New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-08-02
THE APPROACHING STATE CONVENTION.

THE APPROACHING STATE CONVENTION.
The objects of the Republican State
Convention, which is to meet in this city
on Wednesday next, are four-fold. First,
to re-enunciate the great principles which
nnderlie our organization as party, with
out which we should be not party, but
q faction; second, to nominate a candl-
date for the important Office OF State
Treasurer; third, to elect the members o.
the State Executive Committee for the
coming year; and fourth, to resolve them
selves into ngressional conventions to
nominate candidates for members OF
Congress.
To the discharge of these simple duties
honor is attached, and consequently there
has been lively emulation among some OF
the prominent Republicans as to the
prospective organization Of the conven-
ton and who should be chosen to its
most responsible positions This emula-
ton, so far from threatening the unity or
strength of the party is, as we have al
ready said, sign of vitality and energy;
of individual ambition not of factional
dissension. 1t is mere ripple on the
surface, and does not disturb the great
body Of the party. To A or B, indeed,
it may be important to obtain such or
such chance of distinction in the organ
ization of the convention; but the party
has the whole alphabet to choose from,
and may set aside both A and B, and
select or q to be its servants. Indeed,
from what we can learn Of the probable
composition Of this body, it is likely to
prove the ablest Republican convention
which has ever met in Louisiana, COM
prising among its members men of talent,
character and high standing, to whom
may be safely intrusted the charge of fifty
setting forth its principles, and Of prop
erly promoting its interests. Among such
men there will be no difficulty on the
mere question Of organization. That will
be quickly accomplished, and they will
proceed to the important work which has
called them together. In the setting
forth Of the principles of the party it will
be necessary to re-enunciate, in the most
forcible manner, those fundamental polit-
ical axioms which, though embodied in
the constitution of the United States, and
in that of this State, behold arrayed
against their practical workings the whole
force of race and class prejudice; that
Bourbonism which can not learn; that
'last-ditchism, which has SO long consti-
tuted the strength and the weakness of
the opposition to the Republican party in
this State.
A declaration of principles, however,
where all are of one mind, is an easy
matter; and it will be in the selection of
representative men to illustrate and sup
port these principles that the difficulty of
the convention will lie, for in large oppor-
tunities for choice there is sometimes
danger of mistake. We have already |
pointed out in general terms, the course
which, in our opinion, the party ought to
pursue in this matter, and the kind of |
men it ought to select; but as for becom-
ing the champion Of individual ;.spirants,
the REPUBLICAN has too much work to do |
defending the general cause against the
combined force OF the Democracy, White |
Leaguers, Conservatives and ku-klux, to |
descend to such minor details