New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-03-10
THE next CAMPAIGN.

IN the late Legislature, yet while even
are fresh and impressions spreading, it
. duty to remind the Republican peop
Of some truths which, if neglected, ma
prove of very serious consequence to the,
hereafter.
The late Legislature will receive il
honors as body, but there are some n
sponsibilities which are strictly individual
, and should be borne by and saddled upo
the offender.
The chief economy effected by tn
Legislature has been in abating the fac
of the public obligations by nearly hal
their amount. There were some reform
J proposed in the rates Of fees paid by liti
gants to sheriffs and clerks. These re
forms, we regret to say, were lost VIII.
such palpable oppression should hav
been allowed to continue-why such al
election fund, to be used against the Re
publican party, should have been replaced
in hands that SO well know how to employ
it-are questions which individual mem
bers must explain. Their constituents
will know the terrible significance of this
defeated reform when it will be, perhaps,
too late to repair it.
| There were some reckless items of up
propria ton offered, some Of which pass
ed, to the discredit of those who voted for
them. In the latter class was one creating
and compromising a corps of House pages,
about eighty in number. Do our readers
understand what a page isl. Very much
what the little colored boys used to be
twelve or fifteen years since, employed to
carry notes and parcels, to ride horses to
water, and carry fshing-rods and game
bags. Is every legislator to have his little
serf who runs his errands, blacks his
boots, lights his cigar, paid for out Of the
treasury? Yet this is what it means. The
unreasonable number of officers employed
in the Legislature was another abuse
which must be reformed in the future.
Such is the economical record of che
session which, We repeat, reflects great
credit upon the Legislature and special dis
grace only upon such members as were
guilty of voting for unnecessary appro-
priations, and against needed reforms.
1t is our duty to call the attention Of
the legislative constituency to other acts
Of numerous members, which are deeply
to be regretted, and which certainly de-
mand correction.
The last night Of the legislative session
was not dedicated to the vigilant scrutiny
of all the measures which had been
matured during the session. On the
contrary, the scene passed from general
jollifcation into such confusion and vio-
lence as prevented utterly an intelligent
consideration of the calendar, and leaves
it uncertain, even at this date, whether
several acts Of importance did or did not
pass. The barriers of decorum seem 20
have been broken down, the lobby formed
into the House, and those members who
struggled to maintain some degree of
order were threatened with personal vio-
lence 1t is charged that those most in
terested in the success or defeat of GER
tain measures furnished the liquor |
that maddened so many members out |
of all sense of propriety. This should |
be inquired into. If outside interests
can with money and whisky effect the
passage or defeat of laws-if to carry
their purpose they can turn the House of
Repres entatives of Louisiana, as is alleged |
BY our opponents, into den of drunken
avages-then is it time that each of these
members upon whom such disgraceful
conduct shall be proved shall be scratched
rom every Republican ticket.
We but apply the inexorable rule upon
which the Republican President, Congress
md press are acting. Party distinctions
re no longer SO marked as that either
'arty can carry a corruptionist or rowdy
f individuals expect Republican support
hey must bring clear personal record,
nd offer adequate assurances that they
7ill neither steal, get drunk, nor expose to
he gaze Of disguised public the scenes
imputed to the Legislature on its last
lights session.
We sometimes complain of our oppo-
ents, who commit acts of violence under
n apparent impression that their power
1 town or parish extends over the
'nion. They are greatly confounded
hen their abuses here are followed by
ldicial or military authority which they
0 not dare resist.
We may say to such Republican poll
clans as may deem themselves equally
lfe in the impregnable fortress Of col
red majority, that there is an infinitely
reater power in the impartial majority !
the American people. This majority
honest and wise. 1t will not tolerate
fcial or legislative dishonesty. 1t will q
ot vindicate acts indefensible in them
Ives because of any obligations of '
lrty. That majority is too wise to ruin =
self to protect individuals who have
one wrong in the name of the Repub-
can party to enrich or crafty themselves
We must in the most firm and friendly
amer remind the Republican constitu- "
icy of Louisiana that this American peo-
. regard our administration of State :.
as an experiment. The I'M :.
'rdonable abuses of popular power in .
me other Southern States have armed o
Q opponents of the Republican party u
th some sformidabIe evidences If no |