New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-03-22
DUTY TO THE REPUBLICAN, PARTY.

uduuIuS tQat The men WHO aspire W
+, present it are able to defend its bann'
against any foe, and that they shall |
themselves impregnable to any imputatio
i Of personal iniquity. A party may estal
fish its principles in the legislative an
a administrative policy Of the country, an
may be beaten by the aggregate detef
p of men who have only taken til
name of the party to cover the
own personal objects 1t is not an in
. possible thing that party whose princ
pies have been accepted by the countr
may be driven from power by the abuse
, practiced in its name. Democracy wa
once accepted as the type of progressive
ciples by men who bore its name was
. exposed. It was found to be compound
of tariff and anti-tariff, of free soil an(
pro-slavery, of hard money men ant
bankers, of Unionists and secessionists
The people detected the fragrant inpos
ture, and drove the conspirators from
their confidence.
Let not the lessons of the past be lost
on the men of the present. Republican
principles have been sustained by the
American people in war; and have been
confirmed by constitutional legislation.
Theresis no foe in the field to controvert
| these doctrines. But the usual conse-
| quence of victory follows. Men, many Of
whom were not particularly conspicuous
| in the hour of danger, come to the front
and demand the disposition of that power
which they had scarcely aided to obtain.
In the name of the Republican party they
organize raids on the national treasury by
every conceivable device. They claim the
disposition of its patronage, not to
strengthen the party, but to enrich
themselves. The Credit Mobilier, the
moiety system, with its informers, spies,
and bribery of confidential clerks-what
have they to do with the principles of the
Republican party? And yet the Repub-
lican party may be tried on these irrele-
want issues, and might be defeated, not on
its principles, but for the fragrant iniqui.
ties of men who profess them. We
note that the President has become very
cautious of those upon whom he bestows
Office. It must have been observed that
the Senate has not hesitated to review very
strictly the character of some whom the |
DrocfIan& hoe nominated
that the President should have been
deceived He hears nothing except good |
of an applicant for Office. The tail Of his
petitionary kite is composed of the sigma
lures of friends who are supporting him.
self and his family; of creditors who de-
sire to improve his facilities for getting
hold of money; the very rivals who wish
him in some other business. Not.a whisper
of objection comes to the President. The
Senate has other sources of information.
The Republican Senate has exposed Pome-
roy. who bought his way into that body
with money, and who would have no doubt
reimbursed himself by the sale of his vote
Caldwell was warned away by this
demonstration, and it must have its
fleet upon others who take the name
# Republicanism on their lips to put
money in their pockets Does this action
VI the Senate indicate any hostility to the
President? Not at all There is perfect
larmony with his administration. He is I
20 doubt grateful for the vigilance that
rotects him from the public responsibility
f bad appointment. The debates in
he House Of Representatives show SIM =,
ar watchfulness. The practice of accept i
,g a fee as an attorney as the price Of S
representative influence in the House has S
revoked severe criticism, and very I'M c
satisfactory defense. The Republican S
ress has shown corresponding determi- g
alton to hold offenders to proper respon- c
bility. 1t has been announced that =
hen the train Of party is in motion all t,
the baggage is at the risk of the owners "
lereof" If, then, passenger bearing n
epublican badge be found in possession "
plumber obtained in the name of the v
srty, he will be turned over to the Off b
rs Of the law and put ashore at the next W
alton.
Were the duties thus inculcated by the b.
ads and organs of the party not even A
st they would become proper at the d.
esent juncture. In the midst of war
d reconstruction the American people IN
oked only at the chief issues. Those tr
tablished beyond the fear of reversal, m
ey look to other considerations. They f 81
lieve these principles can only be main al
ned by int gritty and economy of gov m
lment. They look with indignation 70
on the lordly monopolies that tax their st
'or, as upon the fragrant public robber- s ae
that disgrace their name and jeopar- he
,e their inheritance of freedom Hence or
} Western elections, with their disregard Or
party lines From this cause the be
Anglers combine to bring the naughty n u,
gs of the railroads under the control of bo
} law. Does any one mistake these OF
dences of determined reform for a re- t q"
iiation of Republican principles? Not an
all. Those principles are immutable.
e American people demand honest and 70