New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-07-21
ADDRESS TO THE PEOPLE OF LOUIS
IANA,
HEADQUARTERS LIBERAL PARTY OF LOUISIANA,
New Orleans, July -, 1872. ,

Inc ClrclnnaI convention, recognizing
the necessity Of uniting all the elements of
opposition 10 Grant, nominated as their
standard bearers Horace Greeley for Presi-
dent and i. Gratz Brown for Vice Presi-
dent, and presented for the consideration
Of the people a declaration OF principles.
The Baltimore convention. COncurring in the
causes and reasons which gave birth TO
that great popular movement, Endorsed
their nominations and accepted the plat
form on which their candidates stood. 1t
has thus set an example 70 the country
which every consideration of political
safety and eZpediency requires should be
initiated within the States.
If the Democratic party has maintained
its national organization. ii is only that the
alliance with Liberalism may be rendered
stronger or more effective. The delegates
VINO met at Baltimore for the purpose Of
cenenting that alliance could not have an
ticipated that fractions of their party, in
the several States, would set themselves IN
opposition to the Liberal Reform move
ment, by using their organizations for the
purpose of peTpetuating divisions through
the nominations and support of separate
electoral and State tickets. They knew
that without union on these points the &C
ceptance of Greeley and Brown would be
only a mockery, delusiOn and a snare.
IN other States, as II Illinois and Indiana,
the plain course dictated by common sense
and common honesty las been followed,
and close union with the Liberals has
been effected. In one JOINT State ticket
has been nominated, and iDs 6he other the
formation Of the electoral t8het has been
RENTED to the whole body Of Liberals. In
every State, except Louisiana, friendly rela-
tons have been established between the
Liberals and the Democracy, and efforts
have been made in good faith to unite the
Liberal and the Democratic vote for State
as well as for national purposes. In LOUisi-
ana alone different course has been pur-
sued. In Louisiana alone the Liberal
paTty-that party which first rallied to
the support Of the Cincinnati movement,
which anticipated the decision Of the
national Democracy, and which gave a
re istless impulse to the Greeley and Brown
ticket-has been treated by the Democratic
organization with cOntumely and scorn,
and made the object Of bitter invective and
denunciation.. And yet, in Louisiana, per-
hays more than in any other State, thor
Ough union OF the Liberal and Democratic
vote is necessary 10 success, SO evident Is
this fact that on the adjournment Of the
Opera House Democratic Convention, thou
sands of Democrats IN New Orleans and
throughout the State abandoned the Demo
cratic organization and joined the Liberal
party. These accessiOns are counted by
tens of thousands. They are so numerous
that we can assert as an indisputable fact
that in at least half Of the parishes, the
Democratic organization is without fol
lower, and in the greater portion Of the rest
the Liberal party commands a large ma
jOrity of what was once the Democratic
vote.
In the whole State there are but six jour
nails supporting the Democratic or united
State ticket, and of the tifty-six parishes
not half a dozen are represented IN the
Democratic State Committee. In spite OF
these conspicuous facts, the Democratic or
ganizatiOn, thus reduced to a minimum OF
voting power, persists n keeping up show
Of separate and independent organization,
and the Democratic committee, thus enas-
eulated of representative character, has
nominated and presented State and cleo
toraI ticket. No rational man believes that
they expect 10 elect either one or the other,
and hence the public can come to no other
conclusion than that they are running their
State ticket in the interest of the Baton
Rouge candidates, and their electoral ticket
for the purpose of defeating Greeley and
Brown, the nominees Of their own National
Convention. We distinctly charge this upon
them, because we have no right to assume
that they are so blind as not TO see the facts
Of the situation. or 50 silly as not to foTesee
the necessary effects Of their own acts.
1t is proper for the whole country, as
that the Democratic rump organization,
while pretending TO accept the decision OF
the Baltimore convention. is in reality hos
Tile to the national Liberal candidates, and
that while it presents an electoral ticket IN
the name of Greeley and Brown, it is try
ing 10 give the vote OF the State to Grant
Whether this course Is the fultillmeTt OF
the contract entered into last winter be
tween the Cus-OmhOuse party and the
NO n II
result Of more recent and more secret bar
gains, having for their object the control OF
local offices and patronage, or whether il is
dictated by an UnreasOniHg ObstlDacy which
prefers total ruin 70 success obtained by
concession ard Cancellation, the public will
decide according to the probabilities OF the
case.
Whatever may be the decision, the L!D-
eTal party feels that, Il unfortunately the
state should be lqst' lheE VII at ieas0 nor nCl
De held responsible AT the par u puonc
opinion. Bat they are convinced that tie
good sense Of ire people VII avert the ca
IamltOus consequences winch might Othef-
wise result from the DAD 1alth or the
irrational pTejudIces sot the Democratic
leaders. They do not believe that the PEG
pie will permit the State 70 be sacrlhced at
the dIctatiOn OF men VINO nave SHOWN them,
selves utterly incompetent to understand
the necessities OF the times, and incapable
of achieving anything but defeat.
The Liberal party appeals to all citizens
who are opposed TO Grants administration;
to all who are sincerely in favor of Greeley
and Brown; TO all who wish to defeat the
Vaccinations Of the corrupt and wicked
faction represented by the Baton Rouge
ticket. Their convention, to be held on the
fifth Of August, will represent vast ma
iOri-y Of the Liberal and Democratic voters
OF the State, and their ticket will be sup
ported by an array Of numerical force,
backed by an amount Of moral influence