New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-05-31
ATTITUDE OF PARTIES.

1t would appear, from the complacent
manner in which the Picdyane defines the
attitude of political parties in this State,
that the situation should occasion no more
solicitude than an ordinary squabble
among children. If the sagacity Of the
writer of the article alluded to is not at
fault, all that is necessary to escape the
evils attendant upon such divisions is for
everybody to join the great influential
body of citizens" who, with reform as a
pretext, find their actual exponent in our
contemporary.
But that which puzzles us greatly in
the Picaypuae's explanation is the asser-
ton that the Reform party and Liberal
Republican party are ofshoots Of the
Democratic party. If our understanding
is correct, the Liberals are the genuine
reformers, and our Democratic friends
who are classed as such are converts to
our doctrine. Founded on the equal po-
itical rights of all men, the supremacy Of
the constitution, and the sovereignty Of
the States in their domestic capacity, the
Republican party secured its first recog-
milton in American politics by the election
of Mr.. Lincoln in 1860. It preserved the
purity of its principles throughout his adj
ministration, and with the advent Of
President Johnson's reconstruction policy
came the first disturbing element. This
was cured in time. But similar usur-
patton of authority, and an evident at
tempt to strengthen the executive power
at the expense Of the constitution,
and by impairing the rights Of
the States, gave the first incentive
to the reform movement in
this country. In order to purify their
party it became necessary to strike at po-
itical evils everywhere. 1t won upon the
popular confidence in the degree that it
developed our earnest regard for constitu-
tional principles and the rights of the citi-
zens. 1t swept through the country with
lightning rapidity, and eventuated in the
Cincinnati convention. Those who re-
garded with favor the principles it devel-
oped, but unwilling to call themselves Re
pubicans, agreed to the less characteristic
appellation of Reformers. Those 'old
line Wings" who now dignity themselves
as Democrats Tor, as the Picdyune
more classically defines them, the old
line Wing Democrats, aCitb Sprilt-
Ina of ancient Democrats), adopted
as many of these reformatory measures
as their faith could endure, and
then growing elated with the idea Of un-
accustomed purity, set themselves up as
models in politics. But the Picdyune is
mistaken in supposing that they or our
own converts, the Reformers, will consti-
tute any controlling element in the cleo
ton. Separated from the Liberal Repub-
icans, they amount to very little, as
balance of power. But voting with us
they become paramount and controlling.
1t is not unusual, we are aware, for those
who climb high to try to kick the ladder
down when they reach the summit, but it
most frequently results in q hard fall. We
can possibly mean no disrespect to that
large and intelligent class of Democrats and
Reformers who are outspoken in their adj
hesion to the Cincinnati nominees. On
the contrary, in this particular juncture,
+bo State Oyvnc them a debt of Gratitude
not easy to repay. But with the Picayune
it is different. Its pretensions are scarcely
justified by the amount of capital it in
vests Possessing someof the essentials
of a leading Journal, it assumes the patron
izing airs, which only belong to dignity,
veracity and ability. Its reputation Of
late will scarcely enable us to accord it
these qualities.