New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-05-12
REFORMERs RECNONBB UP.

Inc goWJl6ul6u VINO are scOuESCJ6u IN q
speech-maiing way with the Retormers
.complain.that in the reports Of their meet
ings ridicule is cast upon their sentiments
and opinions, as well as upon their Occupa
tions, SO that where they imagined they
created a dignifed impression they found
every one poking their fingers at them in
the streets, They style this method of
treating them "contemptible7 and twhere
they do not write cards. call the writer's
venal; the proprietOrs of the journals which
utter them, not to put too fine point upOn
it, INC better than they should be, besides
bringing up the old dodge Of ''the horde of
adventurers.
That famous single step from the sublime
to the ridiculous should be in the minds
eye Of those patriots and eountry-savers
who announce themselves as eve are all
the honest men-aur opponents all the
thieves" This very principle and base upon
which the RetOrmers stand is the mest
ridiculous one they -can assume. Here,
more than in any other place, they lay
themselves open to the critics sting Is
there any necessity for q man to advertise
himself as honest Is it commodity for
sale, that the wider known the more profit
At the table of one of the fine old. .Vir-
ginia hosts whereof there are now so few,
sat stranger in the midst of the silver
ware and China for which the host was
famous. He had, according to custom, been
invited in, for the hest was one of those men
the Iatch-string of whose gate always hung
outside. Sir said he, u am one of the
most honest men you ever laid eyes on"
bringing his fist down with a thump. 81
have been hOrse-trader for years, and no
man" {laying his hand on his heart) "ean
say ever cheated him out of a cent. l cen
slider it disgraceful to hold the edge On
man in swapping horses TIE all this the
host did not reply.
But calling the diningr0om servant he
said: @JOhn, watch that man, and don't
take yOdr eyes away. He'll steal anything
he lays his hands on, and when he goes off
count over the spoons carefully
Probably there are a hundred such iH-
stances within the recollection of the most
inexperienced in this worlds affairs. Viz
tues and honors of any kind, when an
nounced 10y those who are supposed to own
them, always produce a reaction. This is
one of the most vulnerable points among
the RefoEmers. They bring up their hon
esty in ward meetings, yentilate it in ad-
dresses, roll it under their tongues in stump
speeches. According to these manifesto
tions, the zyriters Of the REPUBLICAN, re-
porters, editors, stockholders and prOprie-
tors, are uRMorthy of public confidence. Is
il supposed writer who sits out such ut
terances shall then write himself down an
ass shall listen quietly to an orator who
stigmatizes him as corrupt without giving
his own return for such speschifying The
Same custom which protects freedom of
speech extends its shield over freedom of
the press" Neither can exist without the
Otker. He whoObiects to personality should
avoid being personal himself. Do the Re
formers dream Of the accusations that rise
against any Oneof them whenever he shows
himself Were.they all published just as
spoken there would be reason Of complaint.
What do the people say ? You ReforIrers
sprung from the Committee of Fifty-one,
which, itself, arose from mass meeting
empowered to use all necessary diligence in
finding out what became of the peoples
money. The committee, in a sub-divided
shape, visited the City Hall on this mission,
examining the machinery Of all the depart
meats, PIT the clerks and officials to an
everlasting deal of trouble, obtained facts
au1 e+o+;stTas IN on- .vo1ti+v aD5 IL vr-os
after the Legislature had ad 1
jOurned and could not remedy any Of the (
evils, the committee might have found. that
you were ready to report. ] on did report !
to the people in mass meeting in front of !
the City Hall. What said, you gen tlemen? /
Who were the thieves that you were to
track to their den Who the despoilers of !
the public property, the rank offenders
counting their gains! Not one; no department |
of the city was reported against. Did you |
then throw up your commission No, you !
made proposition TO organize a new pOliti- /
cal party. For what To have elected a
different set Of men from those with whose |
you could find no fault or
blame. Some of you announced that in
case your crowd were not elected, then let |
loose the dogs of war. Had you been re-
fused access to facts in the City Hall, de-
MED information respecting public affairs,
1r opposed and resisted in your researches, |
you would have had pretext. All doors !
few open at your touch. No route to |
thorough research was barred. Tired of |
-o,,r I,,,r;,,e, ~ & ,,,c,,ol , ~ ;si,, oy,J oor,
selling, you plunged into the political stream.
Can you touch pitch and not be defled |
You say you wish to rescue the State from
the horde Of adventqrers who are plumber
ng the substance of the people, and that
you, being the payers direct of taxes, find
hem so bUrdensome and unjust that your
business is paralyzed and you can not carry
IN your occupations. Did you say a
word or burn feather when the Legisla-
5ure imposed these taxes. Did you lend
your influence to repeal the unjust or re-
snact the Just laws. Not one Of you could
De found where your country needed your
services. Not a man Of you ever sat on
ury to punish notorious criminals Not
me out Of ten ever registered as a voter,
when, according to your own showing, the
prosperity of the State trembled in the bal
.nce. Are we, the people, to conclude
you repent your errors and wish to reform
Yourself; that you intend to register and
,ote and overlook the conduct of public
,ficers while they are at work that you
will arrest the hand of the malefact tor who
would rob the people If yea, then all
rood citizens will bid you God speed. But
you perseeute the parties in Office on the