New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-07-02
RrnrcuL0us ASSUMPTION.

6lUlCULUUN AOOOM1 4AON'
When q writer or speaker has weak
cause, or feeble style of expression, ne
naturally resorts to expletives and abusive
epithets. We always detect in contro-
versial adversary this evidence Of impend-
ing defeat when, finching from the fight
of decorous argument, and courteous Ian
guage, he flies to shelter himself under
the party prejudices of his friends and
from that "coigne of vantage" casts his
abusive projectiles. The opposition is
positively without political principle to
stand on. If they differ from the Repub-
ican creed in anything they do not pro-
claim it. They even ask now from Re-
publican Congress the exercise Of some
powers which were formerly denied to
be within the authority Of the gov
eminent There is no measure Of State
policy knoWl to US il which the cpposl-
ton differs from the administration.
There is an assumption that certain per-
sons now in private life are better quail
fed to discharge all representative and
other duties than any who can be chosen
by the Republicans. With fair degree
Of familiarity with the literary and foren-
sic capacity of these gentlemen We look
upon them without the least particle Of
awe. As Mark Twain's impassive traveller
looked upon the jumping frog, "we don't
see no pints about that frog that's different
from any other frog" However swollen
and pretentious may be those who
assume superior capacity to govern
their fellow-cltizens, we fail to see any
demonstration in the deeds of these
aristoi or upper tens. If We are mistaken
let US see some specimens. Where are
the laws they have proposed or
enacted? Where the books they have
written, the orations they have pro-
nounced, the ships they have launched,
the schools they Lave founded, the pub
lie services or private charities they have
performed? We have even the govern
ment Of this great city with the collec-
tons and dispositions of its revenues, in
the hands of mayor and majority of
administrators who do not claim to be
Republicans and were not elected by Re-
publican votes. 1t is no disparagement
to these administrators to say that the
city government has been no better, and
the city credit no higher under these
gentlemen, than under an equal number
Of their predecessors. We have even seen
this administration criticized if no. GEN.
sured-we have never seen it praised
by its own friends. Its title to Office
depends upon the same decree that
installed Governor Kellogg in office.
Mr.. Witt took his commission as
did each of the other Democratic
administrators, from a Republican and
man of color, the pro tenn successor OF
Governor Warmoth, then suspended by
articles Of impeachment. Their title was
not conroverted before the Lynch return
ing board, so that they hold their COM
missions by the suferance or silence Of
that board. These officers thus obtained
the patronage and appointment Of several
hundred Democratic employs. The OPP
position accept. They control the richest
and most valuable source Of political re-
ward in the State, far more than the
patronage Of the State itself. Yet these
men are not denounced as usurpers for
holding Office under such title. There
has been no proposition for a new election
in their case. 1t is rudely demanded that
all the officers in the State should take
the same direction, and that no Repub-
ican should be permitted to represent a
majority of votes in any locality, nor in
the State at large.
There is an arrogance and assumption
in this demand which throws the auda-
cious washerwomen who demand their
tubs, or the revolutionary applicants for
pie and soda water wholly in the shade.
1t is an open claim to ali the offices of
government in Louisiana with an intima-
ton that if not yielded at the polls they
will be captured by superior military
prowess of the claimants. II is really
exhibiting the people of Louisiana in a
humiliating attitude. To beg amnesty,
suffrage and rations from those more pow
erful than themselves, to send deputa-
tons protesting restored loyalty and
asking rations and public works
this from the weaker to the stronger
people Of the Union; then to turn and
denounce those whom it is assumed to be
less warlike though more numerous, and
say: "We have begged your friends out of
all we needed; now surrender all claims to
participate in the State government, or
We will try it out with arms" Well may
the Picayu,e have been surprised with
the indifference" of the citizens of New
York towsrd giving aid to people placed
by their leaders in the discreditable atti-