New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-08-05
nELIRERATIYE DECORUM.

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A large portion of mankind form their
opinions on the merit Of this or that form
| of government by the spectacle which It's
administration presents. Crowns ana
masks conceal for kings and priests the
abuses which they perpetrate. The null
| titude bows down before the visible signs
of wealth, pride and power, wholly IN
conscious of the crimes that they conceal
The barbarians who entered Rome were
impressed by the sight of the Roman Sen
ators, each seated in calm dignity TO
await the decree Of the conqueror. A
stranger in the gallery Of Parllame nt
would be impressed with the business and
practical character of the English people,
and would form favorable opinion OF
the stability of their government. 10
view the excited and turbulent factions
which occupy the French chambers no
sagacious traveller would predict long or
happy result to the political action OF
that volcanic body. The Congress OF the
United States manifests very often an en-
ergetic disorder, but it is rather caused by
the struggles Of representative interest
than by the combination Of political de-
sign. The Legislatures of the several
States are usually composed OF substan-
tial and orderly men, who desire to tran
sact the duties confded to them in the
shortest time and in the NEST satisfactory
manner. In most cases such bodies are
as decorous and quiet as an ecclesiastical
assemblage
The legislature of the Southern States
are invariably looked on by strangers
with much curiosity, as presenting the
most obvious operation Of great expert
ment in politics. The intrusting the
right of suffrage and representation to a
new citizenship, which may be ikened in
some respects to recently arrived immi-
grants. The representatives of this new
element are usually impressed with the
deep responsibility of their acts. They
are studious to learn and careful to OBJ
serve the rules which deliberative bodies
have found indispensable to the intelli-
gent transaction of business. Such rep
resentatives know that in the exact OBJ
servance of those rules consists the
proper consideration of every interest.
They know, moreover, that the
enemies of this great act Of liberty, seek
to controvert its exercise by employing
every untoward incident Of the exercise
to injure its success. 1t was much to be
regretted that the closing scenes Of our
Legislature did not display the decorum
and dignity which its friends could have
desired, and that sights and scenes which
might elsewhere have passed for the ex-
uberant Joy over duties concluded, were
paraded as evidences of political incapaci-
ty. We have now an occasion for the re-
membrance of these truths. There will
be conflicts Of claims, provocations OF
feeling, evaporation, perhaps, Of political
influence, all these may be expected to
render the earlier sessions of the conven-
ton exciting. 1t should be remembered
that any disturbance must delight enc
mics and distress friends, and tend to in
jure the cause that all have at heart.
No doubt the presiding officer will put
members on their guard by timely ex-
position of the laws of parliamentary
usage. No doubt he will impress upon
them the dignity, decorum, urbanity and
justice with which they should discuss all
pending measures. The members them
selves in many prominent cases familiar
with the rules and the reasons which
govern deliberative body, will come pre-
pared to institute an orderly and regular
discussion. There can be no doubt that
with such intelligent agencies the delib-
erations and debates of the Republican
State Convention will be in every respect
all that its friends could desire. AS the
Republican choice of candidates has fur
nished a model of fairness, SO let its con-
vention afford an example of dignity and
decorum of which its members and the
party may be equally proud.