New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-04-14

| pealed to an arbitration where the very pre-
iiminagies seem yet to be involved IN dis.
pute. Our commercial marine is swept
from the ocean, soon to be driven likewise
from the lakes, and after having few years
since closed thousand miles OF sea coast
against the blockade runners of the world,
we are now tainted by Spanish officials
with inability to defend the harbOr of a
single principal city. Sinister objects. self
ish scheping, womanly intrigues, personal
antipatAls master the Department of State,
and lassitude feebly initiates courage.
Thus it happens that while the patriotism
| of Cuba without protest is being stamped
out in blood, the Wanted Monroe doctrine
peddles down to a projected land steal at
| San Domingo.
| Another subject that has never ceased to
claim absorbing interest has been the rela-
| ton sustained by the government to the
emancipated race. Proud Of the achieve
ment of having liberated three millions of
human beings, Republicans have been soil
citous to see them so Incorporated with the
communities in which they dwell. that the
newly acquired citizenship should work no
disturbance and incite no umbrage. Re.
Stunning suspended labor, mingling in local
| concerns, giving to the cause OF good gov
| eminent free support, attached TO 0lHer'
ent parties as individual judgment might
determine. it was recognized that the rights
of the colored race would be respected by
all and that question pass finally out OF
politics. Its safety would lie in division OF
! its suffrage its division would come from
being let alone. But it may be well asked,
has such consideration for the welfare OF the
| freedmen obtained with those in power
Has not policy the very reverse been pur-
sued with regard to them !; has not an active
| partnership been demanded OF them; has
| not their vote been welded absolutely as a
all this been protracted alienation, dis
| reputable government, and endangered
| liberties! The external control, which by
| teaching political dependence, uses race
| thus emancipated as a threat and means
of dominating the suffrage of all opposed
| to its continuance in power, substantially
| puts the achievements OF the war at the
| peril of single Presidential campaign. 1t
| thus does, IN its own person, that very
| thing which constitutes its gravest charge
! against former adyersaries, and does it
| from purely selfish considerations. 1t re-
| CARDS the colOred vote "a an appendage won
| by force, to be only administered III spirit
| of force, and to be taught to rely upon ex-
ternal force for maintenance. Must they
| not, however, be protected, you ask. against
| outrage and crime, in person and in rights!
| | answer yes-a thousand times yes. But
| is military terrorism that only or best pro-
lection Does all our civilization and
| genius of government embody itself at last
| in squadron OF dragons! Has the plying
| shuttle OF civil law, carrying its many
| colored threads, and weaving beautiful
| patterns of order tor society, lost all its
| cunning9 Protection! Yes, l say protec-
| ton to them as others, whether in Missouri
or New York; but let that protection come
of agencies and administrations powerful
| by virtue of the confidence they inspire.
and repressive of wrong because founded
! upon unimpea enable justice.
Civil service reform has been most large
ly demanded by the conscientious and en-
lightened voice Ofpublic opinion. The press,
that reflects so truly. with all its partisan
bias, the general public thought, has been
a unit IN denouneing the present, modes of
appointment, and calling tor methods of in
tervention that would lift the differing of
the departments above the much reprobated
spolls system. How far has its voice been
listened to or reform been a success! A
feeble attempt, never earnestly prosecuted.
has lapsed under the exlgency of campaign
purposes. and the very appropriations to
that end are voted down by Republican
Congress and denounced in a Republican
Senate. A personal wrangle. instigated by
the administration, as to who made the
largest numberCf recommendations, is the
miserable tiasco to the whole proceeding.
The country did not quarrel with recon-
mendations. The people who have been
glad to see Senators. who are charged by the
constitution as advisors of the President,
sending in the names of the best men OF their
constituents, and eager to see the places of
public trust thus filled. What a common
tary, therefore. is it, upon the service and
the tutility of such advice, when those who
might otherwise feel ii d duty, consider it
necessary to prove themselves not amenable
to such charges
But detain you By enumeration OF causes
which have alienated so many Republicans.
It Is sufficient to rearfrm that such loss of
confidence on their part betokens serious
change. They feel like the Hindoos, who
finding that their idols. though ever so much
prayed to. would not abate the plague
started inquiry and discovered them all to
have been manufactured at Manchester
That these impressions are not the disturbed
lmaginings OF mere disappointment. | am
willing to contide to your own conscious
ness. You know that the criticism is true
one in all its parts, as true as that the
French We're supplied with ammunition at
Springfield, or that Leet was gazet,ed as
general order upon the customs. You have.
however, still other warrant when you find
the protest championed by names that com
mand the respect OF the civilized world
When the great leader Of the educational
interests OF New England, Mr.. Woolsey
when the first journalist OF the Republican
organization in the East, Mr.. Greeley
when that brilliant ornament of the legal
profession of the West. Mr. Stalio
when an Adams, of Massachusetts. CLAY
OF Kentucky, Curtin of Pennsylvania. a
Grimes OF Iowa-nOw, alas, dead, and may
the good angel scatter flowers upon his
grave-when so many others illustrious for
purity, talent and culture, draw like con-
illusions. then may You rest sure that your
judgment is not morbidly biased. And when
behind the flashing and the cleaning thus
shot forth, a sombre cloud of dependency
is seen to brood over half the nation, when
an unusual oppression burdens a great and
heretofore triumphant party with formal
candidates, while its ancient rival awaits
with bated breath the coming OF events,
when the accustomed market places of pol
itics are scarcely noted in the up-looking at
strange portent, then tell me not that
there Is no storm upon the blast, gathering
its strength 10 scatter all this darkness,
and let in once more the clear light Of Gods
sunshine.
Gentlemen of the convention. there is one
controlling fact vet of great import that
must not be lost sight of at this juncture. |
1t is that no established belief can be sup
plsnted by mere denunciation. No matter
how great may have been the faults of an
administration, ostensibly in the name of |
htpuoiiCdHisiH, you Will DOU succeed except |
by presenting something other and better |
than it to the confidence of the people. To |
their own satisfaction they have judged be
tween alternatives heretofore offered and !
it will be vain to seek change by submit |
ting anew what was then discarded. There |
tore the question comes again to the front, |
what will you do to make suspicious that |
dawning of better time To you, as Re
publicans by conviction, it is a very vital |
consideration whether. in face of this accu-