Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1873-06-19
THE NEW ORLEANS RESOLU-
TIONS.

mittec of white ana cOlOTeu CltiIeHs VI
New Orleans, Monday, with one excep-
ton, read well, and may or may not be
of practical Importance. The Declare
ton of independence was a brilliant
State paper, and enunciated correct po-
ltical doctrines, yet they were treated
as glittering generalities, and ninety
years suffered to elapse before they were
accepted as realities. 1t may, and we
fear will, probably, be so with these ut
terances of declared and recommended
principles. III meetings, conventions,
speeches, letters, preambles and resolu-
tons were pledges of sincerity, evidences
of reform, and marks of progress, then,
in addition to being wealthy and pros
porous nation we should be the most
moral, enlightened and honest one upon
the face of the earth. Ballot-box stuff.
fng and repeating" at elections would
be unknown, fraud, peculation and cor
ruption among public men would be IN
heard of, and the country would he as
virtuous and happy as it is great and
growing. Unfortunately, resolutions,
letters and addresses are no criterion of
their authors honesty of purpose or the
sincerity of their intentions. In the
midst of Tweed's career of robbery and
forgery, when he was misappropriating
the public funds, bribing judges and
other officials, falsifying records, increas-
ing the debt of New York city, and
trampling law and order under foot, he
was the loudest in his clamor for cor
rect, honest and economical administ'fa-
ton of national, State and municipal af-
fairs. The Fourth of July celebration
at Tammany Hall, in the light of the
developments of the next two years,
reads like a stupendous farce. The
speeches, letters and resolutions of Hall.
Tweed, Connolly, Sweeney and others
of that TX, breathed only th most ex-
allied patriotism, the strictast integrity
and the highest spirit of honesty and
economy. They were the leaders of
Tammany, and Tammany controlled the
Democratic party, and their words were
echoed by the Democratic press as the
Sentiments, and these men as the practi-
cal opponents, of the Democratic party.
What did it all amount 10? The SEN
timents of patriotism, honor and integ-
rity were undoubtedly correct, but their
special advocacy of such views carried no
weight with it, and neither showed that
they, or the clique or party which they
represented, was prepared to carry cor
rect principles into party or government
al action. A declaration of principles
may be sound and correct in every par
ticular, and the country ripe for their
practical application, yet, after all, they
may be but glittering generalities, and as
sounding brass or a tinkling cymbal.
Rufus Choate, although he did not SO
mean it, was right when he denominated
the Declaration of Independence gilt
fering generality, because the doctrines
therein contained were SO treated; but
years passed on, and their glitter became
a bright light, and the generalities
living, breathing, active principles. So
Hall, Tweed and company uttered gilt
tering generalities, and they intended
them as such. They were thrown forth
40 q snare and delnsinn to the neonle.
but instead Of deceiving the people, they
fell into the pit they had dug Tor others.
The force, effect and Importance Of
declaration of principles is derived main
ly, if. not wholly, from their source.
The announcement of man, or body
of men, that certain principles or laws
are right, and that they favor them, but
not their enforcement, does not show
any very marked advance. Neither does
4 the declaration, accompanied by con-
trary action. The sole importance, as
indicating the position of Louisiana, of
these resolutions must be sought else
where than in the words of the resolu-
tions themselves. Who were the COM
mittee, what were their former or pres
ent political relations, might once have
been considered of some moment, in con-
sidering the weight to be accorded to
their action. AS we look at it, taking
any view of the case, they neither indi-
cate an advance in the political opinions
of the citizens of Louisiana, or afford
any possible solution of their present
+ trouble.
4 A careful reading of the resolutions,
with single exception, discloses no new
doctrine. They are simply a re-declara-
ton of the doctrine of civil rights and
the equality Of all men before the law.
1t is, in effect, an extension of the third
article of the platform adopted by the
Republican national convention in June
1872, the difference being that the one
is concisely, and the other verbosely,
expressed. The Republican party be-
lieve, and have believed for years, in
their reality and enforcement. If then,
this committee was a Republican com
mittee, their resolutions indicate
no advance, but rather a retro
gade movement While the Republican
party believes in the right and propriety
of citizens holding office without regard
to color, this committee propose TO elect
men on account of color The question
of fitness is made subordinate to the
question Of color, although the attempt
is made to disguise ii under the declara-
ton that it is demanded only as an
"earnest and proof" Of IAN equal union.
The colored man has as much right to
hold Office as any other citizen and
no more, and the idea of electing men
solely on account of color is carrying
equal rights to an extreme, that will find
few advocates.
If the committee was composed of the
other party, or late rebels, the same diff
ficulty exists, as they have unanimously
resolved and, resolved, time and time
again, to the same effect, and testified
their meaning by indiscriminatly massa-
creing of their political opponents. The
franlla ic hof fba,. &c . 81