New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-08-08
ON EXHIBITION.

1 NCAS WAAC0 0AlS,At pAOoSAS -
propriety. We knew that the organlza
ton and reorganization Of parties wa
pending; that there was in Louisiana
large amount of neutrally disposed t.
give Republican nominees the benefit o
support or silence, provided they were
competent for the positions sought. Tht
occurrences at vicksburg and Natchitoche!
convinced us that competition, if not
conflict of races, was impending, and thai
the results of violence and intimidation
upon timid and unarmed voters OF the
colored race, could not but be disastrous
to the Republican party.
| The whole Northern people are disposed
to guarantee the vote of the colored citi'
zen, but they are accustomed to impartial
and intelligent suffrage They set high
| value upon the elective system, and have
thrown guards around its proper exercise.
With these considerations we did not
consider ourselves as taking liberty, but
performing duty in reminding the men,
bers of the convention of the deep impor-
lance to the peace Of the country and vel
fare of the Republican party Of holding
an orderly, respectable and harmonious
session.
The convention assemblies in a new and
elegant hall, for the first time dedicated
as temple of popular service. It is
located in the heart Of highly civilized
city. 1t. is open to the view Of visitors
from all the States of the Union and from
all the nations of Europe. Seated near
the members of the convention are men
skilled to record every word, gesture and
incident, as there are others posted to per-
vert any act or expression into an evidence
of ignorance, and incompetence tor the
high position assigned the convention in
the political organizations of the republic.
Confident ourselves of the entire fitness
of the element added to the elective force
Of the country, we attributed to the lead
ers the intelligence to know the response
bility of this exhibition. We believe that
all who came together in the interests
of Republican ascendency, would de-
mean themselves with calm and intelli-
gent propriety. If there were discussions
we trusted they would have been conduct
ed with decorum. If there befel dissen
sions it was hoped they would not impair
the unity nor energy of the Republican
The wisdom of our warnings has been
verified by the truth of our predic-
tons. Incidents which have been COM
mon since one arhite member was bowie
knitted in the Legislature of Arkansas by
another ,rhde member, have been magni-
fed into a pell-mell fight. The produc-
ion of deliberative pistol has been an
occasional point Of order since Senator
Foote, in the open Senate of the United
States, presented pistol at the breast of
Senator Benton, who proclaimed, with a
arge interval of distance and many
members intervening, "Let the assas-
in shoot. Such unhappy and disgrace
Ill scenes have occurred from Carolina to |
california. They have been condoned,
overlooked and forgotten here, although |
hey were seized on and published by the |
European enemies of republican govern
nent to prove the failure Of that system.
70 repeat such fragrant abuses Of repub-
lean usage is by no means to justify |
hem. The colored people, whose COM
etence for suffrage has so many and such
assailants, should be careful.
hey can not illustrate that competence
y copying the deplorable abuses Of their
'hite predecessors in disorder.
We hope the members of the convention
ave read the exaggerated misrepresenta-
ons of their controversy. 1t has by this
me spread abroad throughout the world.
will enter more or less into the issues
ow dividing parties in the United States.
his misrepresentation is heavy weight
,rown into the Republican scale, and
IN only be counterpoised by corrected
atements, which being more temperate,
i'll not gain such ready credence, and
eing published solely in Republican jour-
ais may rarely reach the minds they are
tended to correct We doubt whether
!ch member of the convention realizes
Re origin of his own words. There is a
nd where the reverberation of single |
'ice may bring down an avalanche. The
and expansive diffusion Of
telligence, makes an Incorporate word
oxen in the convention audible across
e ocean and the CLEAN of a weapon
in the angry conflict of free
en- is metaphorically visible, through
it every caucus in America and every =,
binet council Of Europe.
1t is in the power Of the convention to !
Indicate the civilization and political in
Iligence Of its members by guarded +
opriety of language and demeanor. To ,
respected the members must respect {
lie another. They must look on the I
les of order as honorably obligatory f
ION them. 1t was the appeal of Napo- c
IN to his troops in Egypt, "Soldiers, Z
I'M the summit of those pyramids forty I
INJURIES look down upon you" Centu- /
IS to come may look back upon the con- {
ct and bearing Of our representative a
dies. Posterity will either applaud o
ose who have indicated the wisdom of E
iversal rights, or curse the day when o
ey may have forfeited those rights by
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