New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-10-03
rs THIS A DEsPoTrsM !


The Picay,aee presents US with subject
in the following text:
Under the rule of the Radical party the
| government of the United States is CON
| solidated despotism. 1t claims all power
over local and sectional interests, and has
virtually abolished the constitution and the
Union it established.
Where is the evidence to sustain these
grave and frightful declarations? Wherein
has the Radical party abolished the consti-
tuition and the Union, and set up this con
soidated despotism? The people are free
to come and go; they are not abridged Of
their liberty of speech or their right to as
semble in public meetings; they are even
now in the act of changing their rulers,
holding some to an account for omissions
of duty, Diminishing others for overstepping
the line Of duty and retaining some who
have earned commentator. The vicious
are lying about the good, the curious are
questioning about all matters of public in
terest the intelligent are discussing the
past and comparing notes for the future
Those who are in Office are attentive, while
those who are seeking Office are never SO
happy as when they are doing homage to
the dear people, the fountain head Of
power From President down to consta-
BILE we are treated to smiles. General
Grant makes himself agreeable to thou
sands at great expense Of personal COM
fort Mr. Greeley travels thousands of
miles to tell to wondering multitudes what
has TO be explained to them the next
day by some local oracle. Hundreds Of
perspiring patriots are using their most
persuasive arguments to secure from the
people a hearing and favorable judg
ment Is this the evidence Of despotism
Is this the way slaves are treated? Ask
the people, Tell them to their faces that
they are the creatures Of q despot and
deny to them the rights of freemen and
see how prompt their denial will be. The
truth is, the constitution and the consti-
tuted authorities are Of less force than
ever, because the people are too anxious
to rule the country themselves 1t is not
uncommon to hear that this or that com
munity has lynched a man, mobbed wo-
man, banished a gang Of desperadoes,
broken up, house OF ill-fame, notified
the gamblers to leave, destroyed whisky
shop, or committed some other ofense
against their own laws. In this State, to
come nearer home, the very people who
are complaining about despotism and the
violated constitution are the very men who
refuse to respect the rights Of the colored
people, and who take pride in rejecting
the instrument they pretend to hold
in SO much reverence. When they learn
how to keep step to the law and to free
dom, they will then be in condition to
understand that what they call violations
of the constitution are mere differences of
opinion touching its Interpretation. The
South attempted to enforce what she be-
lieved the constitution meant by force Of
arms. She lost the fight, and now she is
merely obeying the constitution as it is in
terpreted by the majority. If there is any
despotism about this it is only to be found
in the will Of the people, and surely the
Picaylne, in its ardent love of Democracy,
will not complain at this. If it does, how.
ever, and still insists that we are living
under despotism, we beg that it will do
SO in such way as to signify its dissatis-
faction with the government Of the people.
Throw the blame where it properly be-
longs, and let the authors Of SO much
inquietude defend themselves in their own