New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-03-13

movement Abstract opposition to single
individual affords no idea of the purposes
and aim OF party. And yet this address
only discloses that few dissatisfied per-
sons are seeking to prevent the reelection
OF the present Governor, and, to accom-
plish this, are endeavoring by innuendo,
suspicion and accusations as indefinite
as unreliable to withdraw from
his support the colored people Of
the State But the grounds OF opposl-
ton are not given. The assumption is
certainly advanced that the people are
opposed to his reelection. But why are
they so? Is it because he is incom-
petent If so, wherein has he proved in
efficient? Has he violated the constitu-
ton |? Has he corrupted his office? Has
he perverted to unworthy uses his official
patronage? If any of these things or
others of equal or greater enormity have
been done, there should be time and
place; and in, that event the reformers
should put them before the people. In a
contest like this the people look for some
thing specific. Generalities will not do.
The ''Central Committee" say he has
caused the enactment OF bad laws. What
are these bad laws? And where is the
proof that he influenced the Legislative
department to pass them, or the ju-
Il To 70
stitutional? To assume that he did
SO is no proof. On the con rary, he de-
MES that he did so, and his denial goes as
far as the charge that is made against him.
But he goes further than this; he points to
his two last annual messages, in which the
repeal of number of obnoxious meas
ures is urged upon the Legislature. He
shows that at the last session his influence
and earnest help was given to procure the
repeal of the registration, the election, the
constabulary laws; that he and his friends
sought to procure the repeal of the Metro
politan Police law, which was defeated by
Democratic members of the House and
Customhouse reformers. 1t was at his in
stigatiOn that the commission on the col
lection of taxes was lessened, and the
license law was made less burdensome and
oppressive.
Then, we ask, in common fairness, what
wrong is sought to be corrected; what OPP
preston is it designed to remove? We
want something specific. Neither the Re
publican party nor the Governor is welded
to an error. It is the WILL as it is the in
terest, of both to have the State admins
tration pure. Enlarged liberty and the
greatest freedom of individual and politi-
cal rights is cardinal doctrine in our
creed. A state of society or a system of
laws inimical to this condition of things is
hostile to the theory and purposes Of the
Republican party. What, then, is the
wrong which the cordial coalition of the
white and colored people is sought for to
redress? These questions must be an
swered specifically by the committee" or
the journals in their interest, OF the infer
ence is inevitable that they are agitators,
without cause or reason.
It matters little to the great body of our
people who controls the State government,
so that it is done wisely and in the public
interest. II errors have been committed
land no one. contends that this admins
tration is infallible), they can be pointed
out. If the correction is not applied, it is
time enough for change of rulers. But
what guarantees do this Reform party
offer to the people of Louisiana for a bet
terment of their condition?
1t is not found in previous Democratic
of which they have also
been the friends and opponents. There
should be something more than q promise
or a declaration of vague and indefinite
good to annul the fealty of the members
of a great party, and cause them to change
their allegiance. So far the Republican
has done good. Is there any
that the new party will do as
much? 1t is composed Of elements that
have always been in opposition to the
white Republican and the colored man.
1t opposed the franchise, and denounced
the colored people of this State as ignorant,
barbarous and unchristian. It has driven
them from the polls and slaughtered them
in the streets. Are these the evidences of
their friendship?
Unless we are mistaken, the commit
tee" will have to offer better reasons than
they are doing before the disintegration Of
the Republican party is effected.