New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-04-19
sUaaEsTIoYs TO THE DEH00RATs.

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| SUGGESTIONS TO THE DEHooRATs'
Either the Democratic party does not
desire to reform the political condition of
! the United States and Of the State Of
Louisiana, or else it will convict itself of
| not knowing how to consummate this pur-
pose if it adopts the suggestion Of some
of its heady members and proceeds to
nominate general and local ticket of its
own. We understand how members of
that party, and reasonable ones, too, can
calculate from tables and probabilities on
probable Democratic success in the en-
suing election; and we fully appreciate
how the temptation-the hope of a COM
plete victory-can move them to make the
effort to obtain it. But when they calmly
consider the chances of defeat, and the
danger which they admit rests in that re-
suit, they place themselves in the position
of men who hazard an assured triumph
Of reform if they insist upon taking the
chances of partisan victory when they
have the opportunity of securing reform
triumph by throwing their strength in
favor of Liberal Republican candidates
who propose to do just what they profess
| an ardent desire to have done. The prob
lem that presents itself for the considera-
ton Of the Democracy at this time with
all the pressure of patriotism in its sup
port is this, whether they had rather be
defeated by General Grant, or be success
full with such Republican as B. Gratz
Brown, Charles Francis Adams, Lyman
Trumbuu or Horace Greeley? If they
insist upon running strictly partisan
ticket the political situation resolves itself
into one of two alternatives-that General
Grant will be elected by the popular vote,
or the contest Will have to be decided by
the House of Representatives.
1t will be impossible for any Demo-
cratic candidate to carry a sufficient
number Of votes in the electoral
college to insure his return as Presi-
dent of the United States, for the
Democracy is divided quite as much as the
Republican organization is upon the pro-
priety Of making a.strictly partisan con-
test. Thousands Of Democrats have al
ready pledged themselves to assist the
Liberal Republicans in reforming the coun-
try; and these men will consider it dis
honorable to retreat from their engagement
with their allies for the selfish purpose Of
taking advantage of the efforts of the
patriotic Republicans who have offered to
oppose General Grant in the interest Of
better administration of the general gov
ernment And even if they could find it
in their consciences to commit this treason
against their political engagements, such q
dishonorable detection would not benefit |
them, for the Liberal Republicans could |
instantly take advantage of this trea-
son to justify themselves in sup
porting the nominee of the. Philadel- |
phia convention as the least Of two evils |
Such men as Sumner, Trumbull and |
Greeley do not stand upon mere conven-
tionalities in the discharge of their political |
duties; but are freer to-day to support
General Grant as Republican than they
are to adhere to Mr.. Hendricks, or MIR,
Thurman, as Democrat. And they would |
not hesitate an hour between disbanding |
the Liberal Republican organization and |
giving their support to the Philadelphia
nominations if they saw that its continued |
existence was liable to throw the govern
ment of the United States into the hands
of the Democracy. No Republican can
hesitate in making his choice between
Republican administration, even with
General Grant at the head of it, and
Democratic administration, with even Mr..
Thurman as its leader. Not that Mr..
Thurman or any other responsible Demo-
crat would personally injure the country,
but that his partisans and supporters
would assume that the entire sentiment |
and policy Of the last ten years had been
condemned by their success. We should
have such reaction as no Republican is
willing to contemplate, and, therefore, the
effect which is to produce this fearful re-
suit is not to be considered for moment.
We doubt very much whether the better
Democrats are even prepared to
see their own party successful in nation
al contest at present, because they must
know that such calamity would derange
the entire country and shake our financial
position in Europe and every other foreign
community.
What the Liberal Republicans propose
is this that they will reform the abuses
that have prevailed in the political man
agement of the United States ever since
the death of Abraham Lincoln. The civil
shall be made superior to the
military. The laws shall be enforced by
egal tribunals which are their proper ex-
FOUNDERS. Local politics shall be exempt
rom interference by federal officers.
Economy shall be introduced into every
department of the administration. The
United States shall have q respectable for
sign policy, and be represented by diplo-
matte agents of understanding and discre-
ton. The rights of every citizen shall be
protected in every corner of the country.
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