New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-03-05
THE eRANr-DEMocRAT1C BARGAIN.

1t is an old saying, which almost ever
days experience confirms, 'that polite
make strange bed-fellows. NO true
; illustration of the idea can be given thai
the present coalition between the Demo
cratic party and the Customhouse Repub
, licans. Heretofore they have been a
wide assunder as the poles. Now, by rea
son of the manipulatiors Of the State an
parish central committees, the Democrat
party of Louisiana is pledged in advanc
to Messrs. Casey and Packard, to give it
influence and support to General Gran
for the Presidency.
This, We are aware, is startling propo
sition, and at the first blush will be We've,
with incredulity by the large body O
Democratic voters in the State. But W
ask their consideration to the facts we ar
about to submit before they make up thei
opinion in the matter.
First-There has been bargain ant
coalition between the Customhouse Repub
I lcans and certain selt-appointed leaders o
the Democratic party, with a view Of carry
ing the Democrats to the support of Gen
eral Grant at the November election.
Second-This coalition is designed tc
defeat the possibility of any similar com
bination between the anti Grant, or reform
wing of the Republican party, and the
! Democrats, upon the basis of principles
laid down by Senator's Trumbull and
Schurz in Congress, and the Democracy
Of other States.
| These two propositions we think we are
! fully able to sustain.
1t will be remembered that all the Gus
| tomhouse leaders testified before the con-
| gressional committee that, for months
before the Legislature assembled, an IN
derstanding had been effected between
them and the State and parish committees
looking to mutual support Of each other,
and opposition to Governor Warmoth 5
administration. This coalition was purely
partisan and political, and not with view
to reform, as was held out to the commu-
nifty The success of Mr. Carter inaugu-
rated revolution; that accomplished, the
reconstruction of the State government
was the legitimate or inevitable conse-
quence. This secured, the advancement
to Official position of Messrs. Jonas, Zach
arie, Ogden and jewell, and their fellow
conspirators was provided for, while they,
in return, were to use their official and
party influence to carry the Democratic
vote of the State for General Grant for the
Presidency, as against the regular Repub-
lican nominee on reform principles.
It is well understood fact among poll
ticians that there will be no regular Dem
ocratic candidate for the Presidency The
principles advocated by the Democratic
party Of the country are reform principles.
These have been taken up and made Re
publican by the anti-Grant Republicans
in the Senate and throughout the country,
and some great and good Republican
say Senator Trumbull, of Illinois be
the representative of these principles at the
November election. On such a candidate
the Democratic party will unite, while
federal otfice-holder's convention viii put
forward General Grant in opposition.
Correctly foreseeing this combination of
affairs, the federal Office holders in New
Orleans united with ambitious politicians
of the Democratic party to secure the
Democratic support Of Louisiana for their
candidate. It was in accordance with
this plan that the split was made IL the
Legislature. and the singular spectacle re-
yealed OF old-time Democrats acting il
brotherly affinity and congenial harmony
with such reformcrs as are to be found IN
the New Orleans Custonhouse.
The question of reform was simply
blind to conceal the real Issue from the
public. They knew that Governor War
moth had already agitated the repeal Of
laws that had become obnoxious, and had
placed himself squarely for reform in his
message to the Legislature Of 1871. 1t at
the time was favorabiy commented on by
the Democratic newspapers Of the State,
and there was no reason to doubt that the
Governor would renew this advice in his |
last annual message. This supposition |
was proved to be correct, since he did SO.
And it was to avoid the damaging conse-
quences Of this messrge that the revolu-
ton was precipitated which rendered the
first days of the Legislature 80 disgraceful.
The Governor indicated the sincerity |
Of his position in favor Of reform, and his |
with the will of the people, by |
repeating, with the first working majority |
If the Legislature, the laws which the pub
ic most wished SHOULD be swept from the
statute book. But no sooner was this done |
han the members of the Legislature who
lad previously absented themselves came
pack to their places and studiously sought
o arrest any further work of reformation.
And why? Because these laws on the
tatute book could be used against the
Governor in the canvass Of the present
summer. And to keep them there they
escorted to every possible expedient, en-
,loying all the arts, trickery and Chi
'anery known to Legislative flibusterfng.
Jnhappily they did not succeed in defeat
ng many Of the reform measures, but in
long SO they fixed ineftaceably the record
If. the Democratic-C ustomhouse coalition