The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1872-05-11
The Liberal Republican Party.
[Fron the New Orleans Republican,

allotted term; fld tnat conception
has given birth to- the Liberal Repub-
lican party. TheFaccouchement took
place in Cincinnati in the presence of
large numberl BIZ the most expert
enced political. aecoucheurs in con-
vention assembled and the issue has
already assumS6f giant dimensions,
and viii exercise; b most potent inf1u-
ence in reformingIthe abuses of gov
ernment in this country. Both the
Democrats ahdi Republican party
have passed their days of usefulness,
and fallen into habits that are any
thing but beneficial to the public in
terest. They have both degenerated
into partisan eoItlpaets that hold sue
cess of party and individuals para
mount to the general welfare.
The great issaes that divided the
Republican and Democratic parties
from 1860 until tAe close of the rebel
lion and the work of reconstruction
was completed ihaye ceased to exist.
They are dead,iSsues of the past, and
should not longer be permitted to
serve as food for partisan purposes,
and continue 8 disturbing and dam
gerous element t9 the peace and pros
perity of the couAtry. The admins
tration of federal affairs and its vast
army of Office IhGlders are interested
in keeping up the machinery of the
Republican party, which has fallen in
to their hands, ID means of perpet-
uating their ruleE; but the Democrat
ic party has nc shch interest or mo-
tive for keeping ,up it's organization,
for it lis quite clear the people will
never restore thhIt party, as at. pres
ent constituted, ITO power. Therefore
it will be both WISE and patriotic in
the Democrats party to disband and
cooperate with; ahe Liberal Republi-
can party, thaS bias just been brought
into existence for reform purposes.
When it is once; understood the DEM
ocratic party yfiA do this, the Liberal
Republican party will gain at once
large accessioiss from the followers of
the old Republican ssparty, who still
cling to it because they fear the re-
turn ofthe Deinb nbcratic party to power.
To avert any slseh result, which they
honestly thinE would be most disas-
trous to the e6,aatry, they will vote
for the re-eleetton of President Grant,
even though they feel convinced he is
disposed to make this centralized
military geyesBIaent. They are will
ling to endure Grant for another
term, and theni take chances of get
ting rid of hirhs than to think that in
joining the Liberal Republicans and
Democrats IN n fight against Grant
there might bt,f n chance of finally
falling a prey. th the Democratic party.
We are satisfied of this from the man
ner in which Tho Cincinnati movement
has been spoken of by Republicans in
different sections of the country, who
are liberal and lin favor of reform.
The Rochester New York; Dem
ocrat aud Chfosticle, an influential pa
per, in an article headed Liberaliz-
ing the Republican Party" published
o few days before the assembling of
the Cincinnati Convention, makes use
of tho following significant language
in regard to the same:
AS we have thus uniformly sustained q
liberal policy With respect to both principles
to hope that soAle good, in this direction,
may be achieved;hy the Cincinnati confreres.
The purposes sought to be attained by the
conference, so far as we have indicated them,
have secured f0r,fhe movers in tho under
taking a measRrahle amount of sympathy
among the hroedsst and clearest of publi-
cists. But whsi,i We contemplate a new
n4r- as5TNHt nf hn ont
party in which the Democratic element shall
be paramount, and tho Republican party
cast aside as anoble horse which has out
lived it's powers, iGur whole sense of the fit
ness of things il Violated. Cincinnati, as q
means of liberalizsug the Republican party,
may be suecess, but Cincinnati, as door
way into the Delooeratic party, or as de-
vice to restore tE8t party to substantial su-
premacy, would be disastrous blunder.
1t is too late prevent the proposed confer
enee, and unwiBd to belittle it. 1t is fact
and must be treated as such, without pas
sion, prejudice otiignorance. If the Repub-
lican party did rdt need liberalizing, Cinein-
natl would be impossible; it does need it as
we have frequently shown, and hence it
takes its place aAjan element in the political
problem, to be considered and either elimi-
mated from the problem or strengthened so
as to become a decisive power, according to
the wisdom or folly of its treatment. But
that treatment cain not now be considered
we must wait uutil the convention adjourns
for that.
Our present dafty, therefore, is with the
convention itself, and We are to consider it
entirely from @ts own objective point. To
promote the best interests of the country by
tiberalizing the! Republican party, and, if
possible, elevating it to still higher stand
ard, is the protested purpose. We are skep-
tical as to its roker to do this; but of that
we are to judgs when its vital energies and
controlling genins shall have been made full
lv manifest. Ifi it shall dicker and trade
with the Demcetaey, or if it shall adopt such
q line of policy as to confront the nation
anew with any Of the dangers and heresies
from which the Republican party has saved
il, then Cineinaai win demonstrate its inca
pacity to govern But if it shall surround
the past achievements of the Republican
party with more substantial guarantees, and
shall give Satisfactory promise of advanced
progress in the future, then we may welcome
it as an Instrument of good and commend its
lessons to the regular Republican convention
to meet in Philadelphia few weeks later.
We trust it may have the wisdom to do this,
and that it's eItlIe action will be such as not
to ;mperil the Republican party, its finished