New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-04-18

| and others ridiculing the fundamental prin-
ciples upon which that reform is to Precede,
aud still others express the wish that the
attempt should he made in order to expose
practically the absurdity OF the idea. And
when you look for the most earnest advo-
Gates Of that reform you find them, with few
exceptions, among those who are denounced
as traitors to the Republican party.
Once. indeed, plan of reform was pro-
mulgated; but no sooner was it announced,
| than it was suspended; and in the mean
! time. the patronage is Justify handled as be-
fore. and the political machinery is doing
its work. have no doubt as to the sin
| cerity of purpose animating the gentlemen
now Celebrating rules and regulations for
| the civil service, but if they have not yet,
thew certainly will presently come to the
conclusion, that a true and practical re-
| form of the civil service will not be intro
| duced by those who strive to benefit them
| selves by its abuses; nor VIII 1ne peoPie
| look for that reform under President who
| relies for the promotion of his own interests
| upon the friendship of its enemies. The
Presidents civil service reform has been
| STYLED humbug by his loudest friends,
| and the cause OF reform takes refuge with
| those who are denounced as his enemies.
This is, suppose, according to the eternal
fitness of things.
And now, when YOU look at this whole
spectacle what does it signify! 1t means
that the great problems, the solution OF
which is most imperatively demanded, have
been lost sight OF by the influences which
| at present seem to direct the ruling party.
1t means that through the long enjoy meEt
of power those who WELD it have become
reckless in its exercise. 1t means that the
selfish consideration of partisan and per
sOnal interest has risen above the consider
alton of public good. 1t means that par
tisan spirit, looking after selfish advantage,
strives to cover up existing evils and
abuses, to discredit and crush the spirit Of
thorough going reform. and to stitie the
popular conscience. 1t means that the
public service of the country, with all its
endless ramifcatiOns and influences, is be-
coming, nav, has become, vast and
Systematically organized machinery OF pO-
litical power in the hands OF one man,
to falsify and sunjugate public opinion,
and to dragon the political action of
the masses. 1t means that through
that organized power one will governs and
impels clique; that clique rules the caucus;
| that caucus rules the convention: that con-
vention the party, and that party so con-
trOlled and directed as to rule the American
people 1t means that this system, as devel-
oped under the impulse Of low instincts,
must be a school of arrogant tyranny on one
side, ON the other, of corruption, hypocrisy,
slavish spirit AID general decentralization.
1t means that under this pressure many men
in political life are already afraid to utter
their honest convictions, lest they blast
their prospects and fortunes: l know it. for
many have told me so. 1t means that under
a system like this neither the constitution
nor the laws, nor popular liberty. nor per-
sOnal rights will be safe. 1t means that a
declaration Of independence from a degrad
ing and demOralzing personal and partisan
tyranny has become the necessity of the
day, and trust we shall have it.
THE CINCINNATI MOVEMENT.
When we denounce abuses, when we de-
mand reforms, when we rise up against the
arrogance of personal and partisan rule,
when we address voice of warning to the
people, we are met by those in power and
their minions with the defiant G, V: What
are you going to do about it - That cry has
been heard before 1t was but recently
heard in this neighborhoOd, and it has had
fitting response. 1t will have a fitting re-
Spouse again. On the first of May the In
dependent men of the Republican party
will meet in convention at Cincinnati, and.
unless l greatly misapprehend the signs of
the times, that convention will not be slow
to tell those defiant gentlemen what we
are going to do about it.
We shall rally for common effort those
whose convictions of duty are not at the
disposal OF personal or party dictatiOn.
We shall insist and take good care that
none of the logical and legitimate results
of the war be imperiled; that the settle
ment of past differences. as embodied in
the constitution, be maintained; that the
equality of human rights be held inviola-
BILE: that the national creditors be assured
their dues to the utmost farthing. But We
shall insist, also, whatever the behests of
those who attempt to rule us, that those we
have overcome in the civil war shall be
treated with policy of impartial justice.
appealing to the best impulses of human
nature; we shall insist upon the employ
ment of those legal and moral agencies
which are calculated to revive fraternal
feeling among all the people, and patri-
otto spirit of nationality throughout the
land: we shall insist that the flag of this
republic wave over all its citizens as the
symbol of equal rights and equal protection:
we shall insist that the robbers be discoun-
tenanced who suck the marrow of the
Southern people, under whatever party
name they may do it; we shall insist
that corruption be crushed wherever it
may appear; We shall insist that the people
be relieved of unnecessary burdens and all
forms of Odious oppressiOn; we shall insist
that ours is a constitutional government,
whose fundamental principles and estab-
lished forms must be sacredly maintained
at any cost, and whose laws, constitution
ally framed, are higher authority than the
pleasure of any man or any party; we shall
icsist that the self-government OF the peo-
pie, the very foundation of republican in
situations, shall be kept inviolate in its
legitimate sphere; we shall insist that the
insidiOus and unconstitutional informed
ding of the central power with local cone
Germs and individual rights shall be stopped;
we shall insist that the public service of the
country is instituted for the common benefit
of all the people, and nothing else, and that
it must cease to be slavish machn-
cry to partisan interest or the as
pirations of personal government; we
shall insist that the dangerous and
unrepublican system he broken down by
which the will of factions or men in
power can impose itself upon the masses of
the people; we shall insist that every public
servant shall be held TO a strict account
under the laws of the country; we shall
insist that there shall be no slavery nor in
voluntary servitude in this country, neither
moral nor physical, that you, merchants of
New York, shall be able to express your
political opinions and act upon them with
out fear Of the Customhouse, and that
every man IN every part of the country
shall do the same without aDXiOusly look
ing around, whether there is government
official or partisan near who might hurt
him.
This we SHALL as Republican freemen in
sist upon; we shall see to it, that candi-
dates for the high Offices of the govern
ment representing these demands be placed
before you, and thus we shall appeal to
the moral sense, to the love Of liberty and
personal rights, to the instincts of Justice,
to the virtue to the national spirit, and to
the patriotism of the American people. |
That is. gentlemen, what We are going to |
do about it.