New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-05-26

II 70 S'sOAs S0Ss@V0 sAuA toASy AAAso OS0A Az
some time manifest. Property holder,
and business men have been alarmed q
the. prospect Of political pronuncia
mento 70 be sustained BY q prestamo o.
forced loan .upon our merchants and
moneyed Ainstitutions, sextorted on {
threat Of commercial prescription. Tt
our mind it has BEEN palpsble that since
the defeat Of the general State election
bill, the clique whose tactics have filed
the land with acts of violence would NOT
let the agitation" cease, nor allow Their
cause to go by default at the ensuing
legislative election. sec. fa
We had small hope, however, that the
classes which have been SO oppressed by
| political banditti would assert their in
terests and independence. We appre-
hended another election, to be marked
with abuses and followed by contests. We
apprehended that the commerce of this
city, like that of some during the middle
ages, would pass to other ports, where
life was safe and property respected.
Perhaps our view was too respondent.
Probably we dispsraged the American de-
termination to conduct its own interests
without being overawed by any assumed
authority. afa ~ l'=-.5
One of our leading American papers
has taken an advanced position, and
announced its programme for the en-
suing campaign. 1t is a paper bought
many months since by merchants to be
conducted on non-political programme.
1t fell into the hands Of men, who, with
out having contributed to the purchase,
gave directions to the course Of the jour
NAL What was the course then of the
peoples paper? It may be tracked
through abuse, violence, and bloodshed,
to insolvency. The people would not
sustain their own organ when turned
against their own interests. It passed
into other and more temperate hands,
into hands that conserved rather with
rents than riots; with merchandise than
massacres; with dividends on capital than
distribution of spoils. The element of vio-
lence and forced loans was cut of, and
compelled to utter its grHo through other
organs. It turned its batteries upon all |
that is conservative. The New Orleans
Times, which had shaken of the bondage |
Of this clique, has been denounced as. the
''organ of Kellogg" and the insidious
Of an alleged usurpation. The
clique goes further, and denounces the
peoples paper" itself, as unsound, and
As having ''consorted with the common
Republicans.
This undisguised and desperate attempt
o brow beat and BLACKBOARD this last
famed journal into tame submission to
he will Of the political brigands who have
70 long held this city to ransom has had
is effect. It has caused the Picoyune to
'bsolve itself from the responsibility Of
'beying such leaders and executing such
commands. In its Sunday issue the Pic.
lyatne defines its stand on the legislative
Elections in such terms that no one can
1t says:
In the next campaign, so far as to any
'arty names or party expedients we pro-
'ose to be strictly and immOrably neutral.
No man shall receive our communication
merely because he chooses to call himself
Democrat, nor our condemnation because
e chooses to call himself something else.
We recognize the claim Of no party upon
ur support and countenance, and shall
bide by NO party dictd in tie course>we
lect to pursue.
The same article had said s.Louisiana's
resent and imminent need is to have
God, honest, intelligent men in her legis-
alive bodies" It is added:
II we can keep an unworthy or incom-
etent man from participation in the
laking OF laws for our people it will be
UT pleasure and our pride TO do so. II we |
an put an honorable, an efficient man in
is stead that much Of patriotism shall |
lrely be recorded to our credit. Ii
This position is of much import. It is
notice to the people of New Orleans that |
journal at one time the organ of discon- t
mt and opposition to all in Office has re-
ounced that role. 1t is timely and a
anly notice. If the property and bust
sss interests of New Orleans do not ap- q
rove of this avowal, let them demand :
ON the proprietors change of editorial T
inistry. II the people sustain this hon
t and sagacious policy let them signify a
in their own decisive manner.
Our readers will not mistake these com. \
ents. 1t is not intended to foment di- p
sions among our opponents by fulsome n
.ttery Of dissension, nor to draw a hope o
party support from declaration Of 4
utrality. The position of the Picayune n
by no means neutral. It pledges an g.
tive participation in the combat on be- q
If of the best and most competent can Il
dates. Parties making nominations are II
minded that the influence of a leading O.
per will be for or against them as the Il
rsonal merits of their respective nomi- 81
es may accord with its standard of 10
ALLEGATION. This influence, be it much b.
little, is put up as premium to be n
arded in favor Of official competition. ..
le opposition nominee may lose it if he n,
an unworthy man, the Republican q,
minee may, pefchance, gain it if he 9,
rpasses his competitor in qualification. g,
This comes as a corrollary to the ad- q,
,nitions we have given our Republican 4,
ends. There is strong moral and fnan- q,
i interest to back this position. The &C
ople are disposed to manifest this same II
atrality in party politics and activity in M