New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-10-18
HOW THE DEMOCRACY APPRECIATE GOOD
MEN

lacks the pledged support OF the FOIefS'
such as is usually obtained through the
agency Of primary meetings, to give it
the greater strength. But the ability and
high standing Of the candidates and their
manifest superiority, in the aggregate
over those of the regular party, are virtues
which only address themselves to the
better class of the conservative voters,
which, being hopelessly in the minority,
can do nothing without the aid Of those
who stand much lower in the scale of
responsibility and intelligence, but cast
more votes. It is very evident that the
great want Of the Democracy is not good
men so much as it is the Offices. For the
Reformers offered them a better ticket
than they have selected themselves, and
yet they ignore it altogether. Were the
Reform candidates little better instructed
in Republican principles, and at the same
| time Invested Of their tax-resisting here
sizes, and could manage to lay aside or at
| least conceal their oyerweening self-con-
ceit, they would doubtless make very fair
officers. For they are well meaning citi-
zens, who desire the prosperity Of the city,
but are not very clear in their plans to Sc
cure it. Their very sincerity, however,
renders them unpopular with the
rank and file, no less than the ringleaders
of the Democratic party, whose whole
plan of reform goes no further than to
take the public patronage out Of the
hands of Republicans and distribute it
among themselves. Under the Reform
administration, there would be short com
mons for the hungry boys around the City
Hall, which the aforesaid boys do not con-
slider brilliant prospect. Rather than
have the city treasury closed against the
'hard workers" Of the party, they would
sooner have the power remain in the
hands Of the Republicans. For the well
known spirit Of enterprise and progress
that eharacterizes our party is a guarantee
that the weeds will not be permitted to
grow in the principal streets. Life is at
all times preferred to stagnation; SO the
rank and file Of the Democracy show
decided inclination to turn the cold Shout
der to the really sincere men Of their party
who have made move in the direction of
reform. "What u exclaim these loud
voiced patriots, 'freform the glorious old
party, with all its proud traditions, its
victories of twenty-five or thirty years
ago; shut up the treasury from the
boys; close up the concern and do
nothing to hold the party together?"
These questions need only to be asked to
elicit condemnation. They declare the
Democratic party is in no need Of any
new tangled notions Any change from
established usage would be an innovation,
and once begun nobody can say where it
would end In crying out for reform it
was never contemplated carrying it SO far
that the successful candidates could not |
clear expenses. Therefore, the Reform
candidates, good enough men though they |
are, for Democrats with decided negative |
virtues, are positively repudiated by the
voters upon whom they depended, but
whose primary consent they forgot to OBJ
tain. What pity The best men Of the
party fear to risk their nominations by
the voters, and when they announce them
selves they are treated with neglect. If
well laid plans are to thus nliscarry-if
the tail thus refuses to obey the head,
what is to become Of this people? If old
citizens are to disregard the ties that are
to bind them together, unless
they can find their profit in it, how are
he outside barbarians, the white Repub-
leans, the strangers to this commu-
lity, }" the poor white laboring men and
he negroes to be put down and kept in
heir proper subordinate position? If the
chickens will not follow for such vigorous
.lucking, what is to be done?
There is open war in the enemy's camp.
The leaders Of the party are face to face
With formidable mutiny which threat
MS disruption. They have offered their
est men for candidates, but the voters
ry out against them because they are
elf nominated. And when new ticket
presented the Reformers raise the OBJ
,ctions that the candidates are not old
nough, are not well known, do not pay
axes, are not identified with the interests
the city, and dozen or SO more old
political phrases which really
zpress nothing definite that is objection
Die, but which mean deep-seated hostil-
y. Instead of a union of all the con- {
rvative elements there are now three
ell defined factions, each with a full set t
candidates, but fatally deficient in the S
lportant item Of voters. These three {
arties represent all there is left Of the S
d Democracy, now divided, discordant, c
,lligerent-each openly processing de c
rmination that the Republicans shall s
in the victory rather than either Of the ]
hers. L
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