New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-05-29
rHE NEW BASIS OF PUBLIC ORDER.

of the city, seem to have united in an
agreement It is, that neither party con-
tending for the State or corporate COM
missions will nominate any candidate for
these commissions except honest and COM
| petent men. This, it will be perceived,
is very different basis from the corrupt
contract made before the last election.
BY that contract, Fusion was made OF
the worst materials of both parties. 1t
was based on a corrupt partition OF
Offices, in advance, and upon the avowed
ability and pledge Of one Of the parties to
this unhallowed conspiracy, to employ all
the power confded by the Republican
party to distract and defeat that party.
The present tacit agreement that neither
party will run any but respectable men
for Office, reserves to each party its organ
ization and its principles. It is no more
than if belligerents should agree to abol-
ish bushwhacking and privateering. 1t
is restoration of the lawful usages OF
political warfare in Louisiana.
We have now the three principal repre-
sentative American papers pledged to this
honorable, patriotic and conservative
basis.
The sole opposition to this new basis
must come from the "blood OF Office"
gang, which sees nothing in political
election unless it is to be followed BY
idleness and rapine. This is an immemo-
rial element in the politics Of our city.
Happily the indications are present that
it approaches its end. Business ard
property can not stand the decision OF
political questions by election frauds,
riot and assassination. The practice must
be stopped. Hence the simple and sufd-
cient agreement to select none b1t compe-
tent men for Office on either side.
We have said that this ''blood or Office"
element is immemorial in the history Of
our city. 1t was claimed to have mani
tested itself at very early period in the
release of LATTE from prison in consid-
Grafton that his sympathizers should sup
port the candidate for mayor who ezer-
cised such questionable clemency. There
was paper of that day suspended for
making the charge. Of its truth we know
nothing. But one portion Of our city his
tory we do know, and it establishes The
existence of these buccaneers at later
and more authentic date. Three years
before the war there was conflict of par
ties in New Orleans. 1t was between the
American, known as the Know Nothing
party, and the Democratic party. The
Know Nothing party unhappily fell under
the control of murderous clique Of its
own members, and they electioneered
with the knife and the pistol instead of
with documents and arguments, As was
done elsewhere in the United States |
during the same campaign between the |
same political parties.
The number of Irish apd German slain
under that war was far greater than even
the negroes who have fallen victims to |
the same element. It is well known that |
there was one fort at jackson square
held by one party and another at the
City Hail held by the other party. That
the city became unsafe for residents or
strangers and that to confne the strife,
it became necessary for the people Of
New Orleans to nominate an independent
,ity ticket composed of the best men
without respect to party opinions.
1t was at that period said by journal
advocating the independent ticket, as
eason for supporting as candidate for
mayor an officer of the United States ar
ny:
He is, in our humble opinion, the best
qualified and the tttest, in the depiOrable
condition of affairs existing here, to under
AXE the serious work of reformation, 10 re-
luce the rutfian elements which for several
ears have been tolerated or encouraged in
heir saturnalia of blood, if not of insubor.
lination and lawlessness, TO obedience and |
ubjt ction, and to give to decent, industr-
rs and law. abiding citizens that safety and
ecurity which it is their inalienable right
o possess, and of which they can not, ever
egally or rightly, be dispossessed.
G. 7. Beauregard, major in the United
states engineers, was
Willing to sacrifice his high position in the |
ngineer corps of the national army to com
y with the wishes of those who regarded |
is election to the mayoralty as absolutely
to the attainment of the OBJ
ects we have above alluded to, and without |
which it is reasonably apprehended the
7orst evils resulting from the supremacy |
f the vilest passions must continue to be- |
all US till the ruin Of all is complete.
This ticket was recommended to the
ordial and generous support Of every
nan who desires to see this city relieved
rom the domination Of the lawless, the
rofigate and the sanguinary. The in
itation of the candidate is signed by over
We hundred names, among which are
1any still living amongst US in respect
nd influence. 1t entertains "a deep in
crest in the good name and prosperity of
ur city," and in the Importance of
escuing the administration Of the NUM-
ipal government from the baneful infu-
nee of party politics" The candidate
eplies that he accepts the invitation for
the special purpose" of restoring the
God name and prosperity of our city to
heir former high standard, and to ad-
Minister its municipal affairs agreeably to
God order and economy"
The history goes on:
If men possessed of wealth and compelled
, remain here and labor will permi. their q,
NJ md nnh AL