New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-03-27
DEMOCRATIC FREE TRADE,

Hampshire election. This is great mis-
take of our contemporary. Important as
that consideration certainly is, it can have
but comparatively little weight in the YER
dict which the people Of this country are
called upon to render. The days Of pro-
lection may be in their decadence, and We
of the South care little whether they are or
not The question is essentially local to
the Northern States, and in New Hamp-
shire it was considered by both parties as
an abstract issue. In the South it can
have no important weight at ALE The real
issue which we are called upon to decide
consists iuthe recognition we will bestow
on the civil rights bill and the constitu-
tional amendments. The Democratic party
have already offered the gauge Of battle by
declaring that they do not consider the
obligations these enactments impose as
binding in case they have the power to re-
peal them. The Republicans hold, on the
contrary, that the faith Of the nation is
pledged to these laws, and that it would
be stain on the national escutcheon to
destroy or impair their validity.
This will be the national issue. Whether
the principle of free trade is recognized or
omitted in the deliberations of the con-
ventions the Republican cares but little.
1t is not vital issue. No doubt the Dem
ocrats will seek to make it so, but the good
sense Of the Southern people will perceive
it to be foreign subject, in no wise ma
terial to the necessities of the people.
But upon what grounds does the Times
assert that it was the turning question in
the New Hampshire election? Not because
it was vital issue held up before the
people. Had it been SO, and were the
other issues involved in the contest inferior
to it, the probability is the Democratic
party would scarcely have been heard of
in the contest. In that State, and through
out New England, indeed, Democrats and
Republicans are alike protectionists 1t
is one Of the peculiarities Of the Demo-
cratic party to have set Of principles for
the North. and quite different set for the
South. They never permit the interests
Of their party to be affected by introducing
into their politics question which would
so inevitably defeat all its chances for sue
cess. 1t will do very well for the Times,
down here, to rate its Democratic ideas of
free trade There is nobody to oppose it.
The Retormers viii doubtless look upon it
with approval, and il the eyes of the Dem
ocrats it will cover q multitude OF short
comirgs.
Who knows, indeed, but what the Times
has seized upon this idea to regain its
position in the Democratic fold. Deluded
with the temporary enthusiasm Of the Re-
formers, it deserted its party utilization in
vain search for popularity. But at last,
perceiving it's mistake, this political peri
patetic seeks to ride back into Democratic
fellowship upon the questionable theory
of free trade and sailors rights. We COM
mend the political sagacity of our neigh
Dor, but its expedent is too thin. 1t is
like glass-the sun shines through it.
Neither can it throw upon the Republican
party in Louisiana the onus of supporting
an unpopular principle. The national
convention may possibly recognize the
theory of protection; but we accept it
here as an abstract issue, just as the Times
Democratic friends do free trade in New
England.
1t would be impolitic in this peculiar
juncture of national agitation to introduce
his eleme Mt of discord into the canvass.
1t is put aside by more vital issue-the
integrity of the constitutional amend
ments and the justice Of the principles Of
the civil rights bill.
The Republican party recognize these
as the principles objective to the Demo-
cratic party, and which that organization
will resist studiously and fercely assail.
The issue must therefore be made plain
and clear, and not clouded and concealed
by theories in which the people feel no
vital or paramount interest. Free trade is
certainly an important consideration, but
Notwithstanding the South feel it to be SO,
it sinks into comparative insigniticance
when contrasted with the individual and
political freedom of large class of our
citizens. That is the underlying principle
of the Republican party. On it, and for
its ascendency, the party has struggled in
cessantly. They win not abandon it now,
when its foes are banding their strength to
assail it openly, as the Democrats DO, and
bv the insidious means which tie Times
employs
The POLITICAL STATUS OF REFERENCES.
It seems impossible for the Democrats
and Reformers to agree upon the exact
political status of the latter. The reason
for it seems to be that the definite deter