New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-08-23
AN ARMY WITHOUT SOLDIERS,

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represent, as they should, the different
classes that ought to comprise the Liberal
party; and third, that the movement seems
to be without a leader such as it should
have. The Liberal convention proceeded
upon the principle that it would succeed
without politicians to helpit, and 1t put IN.
the field gentlemen who propose to them
selves to be elected without descending to
the ways that other parties employ in
winning elections. The very fact that the
State has been misgoverned for four
years is conclusive evidence that a large
portion Of the people need something be-
sides solid reason to make them active
partisans. Their prejudices must be mol
lifted or inhamed according to the neces-
cities Of the case, and this can only be
done by handling them as if they had no
option but to follow or be cast aside.
Herein is where the Liberals failed, that
they attempted to court this crowd with
out going far enough. The mob must
either rule or it must be ruled, and when
the Liberals allowed the prejudices Of the
minority to drive it from the genuine
LibereI Republicans in its camp, it should
have cut loose entirely, so as to be rid Of
the SAVIOR Of that which the whole people
unreasonably refuse to cooperate with.
Not doing this, they should have shut their
ears to the clamor of the lobby, and pro
ceeded directly to put real representa-
tive man at the head of their ticket. This
decisiveness on their part would have
given them leader, and it would have
testified to their determination to bridge
the differences between themselves and
those whose interests and aspirations were
identical with their own. A leader such as
thew might have obtained would have
given them an immense advantage to start
with. and their own satisfaction would
have enthused their individual labors in
the canvass. The fact Of the matter is,
politics must be directed by politicians,
and when the Liberals proceeded to act
upon different suggestion, they commit
ted as grave a fault as we would commit
if we set about running printing office
without printers.
The Liberal convention. should not have
allowed Governor Warmoth to withdraw
his name from its use. The members as
sembled with the understanding that War
moth was to be put at the head OF the
ticket. not as matter Of distinct consid-
Grafton to him, but because he was sup
posed to possess a specific element Of pop
ularity in quarter where popularity was
required. It was admitted that the white
people might reject his nomination for a
while, but this rejection, it was assumed,
could and would be overcome when the
issue was narrowed down to distinct
issue between his name, coupled with a
responsible ticket, and that Of Mr.. KEEL
Ioeg and his associates. The Liberals had
made up their minds throughout the State
to make the. venture in this regard, in
order that they might secure that strength
in another quarter which it was consider
ed necessary to have. The programme
was well understood, that Warmoth was
20 be nominated in order to satisfy the dis
affected Republicans that they were to
have one means Of helping themselves.
This policy if it had been carried out,
would have insured Louisiana to Gree
lev and Brown; it would have given
O the Democrats sufficient force in the
LEGISLATURE to control the expenditures Of
the State in the interest Of reform; and
it would have enabled the taxpayers
throughout the parishes to redeem them.
selves from vicious local officers. Gov
ernor Warmoth's candidacy as Liberal
| Republican would have divided the col.
ored people, giving the better portion o.
them to the ticket upon which he was q
nominee; it would have gone far to al
| immediate assimilation Of all classes O
people into different parties, instead o.
being divided as they are now upon
mere question of color; it would have
helped Greeley and Brown to the electora
vote of this State; it would have divided
the political power so as to insure legisla
ton from abuse; and it would have put {
leader at the head Of the Liberal party
who would have dashed through the State
organizing victory as he organized 1t fol
the Republicans two years ago, in the face
of Mr.. Packard and his little Customhoust
tribe
As the matter stands, it does not seen
possible for Penn to rally the additiono
force that is required to carry the State
We pointed out this difficulty with per
sistency and fidelity before the convention
met, and we can not be blind 10 the mis-
take now that it has been committed
Unfortunately, it was considered that We
were not in earnest in what we said, al
though we gave the reasons for our posi-
ton in language that was earnest enough
TO relieve it from the suspicion Of by
pocrisv. We said then that the Liberals
were like q man with a debt Of tifteel
thousand dollars, who had only ten thou
sand with which to pay it. It was thei
business to borrow other capital, or go t
protest. 1t is not our fault, then, if the.
are in danger of being protested. 1t vii
be theirs, though, if they do not act upol
our advice and take the only help tina
promises to save them. They need