New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-12-31
THE POSITION OF LOUISIANA RBPUB-
TTGANS

A mistaken notion prevails in many
| quarters as to the true position of the Re
publican party Of this State. The oppo-
sition party both here and at the North,
assume that we ask for Northern sympa-
thy and support. This is By no means
the case. We simply demand justice.
All our proceedings relative to the late
election have been conducted according to
written laws. Both in the conduct Of the
campaign and the contest after it, we have
adhered to the strict letter Of the law
We have men here in abundance who are
| learned in the law and familiar with all
the facts, and to such has been committed
the duty Of adjusting the disputed points
that have arisen.
In the first place, the laws of the nation
and Of this State guarantee to every citi-
zen the right to vote and to have his vote
counted for the candidates Of his choice
The question Of suffrage, therefore, is not
an open one, as it has been settled be-
You'd the power Of all the people Of the
| State to disturb. Yet this is the very
point at issue. The fusion party quietly
admitted the right Of the colored people
and the white Republicans to 60 through
the forms Of voting, but schemed to
change the result Of the election by man
| ipulating the returns, and also BY throw
ing obstacles in the way Of voters. All
these questions of law and fact have been
examined in the State and federal courts
here, and the decisions have been uni
formly in favor Of the Republican party.
We have, therefore, nothing to ask for but
our legal rights to be obtained in legal
manner. It is not a question material to
Us what President Grant may think Of one
phase or the other Of it, or what the Her
aid or World may say. But it is a vital
matter to know whether the laws that
have been placed over us for our guidance
are to be respected OF not.
It is very evident that the opposition
papers pay little heed 70 the laws which
bind u.s. for they regard the Louisiana
question as a purely political problem, to
be decided by Judge Durell and the Presi-
dent in favor Of the party that can bring
to its support the greatest popular pres
sure. It is the old question Of recon-
struction, which we in Louisiana believe
to have been settled by the amendments,
the civil rights bill and the enforcement
laws, reopened for discussion in its
original shape before the courts and the
Cabinet. Neither Of these can make a
law. The one interprets them and the
other executes them. In the discharge Of
these important duties due regard is had
to the rules applicable to the case and the
evidence. The Republican party Of this
State went into court and fairly
won its case, and it now has the right to
demand execution This simple and |
reasonable request can not be refused by
the President as he plainly told the com
mittee Of louisiana Democrats, even if he
were inclined to do SO. Our position is
therefore entirely defensible, without |
making any appeals to party preferences.
We have no favors to ask. Have asked |
none We need no sympathy. We re-
quire Just what we have asked for and |
have received, and nothing more; that
is, justice. And until we are told that the
are a farce and the recon
5truction laws a delusion, we shall insist
upon it that the Republican party Of
Louisiana shall have the protection Of
these laws, equally with all other parties.
We have asked for nothing but what is
right, and we do not feel called upon to
apologize for making the demand, nor to
defend the judge that gave US justice nor
he President that enforced the decree.
They simply performed duty, and did it
veil and promptly.