New Orleans Republican., 1872-05-23
THE LIBERAL PARTY.

, There is an evident disposition IN the
partisan press Of the country to mistake
the issues presented by the Liberal Re-
publican movement. As its name implies
it is a compromise party. It had its
origin in the recognized necessity of a
reform in political abuses. It does not
abstractly represent Republican principles
as contradistinguished from Democratic
policy, but seeks to include the best polit-
ical elements to be found in each, and by
the aid of these to mold the policy of an
administration which, while correcting the
evils of misgovernment, Will redeem the
country from the abyss Of corruption into
which its politics have sunk. These
are the aims Of the Liberal Republican
party, and these principles, it is under
stood, the Cincinnati nominees represent.
The first and primary undertaking,
being national movement, is a reform in
the civil service of the country. Under
the present administration this appears
impossible. Corruption in Office and ne
potism are the characteristics by which it
chiefly attracts the attention of the people.
The condition Of the country under its in
fuence has almost daily deteriorated, and
our foreign and domestic policy has be-
come a by-word and reproach to the ma
tions. Suffering, as the country is, from
the devastations of recent war, every pos
sible means should be employed to restore
tranquility and stimulate commercial en-
terprise and industry. But this has not
been done. The Southern States particu-
larly have been treated by this admins
tration more like conquered provinces
than equal members Of great confedera-
ton Of States. Sectional antipathies have
been incuIcated instead of being dimin-
ished. Under a policy SO impolitic and
injurious, but few Of the principles Of free
government have survived. But this is
not the worst. A still more evil influence
has been gradually developing under the
fostering care of the administration. This
is Capitalization. Ours has almost ceased
to be government Of liberal ideas. One
controlling influence directs its machinery
and shapes its policy. 1t is exerted by
one man-the President. The legislative
and judicial branches of the government
have ceased to be coordinate, and are
merely incidental to the governing power.
Other evils, scarcely less grave and mo-
mentous, are hurrying us to the verge of
anarchy.
This condition Of things calls loudly for
redress. 1t has aroused the patriotism
and enlisted the craftsmanship of the
country. 1t was readily perceived that no
political organization then existing could
apply the corrective. Political preiudices
and partisan antipathies stood in the way.
Republicans and Democrats could not
unite upon apurely Republican and Demo
cratic platform. To save the country from
those who were fastening on to ruin in
volved a sacrifice Of party affiliations.
Fortunately American patriotism was
equal to the emergency. The sacrifice
was made, and the Liberal Republican
eliminating in the Cincinnati
was the consequence. The
motive principle is, as said before, re-
form in political abuses It is, indeed, a
reform party, composed Of every element
and shade of political opinion, Democrats
and Republicans, but recognizing as a
primary and overruling necessity honesty
and capacity in public officials and pure
administration of the government both
State and national.
In this view Of the purposes and OBJ
jects of the Liberal Republican move
ment 1t seems impossible that mere par
hsan preferences should stand in the way
Of its success. Nothing, indeed, should
stand in the way of it. There should be
A coalition of all the elements opposed to
he administration. The coalition should
De both State and national It will be