New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-03-23
REFORMATION.

W O-~-
once discover that a change from worse to
better will not entirely relieve the country
of the infectious political disorders that
threaten it with ruin. The great want
of the country at this time is reformation
in the conduct of the people as well as a
change for the better in the department Of
those intrasted with official duties. Re
form has become the popular cry Of parties
striving for authority, but as reform might
mean only temporary relief, reformation
should become the popular watchword.
That would efectually strike at the root OF
political evils existing in the United States
at the present time. As the complaint has
become epidemic, the remedy should be
thorough and comprehensive, in order to
place the country once more in healthy
condition.
knowing full we'll the character Of the
disease that is becoming a dangerous
canker-vorm to American politics, 1t can
be described in very few words. 1t Is
mania for public Office.
And men afflicted in this way become
not unfrequently INSCRIPTIONS and IN
charitable to all who stand in the way OF
their political ambition. Their denuncia-
tons of political opponents are long and
bitter, embracing charges Of violations OF
| every human law and moral duty. Ma
tional, State and municipal administra-
tons are assailed, not so much for the
purpose Of correcting abuses as to turn
out the men who have been temporarily
clothed by the people with authority; and
while all political parties are thus striving
to WELD 'the rod Of empire" and crying
out Reform, REFORM" the evidence con-
tinues to accumulate that nothing short
of reformation in the conduct of the peo-
pie can secure change for the better in
the administration of federal, State and
municipal governments The mania for
public Office is growing evil in this coun-
try, not only because it draws men from
productive pursuits, but because it stimu-
lates many to unmanly and dishonest acts
to obtain personal and party ascendency.
If this madness is not abated it will be-
come dangerous, and the way to break it
down is clearly in the hands of the people.
Political parties, after all, are but portions
of the people, and their success should
be dependent upon their conduct for the
general good, and the principles upon
which they would run the government if
called upon to administer it.
Men who band themselves together for
no other purpose than to obtain Office at
the hands of those whose political princi-
pies they find it useless to further oppose
are certainly without accommodation for
office. The cry of reform coming from
men of this kind in this State means a
change of officials. To effect this change
these reform office-seekers profess to be
actuated only by pure and patriotic mo-
tives In the language of that staunch
Democratic paper, the Washington Pa
triot they would purge public station OF
the corruptions which disgrace the civil
service and these corruptions consist
principally Of Republicans who have been
placed in Office by Republican voters.
We would ask is it right and proper to
reward Democratic madness in this way
Is this the way to abate the Democratic
madness that has beset this country
since 1860? That portion Of our peo-
pie who still follow the fortunes of the
Democratic and Reform parties in this
State may answer these questions affirm
atively But we are satisfied that no Re
publican who is guided by the principles
Of the great Republican party OF this
country will ever consent thus to reward
Democratic hypocrisy, duplicity and mad
ness.
Without meaning to defend Or even
apologize for any wrong that may have
been perpetrated under federal or State
Republican administration, we stand pre-
pared to defend the principles of the Re
publican party, and, where it is deserved,
the conduct Of Republican officials. We
cannot endure the hypocrisy that would
make men pretend to be be reconciled to
President Grant, while in the same breath
they utter the fercest denunciations
against Governor Warmoth.
The Picayune, the professed organ Of
the Reform party in this State, yesterday
conta ned an article from the Washington
Patriot bitterly rejecting on President
Grants administration, Congress and the
Republican party. This article makes no
bones in saying that 'the objective point,
therefore, is change Of the national
administration.
The Picoy,ue copies this article, thus
indorsing it in full, and makes the fol-
lowing among other editorial comments:
Now substitute for "the national admin
istration" 1.-THE State administration and
for s'the President" 1.-THE Governor OF Loulsl
ana" and it will be seen how exactly the
advice of the Democratic organ at Wash
ingt0n comedies with the views and argu-
ments of the Reform party OF Louisiana.
By this it is pretty clear the objective
point here is a change Of the State admin
istration, and the principal reason for
wanting this change is to Gust Republicans
from office and place Reformers in their
stead. If reform was their only object
they could easily be reconciled to Cover
nor Wormoth, who, by ispublic acts, has
done more for reform than any man in the