New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-10-07
WHO SuFFERS2

| element when he says OF them:
These voters, after their gifts, established
| the present administration, and in the pup
| liz nress and otherwise are held to stcic'
account for ali the ills brought upon tne
State by either the iDcOmpetency or d LIS
honesty of the men who nave reacneu oni
cial position through their ballots. =.
The REPUBLICAN has, for many months
warned the colored people of the danger
Gus responsibilities thus imposed IN thelr
name, by the failure to send men OF IN
corruptible integrity to the Legislature.
The gain of such representatives is per-
sonatl; he consequences have been met by
their constituents at Colfax and Cou-
shatta. One man gets a gold watch and
diamond pin; hundred others go to
bloody graves about the same thing
The REPUBLICAN urged the Legislature
at its last session to make certain reforms,
among which was the reduction OF the
cost of certain official perquisites 1t has
been shown that assessors, sherlfts and
clerks have exorbitant profits out OF their
several Offices. Bills were introduced IN
TIE Legislature at the instance or with the
approval of the executive to effect this
laudable object. They were never passed.
Their defeat was attributed to the bribery
of members with the money of the officers
whose inordinate gains were in peril. Any
way, the profits Of these Offices continue,
and to-day there are almost countless can
didates for each of them.
1t is perfectly notorious that the nomi-
nees for these offices can afford large con-
tributions to the election funds. The
contests for these positions, with the in
cidental and subordinate employments
which they engender, react upon the
State and federal elections. There can be
no question but that a fight over the New
Orleans shrievalty may determine the
presidential vote of Louisiana. Who,
then, suffers for this abuse of the
legislative power? Undoubtedly the
Republicans in the country. who are
thus bought and sold, who may
be and are butchered and shot for the
shameful gums Of few unworthy rep
We repeat our admonitions
and exhortatio ns to the Republicans, and
to the colored Republicans, to
guard carefully the trusts which are con-
fded to them. Put none but Trustworthy
men in nomination. Experience has
shown that some who have made great
profit in the name Of the Republican
party have got away with it, and now live
in este ntatious luxury elsewhere. What
has been the share of these unworthy
gains to the Republicans, and especially
to the colored Republicans: Abuse and
persecution.
1t should be. and no doubt is, the wish
of the Executive and those who cooperate
with him to secure to colored Republicans
all the protection, and all advantages
which the State and federal administra-
lions can afford. SO that Mr.. Mary must
remember the intrinsic difficulties of the
position, and make allowance for its ext
gencies.
It may seem an easy act to govern the
Safe. 1t may be thought from late pro-
fessions Of respect for federal power. and
for the rights of our colored citizens, that
the political ship viii navigate herself, and
that we need apprehend neither tenpests
nor pirates.
The complaint Of Mr.. Mary that "we"
the people Of color.
Share, neither, 30 any considerable ex.
tent, in the CONTROL of the government
which We have created, nor participate in
the patronage resulting from political vic.
tories We have won.
Imparts an impotence which we regret at
a moment when the cordial and contented
aid of every Republican is so vital.
As for the alleged CYLINDERS, abuses
and crimes Of the Republican administra-
tons of Louisiana, it is known that these
eliminated under the preceding admins
tration of Governor Warmoth, who, find
ing that the Republicans had become
alarmed at the enormous debt and
fagitious corruption of his reign. i'm
proved upon his government by the
amendment of the constitution limit
of debt. This betrayer of Republican
principles, finding his ruinous policy
resisted, offered his powers of official
abuse to our opponents. They were ac-
copied with reclamation.
These powers of abuse have constituted
the chief troubles of the Republican
party, but they have been arrested. Let,
then, such stauuch Republicans as MIR.
Mary regard these crimes as atoned for,
these ssabuses' restrained, and let him re-
member that this has been done by the
vote. 1t would not then be
just to say that people of color 'tare not
permitted either to avoid, correct or re-
pair the Same, by the concession to us Of
any appreciate power and influence in
the conduct of public affairs" 1t is by
this aid alone that SO much has been
achieved. With these convictions that
the alleged wrongs have been perpet-ated
in their name the reform will be com.
pleted.