New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-11-13
MORAL AED POLITICAL ISSUES.

in human history that any moral issue SO
far controls political interests as to change
| a dynasty o: an administration. It's the
| lust boas. Of this republic tina: such
changes are made here withou. bloodshed
A survey Of the political field satisfies us
that the fecen: elections might have been
attributable more 70 moral and econom'
ical than to political issues. Upon the
| closest examination We can find no pollt'
ical principle in issue anywhere.
Everywhere at the North and West the
Republican platform was unquest'oned'
\ Everywhere at the South the resolutions
! Of the montgomery. Alabama. meeting
were confirmed by the election:
Resolutions of congratulations a; the re,
cent State and national victories. anu
pleGging devotion to the constitution ana
the Union. and promising equal and exact
| Justice to all withou: regard to race Or
color. were adopted.
Such a signal triumph Of principle. and
of peace, may we'll atone tor the defeat OF
men who have been at the South defeated
by the tardy acknowledgment Of the
Republican right of colored suffrage. The
mere claims Of the Democratic party as
''snapper up Of unconsidered trlties"
means absolutely nothing. 1t thrusts
into its voracious carpet-bag every defeat
Of a Republican candidate. The Changers,
the third termers, the anti-temperancers.
the intiationists, the instant resumption.
ists--wheresoever or whatsoever may be
the pretense Of Republican defeat, it is
Democratic victory. There can not be
shown one material issue between the par.
ties. There has been no organized oppo"
sition to the Republican doctrines now
enforced On the tablets Of the constitution.
1t has been by submitting to the estab-
lishment of an orthodox doctrine in the
Republican creed that the Republican de.
feats have been possible. Had Democracy
made a national issue on principle the
Republican ranks would have closed and
the phalanx would have been. as always.
impregrable and irresistitla.
But til ere have been moral issues. which.
though produ by the acts OF both par
ties, have fallen especially upon the party
in national power.
In all parties percentage OF venal
politicians attach themselves to the or
ganization 10 promote their personal in'
terests. In the electoral organizations the
principal offices are assigned to leaders.
and their followers provided for by sub"
ordinate appointments or financial fscili-
ties. We can not better illustrate this than
by the case of Democratic New York city
and Democratic New Orleans. We shall
concede Republican ofenses enough OF the
same kind to make the practice universal.
As soon as Republican ascendency was
established, there rushed into its councils
men determined to make its successes the
foundation Of their fortunes. There was
associated with them Democratic accom-
plices who stood in the lobby to accept
and dispose Of whatever might be handed
out on join. account. Pacific railroads.
public debt syndicates. appropriations for
lakes, rivers. levees, canals. jetties. rail-
roads. administration of freedmen's funds.
notifications Of tariff. and hundred
other rings. All these We're subjects Of
political speculation by both parties. for
no ring was complete without men from
both parties. This practice reached--as
everything American does--a rapid con-
summation. 1mputations were cast on
the Republicans as responsible for
common practice. AL the accumulated
cases Of eigh: years inevitable incom-
potency Of the few imposters who
had erept past the countersign OF
Republican principles. was heaped
upon the party in power. The Treasury
Department was charged with TN undue
agency in movements Of precious metals
and in the reduction or expansion Of the
currency. The diplomatic department
was thought prompt enough in sending
protection to the colonists Of SANTANA
Bay but mystcriousiy dilatory in assert
ing the dignity Of the government where
the lives Of its citizens and the integrity
of its flag had been at stake. Members
Of Congress Of both parties entertained
a proposition to grant federal bonds to
private corporation. and some Of these
members were proven to have had per.
sonal interest in this job. Members Of
Congress 50 far and SO strangely forgot
their duty to their constituents as to
practice in the national legislature as
they would have done in the courts. To
accept fees and expedite the interests Of
their clients by sharp practice in the
rules Of Parliament or the phraseo!ogy of
the statutes. 1t was deemed the duty Of
every honorable represe NATIVE to have
REFUSED himself as legislator on every
case in which he was interested as man.
About the same time Tweed. an emf
nent Democratic State politician and
Senator, was detected and convicted of
having used his political position for the
advancement: Of his personal fortunes.
He was. however. to have received bonus
or royalty Of twelve per cent on all the
public accounts which he and his accom-
plices had audited. Mr.. Ti!den. a special
Democratic detective who arrested him,
has been made Governor Of New York for
this service. The unhappy Tweed has
been exhibited clad in striped raiment
and behind the bars Of the State prison