New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-06-03
THE OLD MISTAKE.

ton of the remarks of the REPUBLICAN OF
. Sunday, relati We to certain reforms which
we desire to see effected in the Repub
lican party. In its fullness of zeal, but
poverty of dis cretion, the organ Of all the
impracticables takes our address to oul
party friends upon matters of discipline
as an invitation for its readers and con
stituents to come to The fore again ano
take charge of affairs. Such an idea is
inadmissible, for various sufficient rea'
sons:
1. The faction thus referred to is toe
weak in infuen ce, numbers and character
to furnish much strength to the Repub.
lican party. 1t is doubtful if any assist
ance could be relied upon from that quar-
ter, since every accession from their ranks
would be offset by departure from ours.
2. The REPUBLICAN is very far from
being in penitential mood, having no
sins of its own to atone for.
In addressing the Republican party
upon matters Of duty, we spoke with
reference to the next election. We have
not invited our friends to consider
abstract questions, but to prepare for the
active duties before them. These are to
select from among Republicans most fitted
tor public usts, suitable candidates to
fill the vacancies in offices, and for mem
bers of the General Assembly. There is
but one State officer to elect, the Treasurer,
and this is work that presents no diff
Guilty. All the other State Offices are salts
factorily filled, with no probability of a
vacancy for two years more. MIR. Dubuclet
has discharged the responsible duties of
State Treas urer for six years, and has done
it in such a manner that not breath OF
suspicion has been cast upon his honor or
integrity. There have been times when
warrant holders appealed from his de-
cisions to the courts, with varying success;
but no one ever alleged that the worthy
Treasurer was actuated by selfish or i'm
proper motives. 1t will thus be seen that
we are not casting about for successor
for the only State official the people are to
be called upon to choose, since the present
occupant is our decided choice, who will
surely receive our vote in case he is q
candidate, even though he may at the
same time be the nominee of a Democratic
convention.
But it was chiefly with reference to leg
islative positions we spoke. All the
members of the House and one half Of the
Senate are to be elected. For these posi-
tons we ought to select the best men we
can find. The good of the community
and the success of the party depend upon
this. And we may as well insist upon it
that the fact that man is Republican
does not necessarily imply that he is fit
tor a seat in the House or the Senate.
Neither does it follow that because some
Republicans, or at least those claiming to
be such, are not fitted by their habits or
education to make good legislators that
oil in our party are thus disqualified and
that we must send over into the camp of
the Bourbons for supply Of officers
There are, we repeat, enough good people |
in the city to rule it properly, and the !
majority of them are either in the Repub- |
lican party, or ready to come in as soon
as the fell spirit Of intolerance and pro-
for political opinion can be beat
en- down.
We cordially invite accessions to our
party; but We are not in much want of
professional Office holders. And when
man presents himself, with the Bulletins
declaration Of an intent to ''root out the
last vestige Of Republican rule he viii
find the doors closed in his face and the
guns pointed at him. For the Repubi-
can principles have been embodied in If
repealable laws, which it would require
a revolution resulting in civil war to up
root.
1t will not do for our party to rely upon
its history for our future success. Duty
should be the watchword, and all our
candidates capable of understanding what
t is. Owing to the confusion of the last
and the wretched manner in
which the election was conducted, the
Republican party was not enabled to
present the best men that could have
been found in all the parishes. Hence,
he records show some things against us
which ought to have been omitted. A
possibility of repetition should be avoid
ID. But we are not looking in the di-
ection Of the hostile camp for such as
istance. When the Liberals, in 1872,
proposed to join the Republican party,
nd lend us q helping hand, We extended
cordial welcome; bu. when they de-
Jared their purpose to control the whole
and name all the candidates for
he important positions from little ring,
Without any consultation with the Repub
lean party, they were summarily dis
missed, and we beat the hosts of Democ-
acy, reinforced by our late would be
lilies, single-handed. We are prepared
@ do the same thing again. We have
alent and honesty enough on hand.
These virtues certainly preponderate in
'ur party, and if the Democracy really
lave choice in the matter, as between I
republicans, let them come over and {
xpress it. But, gentlemen, it is only I
necessary for the present to bring voters. '
We will make candidates of such as suit c