental, both rs respects
bad government ana the reformation OF 1t.
Hence, it is of the first Importance that the
friends of genuine civil reform shall direct
their attention and their efforts toward ele-
waiting the character of our national, State
and municipal legislatures, morally ard
intellectually.
When, it has been well observed, we con
slider the powers the people depute to their
law makers-pOwers over their persons,
properties. aud lives-they may well be
alarmed by the dangers they run from the
incompetency, carelessncss. and corruption
of their representatives. In the earliest
ages and states-trUpl those of TIE Jews to
those of Greece and Rome-la W making
was regarded as the highest and most sacred