Rapides gazette. (Alexandria, La.) 1869-187?, 1872-11-16
Making the Best of 1t.

The New Orleans Pieayaae OF the
9th inst, in an editorial, headed, The
Reelected President, &C., &c, as
sumes for the nonce the role OF an in
dependent journal, its claim to which
character, we have never been able to
discover during the Presidential cam
paign just over, but on the contrary,
always classed it with the most bitter
preiudiced and bigotted opponents
of Grants reelection. After sharply
criticizing and commenting on the Lon
don Times, on the result of the cleo
ton in general, it (the Picdyane)
quotes from that journal as follows:
"His errors.r says the London Times, were
errors of ignorance, but this defense Will no
longer hold good. The past must be effased
Reform in the civil service urgently demands
appointynents 10 Office of persons qualified to
administer their dnties. In respect to the
power of the people, Grants Will must force
the National Legislature to sanction reform"
And then goes Oh to moralize and
philosophise on its own account, III
this very sensible, even if not alto
gether exactly candid manner:
And here it is well TO demonstrate in adj
vance against mere spirit of factious OPP
position to the Administration and its meas
ures by the minority, in Congress or ont OF
Congress, and whether designated Liberal or
Democratic. The New York Tribune utters
sentiment alike creditable to itself and wor-
thy of the occasion when it says: "Gen.
Grant now has four years more power. with
heavy Congressional majOrities, and in what
ever reform he may seek to effect, he VIII
have the aid of the Tribune"
Speaking of the public estimation
and support, which every truly indie
pendent and otherwise respectable
paper, whether great city or an OBJ
scure country one, ought to receive,
and per contra it uses this language.
| II is time that public opinion should cease to
recognize any distinction between honesty
and independence in journalism. No paper
| is entitled to enjoy, or can decentiy claim,
public confidence, while it is VIGOROUSLY
| pledged to defend and sustain, right or wrong,
ministration. 1t is equally unworthy and in
decent for politicians in the opposition to as
sail measures without regard to their instrinsic
| character, for no other reason than that they
| are proposed by the ascendant majority. 1t
| has long been one of the most pernicious vices
of the party politics of the county that lead
| ers of the minority have been prone to labor
for the defeat of the good measures OF the
majority, even with more assiduity and in
cenuity than for the defeat of its bad meas
| ures In some instances indeed, such party
strategists have been detected in giving fur
| five aid to the most obnoxious measures OF
the majority, under the pitiful plea OF thus
bringing discredit upon their political enc
mics. fa
After expressing the opinion that
it would be premature to say, how fal
President Grant will be disposed
hereafter to consult the views of an
honest and healthy opposition, oul
city contemporary reproGuces remarks
of the New York Herald, copied be
low, and winds up its article by hop
; ing that the President will verify thu
prediction OF the London Times, TAXI
E lesson from the developments of tin
past, and learn that the best. and il
the long run the weightiest opinion o
the country is reflected in the indie
pendent press-in which rank tn
3 Picagune claims to hold prominen
position, and we very humble AM
uniuhuential one.
e Four years ago he was elected by livin,s
q vigorous Republican organization, with II
ranks solid and compact and its mission "
4 TO be completed. He naturally regarded 1t
a poiut o honor to adhere to the policy OF I'll
party to which he was indebted for his nom
j. nation and election. He is now independer
:, of any distinctive political organization, an
will owe his success to people OF all shades
o political opinion. He will, therefore, be ir'
TO mark out a course for himself and to folio
il in spite of the advisers who have herot
n fore surrounded him. In so doing 1t Is by I
means improbable that he may lind hllase
J. opposed by the Congressional politicians wi
Is now profess to be his warrnest supporter
but whose selfish schemes, have come so ne
y accomplishing his defeat. In that event Il
4, Liberals and Democrats may. after all, becon
the instruments through whom he will be @
IL abled to secure peace and justice for Il
N South, reconciliation between all the State
substantial civil service, reform aud libera
T. ization of our policy towards the unfortuna
q Cubans.