New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-07-26
FEW HINTS,

| 4 FEW HINTS.
Never since its first organization has
the Republican party of this State hal to
encounter severer struggle than that
which awaits it in the approaching cleo
ton, and never was it more necessary for
the rank and file of the party to exercise
greater judgm ent in the selection of its
candidates. more firmness in support OF
its principles, more unity in its counsels
or more self-sacrifce on the part of indi-
vidusls for the common good. If dissen-
sions exist among its prominent men the
main body of the party should not per-
NIT itself to be split thereby into factions,
adherents of this one or that one, but
should rather ignore such discussions and
give itself steadily to the work in hand,
teaching its would-be leaders that their
private squabbles are Insignificant in the
face of the co mmon danger.
The brunt of the whole fight will be in
the nominatio ms, and it is well for us to
consider where in the danger lies. The
White Leaguers have started the cry that
the majority of the Republican party,
being colored, are determined to "Afri-
canize," as they call it, the whole State
in other words, that they are banded to-
getLer to give the preference to colored
men, whenever there is rivalry between
white and colored, without any regard to
fitness. This SANDER the colored men of
our party must refule in the only way in
which such a SANDER can be refuted; by
their conduct, especially by their selection
of candidates in the coming nominations.
They must show that they have perfect
understanding of the fitness Of things, and
so far from bell ewing that their numerical
superiority in the party entities them to
a corresponding proportion of official
positions, that they intend to choose their
candidates solely on the ground of intel
ligence, integrity and public spirit, with
out any regard whatever to complexion or
class. Especially important is this i'm
partial regard to merit and good citizen
ship in the selection of candidates for the
the members of which occupy
positions more responsible even than that
If the executive. Men intrusted with such
grave duties should be Of character, educa-
ion and good standing in the community;
men whose homes and hearts are here. To
select for such high duties those who re-
,ard them as trade, something out Of
which mon ey is to be made, or who are
10 ignorant as to be unable to properly
Express themse Ives either in speaking on,
writing, or even to understand the Ian
,uage used in Legislative business, is
worse than absurd-it is suicidal. Men
f such desc ription can not be elected,
nd should not if they could, no matter
low firm their Republicanism. The
arty contains thousands of men with
very requisite for positions Of trust and
onor-strong craftsmanship included
nd from among the best and wisest Of
hese its selections of candidates must be
lade. Among these selections some Will
6 colored men and some white; but let
1em be chosen not because they are
ither colored or white, bu. because they
re fit.
1t is undou btedly true that the rank
nd file of our party have been abused
nd deceived by some of their trusted
aders, and have, therefore, naturally {
nd justly become suspicious. They
lould, therefore, scan closely the con-
uct of its prominent men, and bewa re Of I
oubtful ones; not permitting themselves j
} be used for any mans benefit, nor I
AIDED in as any mans political CAPT tai; s
ut exercising the same discretion in tn cir I
lection of the public servants that tn ey +
ould in choosing agents for the ir own I
.ivate affairs. t