New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1873-12-03
THE NETTING OF CONGRESS.

ago with some rather StaftllnS PROPOSE
tons. A sample of this class protested t
be ready to bet-irst, that the McEner.
faction would be placed in power within
two weeks of the assembling of Congress
second, that there would never be anothe
meeting Of that body, as there would Ger
tainly be breakup in grand row owe
the contest for Speaker.
| 1t is just such nonsense as this which
has claimed the attention and distracted
the counsels Of the people Of New Or
leans for many years. Nothing is too
absurd to find ready believers among GU,
varied population. We did not hear tina
any bets were made on either Of tie above
propositions, probably for the reason tina
their originator had no money to put uI
for the purpose. He was probably thu
agent Of ring, or principal in some
transaction that could be promoted tenn
porarily by an apprehension of genera
smash up of our whole political fabric
something like that which occurred il
| 1S61-and from the effects Of which more
than one-half the white people of the
State were completely ruined.
But Congress has met and organized,
and We are ready for the fulfllment of the
other prophecy. 1t will be observed, as a
| straw which shows the direction of the
political breeze, that General Butler, who
| is the leader Of the House, made a mo-
ton, at an early stage in the proceedings,
to seat all the Louisiana Republican mem
| bers, including Pinchback, who has,
since his election as member from the
State at large, been appointed, by the
representatives of the people of this
State, to still higher congressional posi-
ton. But his admission to the House. or
at least the recognition of his right of
membership, is necessary to settle another
question. An affirmative vote rules out
the Fusion contestant, and, in case of Mr..
Pinchbacks resignation, will create va
cancy, thus remitting to the people the
duty of holding new election. Such
prompt action on the part Of the House
may be considered as a defnitive settle
ment of the Louisiana questionable APP
pomattox of the little rebellion inaugu-
rated here with Republican leader for its
chosen general in chief.
If, when this result is known, the self
vaunted s'real people" can be prevailed
upon to accept it as fnality, and leave
''politics alone" until they have secured
the respect and confidence of their neigh
bors Of the dominant party By their con-
sistent good conduct, it will be all the bet
ter for them, all the better for the whole
State. The Democratic leaders, while
they have it in their power to agitate until
they injure not only themselves but thou
sands of their own friends who really have
no taste for politics, can never succeed in
building themselves up on the ruins OF
the Republican party Nor can they ever
defeat it on the basis of hatred to the
negro or the Union, disguised by very
thin mask Of economy and reform. We
know the difference that exists between the
professions and the promises of such pol
iticians as have for the past ten or twelve
years undertook the congenial task of
leading the white people Of this State by
the nose and bullying the colored popula-
ton into compliance with their ambi-
tious desires in regard to political prefer
ment The Republican party has been
too much occupied since reconstruction in
defending itself against the wicked attacks
of its enemies to devote much time to
the consideration of measures for the
good Of the public. Our several riots, Or
gained for no other purpose than to cap
ture the public Offices for the benefit OF
those who neither had right to them nor
the capacity to discharge the duties, have
cost the taxpayers, directly or indirectly,
millions of dollars. In self defense an
Metropolitan Police force has
been found necessary, and large sums
have been demanded every year to arm,
equip and maintain the militia The hope |
that Congress would finally interfere in
the affairs of the State and pass an order
adversely to the interests Of the Republi- |
can party has stimulated and kept alive |
an almost desperate contest on the part |
Of the Democracy during the past year.
But the proceedings of the House yes
.erday, by which Messrs Sheldon and |
Sypher were seated, and Mr.. Pinchback's |
case sent to the Committee on Elections, |
nay be regarded as final blow to such |
lelusive hopes. There does not remain a
shadow of a chance for McEnery, McMil-
Ell, Sheridan, nor any of the pretended
officials of the Democratic selection. They |
ought to have foreseen this result in the |
.ction of the Senate and the executive last |
winter, but they were so blinded by their |
,wn ardor for success, that they could not |
zee, and unfortunately have followed the
.dvice of those who have found their
'rofit in keeping up the agitation. In tie
language of the Fusionists, which they APP
died NAL apropos to the report Of a Senate
Committee, the highest tribunal in the
ountry has decided against them, and it
5 time tor them to realize sense of their
rue condition. The meeting of Congress,
rom which event both parties expected
UGH gratifying results, has taken place,
nd the result is known. We may now
-ithdraw our sentinels from the from
Ter and concentrate our energies upon
ocal matters, for the fight SO long waglng
oc boo, noblv uOn |