New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-05-21
Tur pEn.Os0PHY or Politics.

I
The history of most of the political or
carnations of this country justifies the Be
in assuming that they are naturally in
cIined to decay. 1t is said that all thing
physical or intellectual carry with then
the elements of death. This is true, per
haps, and the only counteracting princi
pie is goodness constant struggle for ex
cellence Judged then by this view il
does not follow, as the Bee asserts, that be
cause the Republican party has divided
upon a question Of party expediency thai
it is in speedy process of dissolution.
The Republican party was founded upon
principles of philanthropy, justice and
right. 1t sought to realize to the people
of this country, that for which all govern
ments are instituted, the greatest good to
the greatest number Such an idea does
not preclude the possibility of change In
deed it involves it. If the agents it en-
ploys to accomplish this purpose prove
inefficient and corrupt, they should give
place to others more likely to subserve the
great end to be attained So with the Re
publican party. Those entrusted with its
management were perverting its principles
and employing its energies to unworthy
uses, and threatening it, if not with COM
plete humiliation, at least with general
disintegration. From this condition of
things has sprung the Liberal Republican
movement. The party organization re-
tains all the earlier and wiser principles of
the party, but opposes unyieIdingly the
vast outgrowth of political abuses.
1t is easy to perceive that the Dem
ocratic party (the only antagonistic or
ganization of any power is unable in it
self to correct the evils of government.
Indeed its own fall from power and Ill
innate undoing is attributable to its reck-
less disregard Of principle and the vast
accumulation of evils it brought upon the
country. To the better elements of the
Republican party, therefore, belonged the
corrections of the errors which unwise
men, inflated with power, had perpetrated
in its name. These men have forgotten
that the party was organized to advocate
the best interests of the nation. They
sought to use it for their own advantage.
With this idea came the attempted intro
duction of the principle of Capitalization,
Of one man government, of military su-
premacy gradually crushing out all the
safeguards of popular government. 1t
was then that the Liberal Republican
party sprung up into existence. 1t recog-
nizes no political distinctions in any sec
ton of the country, and is gradually
bringing to its fold Democrats, Reformers
and Republicans. One of its primary
features is opposition to class legislation
1t proposes equal political suffrage to all
men. The antipathies which the war
brought about should not be preserved,
but be made to yield to the mutual kind
feeling and interest Of the whole country.
It regards the national government as one
of delegated powers, and not possessed of
original sovereignty. The States have the
right tsnregulate their internal affairs in
their own way, free from federal inter
ference and espionage. These are the
principles avowed by the Cincinnati con-
vention and entertained by its nominees.
They are, in fact, the views entertained by
a majority of the PEG. lie of the country,
and which will doubtless experience an
vindication at the approach
ing national election.
It is plain, therefore, to perceive that
such condition of politics does not, as
the Bee suggests, argue the gradual disin-
of the Republican party. 1t on
the contrary strengthens it, by cutting
loose from all the impure and disrupting
elements which attached to it. 1t indeed |
pliers the only reliable guarantee for the
restoration of our government to its orr
yinal strength and purity. Stimulated by
he enlightened patriotism, and earnest
owe of country inherent in the American
people, it will eveltuate in the grandest
political triumph in the history of the ma
ion.