New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1873-12-20

kind had appeared in the paper adverting
to any possible change in its command
and conduct. The Pic was firing its YER
bal projectiles of the longest range and
most explosive nature exclusively against
Washington City, and taking no thought
of any domestic danger, when a sudden as
sault was made from q neighboring re-
doubt of the Herald It was sustained
with great vigor, carried the works of the
Picayune, and in less than fifteen minutes
by the watch of the auctioneer the entire
| works and material of our ''co-operative''
antagonist was in the hands of the foe.
We regret, for the honor Of political war
fare, to state that neither the Modocs
nor the Cubans were less merciful
to their captives than the warriors
of the Herald. The whole editorial garri-
son Of the Pic was put, metaphorically,
to the sword. Perhaps their doom was,
in the opinion of the captors, justified by
an arrested attempt to fire an injunction
magazine, which would have blown par
ties into the nonentity of pi. This was
considered violation of all the comities
Of combat and decided the fate of the
prisoners. They bore this tatewith ex-
emplary calmness. What with the excite
ment of the past conflict and reduction of
half rations for some time past, they were
adjudged too light to hang and too thin
to be shot, and so we're liberated on parole,
without rations or transportation. This, to
newspaper employees, is an unmerciful SEN
tence, and will be duly chronicled as a bar
barism unworthy an age Of civilization. 1t
is said the capture was owing to the over
weaving confidence of the cooperative"
camp and commanders. 1t was thought
the fort, though badly provisioned, was
impregnable. Il now appears that it was
heinously unprovided with even an Or
binary security on an injunction bond,
and the refusal Of Messrs. Phelps, Morris
& Co. to grant further reinforcements, left
no chance even for terms of capitulation.
President Forman will no doubt demand
a court of inquiry.
The sale of the Picayune has demon
strated the fact that the mere purchase of
lot Of types, presses and editors, by
even the most well meaning Of merchants
and astute of attorneys, does not make
newspaper. Here was a journal
perishing, it is true, with the dry rot,
and inaptitude Of professional in
ability purchased at the price of one
hundred thousand dollars. Within a
year it employs and discharges num-
Der Of editorial writer's, who could
not keep pace with the design or designs
of its managers. Its violent editorials
have been followed by riots; resistance to
the laws; an attempt at the assassination
Of the State executive; the death in COM
bat of a citizen esteemed for his many
excellent qualities, and state of party
antagonism which estranges good men
from each other, and SO loses to the city
the value of their conjoint service in its
behalf. The paper itself has been put in
for two very serious libel suits for unpro-
fessional epithets applied to members Of
the State judicature. One suit has re-
suited in verdict for eighteen thousand
dollars. The other is still pending. The
sale Of the property on credit, for small
part of what it cost, with the outstanding
debts and liabilities, establish q case Of
gross incompetency and Encouragement.
This past history of the Picayune is
admonitory. Purchased to rebuke the
spirit Of party intolerance, and with
recorded pledge Of moderation and i'm
Partially, it fell under the control of the
most violent partisans. Proposing to de-
vote exclusive care to the commercial and
business interests of the city, it thrust
those interests into corner to make way
for the phillippics Of Mr.. Booth, Or the
lucubrations of Mr.. MARI OF course the
stockholders, finding their paper per-
verted to purpose they had never in
tended, and their own interest entirely
extinguished, would not respond to requi-
sitions for more money, nor would they
even lend their names to give additional
credit to the political buccaneers who had
got control of their vessel. This affords
conclusive proof that the business inter-
ests of the city are not satisfied to see an
abusive war kept up against all who may
differ with a journal in politics. They
know that intolerance here may be retail
lated by intolerance elsewhere, and that
when New Orleans is dependent upon
Congress and upon the capitalists of other
sections, there can be no propriety in a
course calculated to prejudice thoseS in
terests against US. The Picayune has been
taken out of the hands of non-professional
and put under control of men
known to the community as able and ex-
perienced editors, who comprehend their
professional duties and responsibilities.
These gentlemen assure the public that
NO paper VIII no CouuuClcu unQ6r t1eIr
exclusive direction, and without any dicta- |
ton or interference from without, and with |
not the slightest connection with any politi- |
cal or other organizations, classes, cliques |
or rings.
We regard this as a professional tri-
amph. The unfortunate Phaetons who |
have been madly ambitious to guide the |
chariot Of intelligent light found the at
mosphere too much rarifed for their in
tellectual endurance. They have tumbled