New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-06-23
NnMrNAT1nrs Ar RATION RnnaE.

NOMINATIONS AT BATON ROUGE.
The convulsive fit which the Custom
house party has suffered so severely from
at Baton Rouge has at last yielded to the
professional skill of DR.. Packard. He at
first supposed the patient was afflicted
with a sort of maternal labor, and the
birth of galvanized abortion would expe-
dite its recovery. It turned out to be, how
ever, only a severe case of biiousness, and
the violent retchings that so alarmed the
doctor were only the effects of a natural
effort to throw some very foul material of
its stomach. When this was accom-
plished the incubus proved to be Senator
Kellogg, who was Immediately promised
the Governorship, if he agreed to do bet
ter in future. This he readily did.
But seriously, the result of the Baton
Rouge convention is an anomaly in poll
tics If it was designed to accomplish
anything, it was the assurance that the
Radical party in this State would not be
tied to the heels of the Philadelphia nomi-
nee. That the interests of the State would
be considered by its citizens (if the Gus
tomhouse party can be considered citizens
of this State) Of more consequence than
furthering the centrahzing policy Of the
administration. 1t is true that we hold it
practically impossible to separate the ma
tional and State ticket 1t was not neces-
sary to nominate man at Baton Rouge
inimical to the President. But the pres
tige identified with the law securing to
federal officers the privilege of espionage
in our local election, and to no inconsid-
cradle extent controlling the same, viii
not add much eclat to the Customhouse
party in Louisiana.
Since from the colored citizens they de-
rive all the strength that can be brought to
the party, it was fair that their representa-
tive should have the first place on the
ticket. But Mr.. Marys claims were
treated with contumely if not derision,
and his race considered as merely ''hewers
of wood and drawers of water" to the
Customhouse party. The giving of the
Lieutenant Governorship to Mr. Antoine
is an insult rather than a compliment. It
is practically saying to the colored people,
we know we depend on you to do what
we hope to accomplish, but you shall
have ali the inferior positions while We
take the first in honor and profit. This is
due to our intelligence and superior merit.
Besides, we can not intrust to your care
the federal interests in this State. You
may neglect or you may prove Indifferent
to them.
In the face Of the action of the conven-
ton, do these facts admit of denial? Is
it not plain, as we said before, that the
colored people and their delegates have
been used as servants rather than as citi-
zens having an equal stake in the pros
perity and well-being of Louisiana, the
same as its white people 1t has been
standing boast of Dr. Packard, as we are
aware, that he could control the negro
fOb6 VI lllo OlttlGs we were QlSpUS6U 10
dispute it until now, but it seems he has
not entirely miscalculated his influence.
It was necessary to General Grants in
terests that he should have his proteges in
the front places Of the canvass, lest he
should suffer from the consequences of
an honest and direct policy.
So far as we are able to discern them,
these are the facts connected with the
Baton Rouge convention. If it is salts
factory to the colored people, it certainly
is to us. Mr., Kellogg will be more easy
to beat than Mr.. Mary would be, while
the representative Of the colored people
who has been placed on the ticket is of
such exceedingly small pattern that he
will prove an element Of weakness rather |
than strength to the party, Antoine is
possessed of an inferior order of intellect,
and none know this fact better than the
more intelligent men Of his own color.