New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-07-23
TIE MoKAReHIAL CHANGE.


the precept and examples of the past. The
once plain and admirable system which
revealed the relations Of the States to the
federal government no longer exists. Each
is not now a political body in itself for
certain defined and recognized purposes,
owing allegiance to the extent Of delegated
powers to the federal government. But
the State has become a dependency. In
stead of having original powers, it seeks
whatever authority it exerts from the
source it united with others to create for
executive purposes.
This change has not been effected by any
alterations in the constitution, but by the
usurpations Of one man. The distributed
powers of the general government have
been gathered together and firmly grasped
in the hands of the President. His power
is no longer derived from the States,
unitedly forming a government of dele
gated authority, but from concessions Of
Congress, singularly disposed to strengthen
instead of weaken his assumptions.
An illustration Of this condition Of
things is furnished in the recent and pros
pective history of our own State. The
commonest intelligence can appreciate the
strange anomoly of a State government
being controlled by federal officials. The
armed soldier of the national government
dictates the terms Of the citizens alleg-
lance and executes with military violence,
the process of courts, which the civil Off
Ger would find no difficulty in enforcing.
An act of the federal Congress designed to
secure the Legitimate exercise Of constitu-
tional rights, has been perverted into an
instrument Of terrorism on the eve Of cleo
tons, and brought into active opperation
to suppress party opposition,
Such, at least, has been the history Of
the last four years. What is the aspect Of
affairs at present? We are on the eve Of a
presidential election. In this State there
Pare, apparently, three parties in the field,
but, in reality, only two-the national
canvass, confined to the Radical party
and the Liberal party, has each its fol-
lowing in the State. The issue is made by
the aggressive policy of the administra-
ton. SO oppressive has it everywhere
been felt, that the opposition, Or Liberal
movement, has absorbed the various or
CARNATIONS that hostile political sentiment
has created in former years. 1t includes
all shades of political opinion, united in
the single effort to restore pure and liberal
government.
But in this State, as We said before, a
portion Of the opposition clement has
drawn away from the Liberal movement.
It apparently confines its opposition to
State affairs, but, in truth and reality, is
an intrigue of the enemy to riyet Radical
rule upon the State. Supporting the Lib
/ eraI policy for the nation, how can it deny
| it to the State? If it is good for other
States, it is good for US. The principle is
the same. II, by the measures this fraction
Of the Democratic element is pursuing in
this State, the Radical State ticket is
elected, so will be the Radical electors
What will compensate for that?
But If, as the Democrats assert, they
have a majority in numbers over the Lib
eral Republicans in Louisiana, why not
60 into the August convention with them
and let the majority exercise in the de
libe,ations Of that body its legitimate in
fuence. If that influence is dominant
they will gain all, and more than they can
by a separate State ticket They will
avoid also the possibility Of a Radical
success, nor is it a danger to be under
valued and treated with gcOrn. The in
strumentalities employed by the federal
government are not to be viewed with con-
tempt Nothing less than a powerful and
controlling majority will prevent the ex-
ercise Of every imaginable device Of ire
| spOnsible power.
While the savage Indian and scarcely
less savage Mexican borderer are ravaging
our frontiers, killing the inhabitants and
desOlating the fields industry has made
fruitful the soldiers Of the nation are sent
to populous cities and garrisoned in dis
tricts where political opposition is domi-
nant and infexible. What do such
measures portend? Not a peaceful cleo
ton For this time, at least, and especially
in Louisiana, are the people likely to have
an example Of the rule or ruin policy in
its fercest and most. unrelenting aspect.
This fragment, then, Of the Democratic
party, which is indirectly strengthening
the hands of the Radicals, is assuming a
fearful responsibility. The men who com
pose it are contributing whatever influence
they possess to build up and strengthen
fraud and corruption, and are helping to
visit upon the State the aggressive policy
Of the worst administration that has ever
afflicted the country. They can not be in
sensible to the fact. He who runs may
read the result, if these measures are per
sisted in to the day Of election. 1t is clear
that the Liberal party, with the aid Of the
Democrats, can achieve an easy victory.
In any contingency the Democratic Tarty
can do nothing, save perpetuating the dis
astrous rule Of federal politicians. To the
intelligent, industrious people Of the State,
struggling against oppression, and disap-
pointed in their hope Of deEverance, such
a prospect is far from pleasing. To them
it is the realization Of the tyranny they
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