New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-08-23
CONFERENCES AND POSSIBILITIES,

1t is known generally that the committees
representing the MeEnery and the Penn
| tickets are negotiating fer a compromise
which will place them in the field upon a
united national and State dcket. 1t is also
| certain, if not so well known, that the
Pinchback and Kellogg committees are
working for coalition that will unity the
Republicans in support Of Grant and a sin
gle State ticket What will result from
these consultations must be decided in a
day or two, and it is perhaps needless to
venture a prediction; but the indications
are that only two tickets viii be left in the
field
If the joint DemOcratic-Liberal ticket
should be headed by a Republican, sound
and tried, we see for it an easy victory.
Confidence in the determination of the
people to bury past animosities and preju-
dices would be at once established, and
Liberal Republican leaders could appeal to
their followers with confidence that their
best interests lay in hearty determination
with their old political opponents. With
out such guarantee, it will be, in our
opinion, impossible to establish the con-
VictiOn that white supremacy" hostility
to newcomers, and all the other senseless
but damaging issues of the past are not
still the ruling sentiments of this party
Liberal, Democratic, or whatever else it
may be called. The Liberal Republican
element not being conciIiated, this ticket
will have for a support the old and Oft-de-
feated Democratic party, now more than
ever depleted by the desertiOn of the many
who will be disgusted with a repetition Of
past blunders and mismanagement. 1t
must, therefore, under such circumstances,
be set down as certain of defeat.
The proposed coalition of the two wings
Of Grant Republicans takes a much more
practical shape. Already have they settled
on a Joint electoral ticket, determining
wisely not to fIitter away their strength on
tie presidential question, no matter how
widely they may continue divided on State
nominees. This guarantees the State for
Grant, it will be seen, even should the four
State tickets remain in the field. But the
thus begun will not end here,
we Opine. Three State offices have been
rendered by the CustOmhouse faction to the
Pinchbackers, with a condition that all who
are depOsed on either side shall be literally
provided for in the federal service, and it
will be strange, indeed, if self-interest does
not induce the acceptance of these or some
what similar terms.
There is only one contingency which we
can see that is calculated to prevent the
Republican coalition, but that is fraught
with possibilities too momentous not to be
taken into serious consideration. We refer to
the failure Of the Liberals and Democrats to !
unite, which might be calculated to induce
Mr. Pinchback to retain the field and strive
for direct success. With four tickets in the
field, we know his friends consider him Ger
tain of success, and they assert with every
evidence of belief in the truth of their asser-
ion that nineteen -twentieths of the colored
vote will be polled for him. With anything
near an equal division Of the white vote,
this would elect him.
Therefore, taking the above as an accu-
rate summary of the political chances, and
we have every reason to believe in its cor
cectness, the situation is squarely presented |
to the conservatives in this shape: The
choice IS before you, to take Reform Re
publican and with him beat the united Grant
forces, securing a government of the peo-
pie, in the interest of the people; or to pur-
sue the suicidal policy of the past few
months and chance the election of a State
government chosen and controlled by the |
black population entirely. The Democratic
and Liberal committees, and Messrs. Penn |
and McEnery have a serious responsibility |
resting upon them.