New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-07-20
THE PRIDE OP PARTY.


1t can not be denied that there is some
thing commendable in the pride Of an
cestry, since it presupposes a race of noble
and virtuous people. If this pride stimu-
lates good impulses and leads us to avoid
vicious principles, the effect will be such
as to create excellence and integrity in
mind and heart. But if not invested with
the characteristics of dignity and worth,
it ceases to be an object of praise. This is
justly observed to. be the ''test of reason
and common sense.
AS it is with individuals, so is it in poll
tics. 1t is right to adhere to a party
which is replete with sound doctrines,
honest and virtuous principles, and which
has illustrated these in a long career. But
to justify this devotion lis honorable ca
reer must have been free from vice, in
trigue and corruption. No matter how
long and intimately it may have been as
ISOLATED with the government of the State,
or what have been its triumphs and sue
cesses, unless it has been identical. with
good, and is still trying to suppress evil
it has no merit in its pedigree.
In all cases parties have their founda-
ton in their excellence and virtues, or
sink by reason of the infamy of their doc
| trines, their follies and vices. In this
light we propose viewing the political con-
dition Of Louisiana. There are three par
ties claiming the allegiance ofthe people
the Radical, the Liberal and Democratic
parties. The first is known to US chiefly
through its injustice, its profigacy and
its hostility to the rights of the State, and
the unequivocal attempts it has made TO
strike down the liberties of the people.
We speak in this of the Radical party as
contradistinguished with the original Re-
publican organization which came into
power with Mr.. Lincoln, and which
was pure and patriotic; of the party
which, during the administration of Presi-
dent Grant, has thrown aside its original
purity of principles disregarded the con-
stitutional guarantees to the States and
sought to centralize all power in one man.
1t is this party which is employing every
political agency, with the disguised but
still material help of the self-styled Demo-
cratic leaders, to carry Louisiana at the
next election. Their success would perpet-
uate four years of vicious rule and lay the
foundation of general system Of African
ization.
We say this is being done with the aid
of that part of the Democratic party who,
noted for their unquen6hable thirst for
Office, their undignifed prominence upon
every political occasion, are styled the
''leaders of the young Democracy" True,
they have put into the field a ticket of
their own, but with no hope of electing it,
the object being to. divert from the Lib
eral movement a suficiency of Democratic
votes to give the Radicals the majority.
They know, if reason and common sense
have not wholly deserted them, they can
elect no one themselves, but, represent
ing the balance of power, they seek to
throw it in favor of the Radicals.
When questioned as to their motives for
doing SO, they say the Democratic party
must put out ticket lest it lose it's pres
tige-its existence, indeed. Otherwise,
say its oracles, it would be absorbed by
the Liberal movement. It is a heritage
Of pride to them, and must be preserved
at every hazard despite the peril which
menaces the State in the ascendency of the
Radical party. The odium of playing in
the interest of the Radicals, the infamy
and danger Of theirsuccess, are as nothing
compared with Democratic prestige-and
what prestige A prestige, indeed, of
moral deformity, winning the scorn Of all
who know the worth of manly dignity,
patriotism and virtue.
On the other hand the Liberal party of
the State offers the people a set of resolu-
tons, embodying the principles of the
party, which have been Endorsed by the
national convention of the Democrats and
commended to the support of all the peo-
pie of the Union. Have Louisiana Dem
ocrats a finer sense of the pride and dig
nifty of their party than a national con-
vention supposed to combine the best in
telligence in it?
Men rarely do anything without mo-
tive, certainly no such number of men as
unite in this Democratic freak ofapparent
folly What is their motive? The sue
cess of their ticket? No; they are too
wise for that. The rescue of their party
from oblivion? That is an absurdity.
What then? The reason is plain. The
election of the Radical ticket and a hope
# to share in the spoils Of office; a hope,
alas destined to bitter disappointment.
The golden apples that now look 50 fair
Will turn to ashes on their lips.
MISTAKES MADE EASY.
There is very little difficulty about