New Orleans Republican., 1872-04-20
JET TUE Hor-HRADs GO.

LET TIE HUT-HEAUB 60.
If the Democratic convention viii let
the headstrong and inexperienced young
men who are attempting to dictate to it
take lesson in bolting, it will do SER
vice to the State and to itself thereby.
These colts are a great drawback in any
party, for what service they do in voting
they doubly counteract by their rash and
ill-natured efforts at explaining the posi-
ton Of their friends. These indiscreet
utterances during the last three or four
years have driven thousands of sensible
men out of the Democratic ranks, and
their intemperate expressions have pre-
vented the best men of all classes from
coming together upon some platform of
common usefulness in behalf Of the
people. Without the wisdom to un-
derstand general principles, and with
out the experience to arange those conf
promises Of thought and fact which
are necessary in every political embarrass-
ment, they are sure to 60 astray and to
mislead those who attend their endeavors
whenever they are allowed to assume di-
rection. The voluntary abstention Of
most of the better class Of Democrats from
any participation in political affairs under
the reconstruction policy has thrown the
lead of public matters, SO far as their party
was concerned, into the hands Of young
men who act without any well understood
policy, who fly in the face of accomplished
facts and support themselves, not by what
they propose to do, but by what they pro-
pose to undo.
These men are the worst enemies Of the
State, for their wickedness and indiscretion
make the bondthat binds the colored peo-
pie in united mass 10 support the Repub-
ican ticket. Once get rid Of them, once
teach them to be followers instead of lead
ers, once impress upon the entire popula-
ton that the rights of all men are to be
guarded by all Of the responsible citizens
of the State, and then the unhealthy con-
dition which divides parties into white and
black people will be broken down. The
Republican party does not desire to sue
ceed by merely appealing to a mans color.
1t is ready to appeal to every class upon
the great issues that divide the citizens of
every other State. At present it is forced
to secure its victories by declaring that the
opposition is not to be trusted with the
liberties and privileges of those whom it
has freed and whose freedom it is pledged
to maintain. 1t uses this argument not
because it likes to do so, but because it is
forced to do SO by its opponents, and the
Democrats can see, if they will only con-
slider for moment, that the continuance
of this evil is matter that it alone can
determine. If it will say at once and de-
fnitively that the constitutional amend
ments shall be accepted as the law Of the
land; that all men shall have the same po-
itical rights, and that no citizen shall be
in his rights on account Of his
color or his condition, the great obstacle
which has hitherto prevented it from OBJ
tanning large influence with the colored
people viii be put away forever.
In order to do this effectually, the Demo-
Gratis must not only declare this platform
which we have suggested, but they must
cease their war upon Republicans, because
they assisted the colored people to obtain
their rights. They must drive into silence
the intemperate men who abuse their
humanity and the principles Of the party
by forever denouncing citizens who are
willing to accept of the negroes just as
they accept of any other class Of men, ac-
cording to their worth and ability. When
this is done, the political prospects Of the
State will be greatly benefited and the re-
lation of the races will not be changed in
the least. The negroes are slowly and
surely working out their own salvation,
and they will continue to do SO, whether
the Democrats follow cur advice or not.
The only present effect of the declaration
which we suggest will be to settle at once
and forever what ought to be settled, and
what must be settled in the way we point
out. A brave and just set Of men can do
this now Of their own accord and gain
some credit, and their defense will be that |
they only did voluntarily what they would
have been forced to do by the
very nature of things.
If the Democrats allow the hotheads of
heir convention to bolt they will purify
heir own ranks and teach the intemperate
a wholesome lesson. They
,an then go before the people Of the State
Ind nation as a reconstructed party, and
heir support will not be the ruin of their
riends in communities that believe in JUS
ice to all men. So long as they held to
hese malcontent impracticables, whose
whole energy seems to be devoted to rip
,ing up what has been done by the nation
It large, they will subject themselves to
he charge of being reactionists into whose
possession it is dangerous to trust the po-
;tical power of the State.
THE DEMOCRATIC CONVENTION.