New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-07-26
THE ART OF REASONING.


The most efectual weapon that can b
used by an honest press in the discussion
OF men and measures among a truly fire.
and intelligent people is the art of reason
ing. As early as 1901, after most exciting
political contest, which resulted in the cleo
ton of MI. Jefferson to the Presidency, tina
great and good man took occasion, in hi,
first inaugural, to remind his countryme1
Of an important truth. After abiding t.
the fearful contest of opinion through
which the country had just then passed
and the fears excited in the bosoms Of
many as to the safety and even practica
bility of republican government for main
tanning the American Union, he said:
If there be any among us who would wish
to dissolve this Union, or to change its re-
publican form, let them stand undisturbed,
as monuments of the safety with which
error of opinion may be tolerated where
reason is left free to combat it.
After asserting this one essential quail
ty for the maintenance of Republican
government he proceeds to give it another
essential quality that Democrats of the
present day deny. Arguing for the safe
ty, power and perpetuity of Republican
government, Mr.. Jefferson in his first in
augural says: ....
know, indeed, that some honest men
fear that a republican government can not
be strong-that this government is not
strong enough. But would the honest pat
riot, in the full tide of successful expert
ment, abandon government which has SO
far kept us free and firm, on the theOretic
and visionary fear that this government.
the worlds best hope. may. by possibility,
want energy to preserve itself! trust not.
l believe this, on the contrary, the strong
est government on earth.
At the time Mr.. jefferson made these
important declarations in substantiation
of the American Union and its republi-
can form of governm ent, there might
have been in the minds Of some good and
patriotic men what they conceived to be
just grounds for doubling it's powers and
usefulness. But since that time its
strength has been severely tested, and
proved to be all that Mr. Jefferson claimed
for it. Yet it is true the American peo-
pie have not surmounted ali the difficult
ties that have opposed republican gov
eminent in this country. But these will
be finally overcome if the republic,
through President Grant, effectually ex-
erts the power lawfully reposed in it. The
people must be guaran teed the right to
reason and act for themselves. This in
alienable right must be secured to all par
ties, political and otherwise. It is to the
free exercise of this right in this State
that we look for its ultimate redemption
and that right can and must be secured by
rigid enforcement of the reconstruc ton
laws whenever that course is rendered
necessary by the action of men who will
not, if left alone, tolerate a difference of
opinion; will not allow those politically
opposed to them to ex ercise the political
rights conferred upon them by govern
ment. The disposition to oppose this
right has manifested itself-as already
shown by the REPUBL1cAN-in many parts
Of our State, and in none, perhaps, is
there more potent agent for stirring up
q murderous opposition to republican
government than the Shreveport Times.
Its attacks upon the national government
and the government Of this State-made |
through the persons of President Grant |
and Governor Kellogg been most |
virulent and unreasonable, and if uncon-
tradicted, are calculated to exercise |
baneful influence over the people of |
Northern Louisiana. We know that !
it has been considered dangerous
for Republicans to freely express
their opinions in Shreveport, and that |
many of the leaders Of the party there
have been threatened with violence; but |
It took more than reports to this effect to
satisfy us that any material portion of the |
people Of Shreveport were prepared to
make themselves party to any unlawful |
looking to the suppression by
violence of the rights of men politically
opposed to them. In the midst of these |
reveries, we have received the |
Southeastern Telegram of the tenth in
slant, liberal Republican paper, pub
lished in Shreveport. Its long continued
silence in the face of the paper lombard
ing that had been kept up by the Times
against the Republican party and officials
had given coloring, it must be confessed,
to the thought that possibly reason in
Shreveport was not free to combat error
md crime. But the following temperate
md well written article, taken from the
Telegram of the tenth instant, gives IA a
more hopeful view of the political situa-
ion up there, believing. as we do. that
he people, will not turn q deaf ear tn
.eason:
THE DISSATISFIED AGAIN.
This mornings Times vainly endeavors
o assign to rs position on political ques-