New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-04-10

l
5 tory of this State, and more especially
: that of the small band known here at th
time as "Union men" We are all Unio
men now, and some of the oldest of us re
call with feelings of shame that there wa
time when to proclaim oneself such wa
to obtain passport to the lookup, or in
2 vite violence from the mob. But it is true
nevertheless, and there are those nov
alive who have joyfully fitted the halle
= around the neck of friend who was sus
pected of having proved traitor to tn
:, South, especially if the suspected had beer
at the same time rival in business.
But while the REPUBLICAN encountered
much open opposition, thousands Of al
most hushed voices wished it God speed
, sincerely but with bated breath, lest the
reasonable words should reach the popu-
lace and the well wishers be spotted
accordingly. Subscriptions and adver-
tisements were withheld from necessity,
and by these who were our friends, be-
cause there was once too much risk in
this city in man entertaining opinions
not furnished to order by now happily
obsolete set of politicians. For seven
long years We have persistently fought
the enemy and stood by our friends. The
REPUBLICAN, is therefore the oldest daily
paper in the State of Louisiana that is
published in the English language. Our
pathway has been strewn with wrecks of
able journals, either one of which, on the
tenth of April, 1867, was backed with
cash enough to buy the material for half
dozen such papers as the REPUBLICAN.
But there were four or five of them, all
bidding for the favor of the same little
coterie of politicians They wore each
other out in competing for valueless
popularity, while the REPUBLICAN boldly
disregarded the influences of those
who bcasted they controlled all the
wealth and addressed itself directly
to the only true source of wealth
and power in America, the majority
Of the population. For six years it has
been the official journal of the State, the |
city and of the United States. This fact
alone is sufficient to show our status to |
any body unless he happened to be con-
Quoting rival journal The REPUBLICAN
represents the government, which in turn
represents tho dominant party-the ma
jority of the voters. This is no spasmodic
mark of popular favor, one of those in
stances in which the populace cries 'Iong
live" to man one day, and sends him to
the guillotine the next It has endured
for six years. during which we have out
lived and seen consigned to oblivion not
only half dozen papers hostile to popu-
lar liberty, but hundreds of politicians
who were false to the trusts reposed in
hem by their friends. During the past
i've years at least this journal has spoken
lpon political affairs with the
potential voice of seventy thousand
7oters and has never failed to
interpret that voice Alright. There
s no secret in this We have only taken l
he truth and common sense for our guide,
nd the American people are as true to
hose virtues as the needle to the pole.
Within the seven years of our journalistic
xistence we have seen nearly every meas l
re which we thought was tended to pro- II
tote the public good adopted. This in
ludes works Of public improvement, a
nancial propositions and laws for the II
rejection of weak citizens against the
OPPRESSION of the strong and vicious But
w Of such measures have failed to be-
'me law. Some schemes, however, which 4
Q have opposed have been brought -
trough, but few, if any, have yielded ~ ~
returns for the investment ~
number of men whom we did not deem -
orthy to serve the people have triumphed, -
1t have finally been compelled to sur ~
nder, and there are others whose cases III
quire attention. W
We attribute our gratifying success as '
UGH to the fact that we have ever at 81
npted to defend the right as from any w
iity we have been able to show in such ~
Tense. The truth is the most potent ~
apon of offense or defense that can be az
t into mans hands. 1t makes even a .oS
lid strong against giant We have =.
ed it for seven years, and the people 70
We approved the choice. There is not Id
aper published in this city to-day that III
DIS it popular or profitable to oppose Sc su
usly and specifically any measure of 20 ;,
Republican party. Their warfare is pii
'refore necessarily restricted to con- ~.
tion for choice of agents to admins vi
Republican principles. This in itself pa
! triumph for which we are duly thank ma
. since it teaches us that our labors 'lo
10 not been in vain. "a
Is the REPUBLICAN has been for seven AN
rs, SO we hope it will continue. We ON
re, however, no pledges to make for o''
future. None are required by those 40,
0 have known us So long. Our past WI WI
ord is our prospectus. We rely upon ~
and hope for the next seven years, if ~
violence spares us SO long, we shall VIC
q little occasion to fight the old battles rev.
r again. There is other important ioc'
k to be done, in which we hope to Call
mt upon many an ally who has hereto ino
}, from policy or prejudice, been OPP age
ed to us. AS we have lived to see the
when every Amer;oer c;t;,o, 40, bod
plv ox,roc. ~, -.,:.:, of