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


fused into al the relations of political life
subject to it's influence; that the corrupt
tendencies of our times would be effectually
checked, that government Of cOnstitu-
tiOnal principles and strict respect for the
laws would be given to this republic; or
that, all this failing, the great party, which
claims the abolition of slavery as it's noblest
achievement. would rise as one man against
all tyrannical assumptions, speak the plain
truth to the people, and correct the short
comings Of its own representatives by its
own act.
e DISAPPOINTED HOPES.
In this great hope we were disappointed.
and we are honest and bold enough to say
so. And more than that, / confidently as
sert-and know whereof l speak-there
are thousands upon thousands OF Repub-
lieans all over the land who feel that disap-
pointmcnt just as keenly as we do, but who,
under the partisan pressure that has been
brought to bear upon them, have not yet
gathered spirit enOug d openly to pro-
claim it.
A word to them. Among those who still
cling to the ruling powers know many most
able, worthy and high-minded men; many
Of whose personal friendship l shall always
be proud. am very far from saying that
every friend of this administration and
every advocate of General Grants re-elec-
thorough civil service reform, or a de-
fender of usurpation and breaches of law,
or a whitewasher of abuse and corrupt
practices; but do say, that almost every
enemy Of amnesty and civil service reform,
every defender of usurpatiOn and breaches
of law, every Whitewater of abuses and
corrupt practices in the Republican party is
friend of the administration and an advo-
cate of General Grants reelection. 1t is
natural process of gravitation. And GER
tainly the latter, being the no selfish y
interested, the most active, the boldest, the
most INSCRIPTIONS, will naturally be the
leading spirits.
And now ask you Republicans who mean
to do right, who abhor corruption and an
impure use Of power, who respect the con-
stitutiOn and the laws and who will not alb
dictate the right of independent conviction,
how long will You permit those who i've
and thrive by working in the opposite direc-
ton to lead you by your noses You can
not lead them; they will lead you, not
where you WILL but where they will. How
long Will you follow them, as regretful vic
Tins, in direction which you would never
have chosen!
You tell me that the integrity of the party
must be maintained. 1t might have been
great requirements of the times. But if it
has Motif it has drifted into those errors
and abuses SO common to political Organizs+
tons after long enjoyment of power, when
with the mass of camp-follOwers the spirit
Of selfish speculation invades them-is then
the integrity, is the drill and discipline of
party the highest object of veneration that
should I'LL the soul Of a patriotic citizen! Is
there nothing higher Are there not times
when, to do his whole duty to his country,
the citizen must rise above the partisan!
PART1sANsHIP BROKEN FOREVER.
Look around you, and you see bands Of
partisanship loosening on every SIDE. In
spite OF the yells and imprecations Of the
whippers-in, there are every where the signs
of breaking up, as the ice on your rivers
breaks up in spring time. 1t is SO. not only
in the Republican camp, but, whatever
their organs may say, In the Democratic
camp just as much. And why is this so
Because neither of the two old parties, as
at present constituted and directed salts
fies the requirements OF the times. We are
living in a period OF transition. Great
events lie behind us which have wrought
great changes. Neither of the old organiza-
tloEs has risen up to the height of the
problems these changes have brought with
them. Both, it seems, are incumbered too
much with the baggage of the past. A
transformation must come, slower, perhaps.
than some. but certainly quicker than
1
our best efforts to prevent it, it still would
come. The popular instinct feels it, and
the old accustomed party whip will rule no
longer.
And under such circumstances you would
still forget and sacrifice things of impor-
lance so cvershadOwing that the cohesion
of the party be saved, seeing that, if saved.
it would now only be delusive shadow.
YOu tell us that you deplore these dissen-
u, oh no.
hold. So do we. 1t is not pleasant to differ
with old friends. But how were those dis
sensions developed to their present state
You, honest Republicans, who on all mate
rial points think as we do, you bear large
share of the responsibility.
lfyou had not only thought as we did,
but boldly and openly spoken out as we
did. here and there, and all over the land,
administration and party might have been
diverted from the downward course when
it was still time. But you did not. Good
thoughts without words, good intentions
without action, avail little in this world of
ours. By your considerate silence you
nursed into controlling power the evil intlu-
ences which will now as partisans rule you,
unless you break loose from them. Thus
you rendered necessary an instruction for
what otherwise might have been accom-
plished by a timely assertion of your true
convictions.
THE CINCINNATI CONVENTION MUST SUCCEED.
And now, honest Republicans, if by your
pleading for party integrity you could sue
coed in stopping the movement We are en-
gagged in, if you could seduce us back into
the party traces, and thus secure new
lease of power to the influences which at
present rule you, do you know what the
would be 4! An insurrection
at a future time and then-who knows
much more uncomfortable for good; for the
greater and more provoking the evils TO be
remedied, the more reckless the means for
their correction. Will you repeat your dan
gerous expedent of acquiescence?
But you can not stop the movement in
which we are engaged. The men who have
undertaken it have risen above party dicta-
ton They have ceased to measure their
Of duty by the rules laid down
in caucus. The great objects they aim at
stand to them above mere party considera-
tons. Those who are now in good earnest
working for constitutional government and
reform will not be led by their noses BY
those who lead in the opposite direction
This movement will go on; by your Joining
it you can make it greater and more beue.
fetal in its influence; by your opposition
you can not arrest it. You might as well
attempt to stop the Mississippi in its flow
Nor do think you can prevent its success
Neither you can, nor partisans of any striDe
But few weeks ago the Cincinnati conyen-
ton was spoken Of by politicians with CON
temptuous smile: now that smile has already
turned sour on their lips. Listen to the
tidings coming from all parts OF the country.
The people have opened their eyes. They
see through the deceptions with which they
were surrounded. Their best impulses have |
reganed their strength, and they demand
that the truth be spoken. A spring time of
new hopes has come. And yet You see only |