New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1875-02-25

The sisnasass ard sbe Duty.
The country stands face to face with tn
most serious crisis which has confronted
since 1861. 1t does not yet begin to realiz
the tremendous gravity of the situation.
it did, the patriotic sentiment Of the peopl
would fame out in earnest, fervid, deter
mined unanimity, q it did when the flag o
Sumter fell. That it will come to under
stand this issue and the far reaching c0nse
/ quenees involved we firmly believe, ant
then. little doubt will be left of its spiri
facts and considerations to which ever.
earnest Republican newspaper and ever.
sincere patriot should give careful reflec
ton.
i. The unrepentant rebels of the Soutl
are more envenOlned and the condition O
affairs in that section is more threatening
and perilous than at any time since tn
close of the war. The most extreme state
ments which have been made of the temper
and purpose of that class do not begin tx
unfold the whole truth. The worst that hal
been represented respecting their maligr
and revolutionary spirit falls short of the
startling reality. In saying this, we delib
erately measure the full force of our words
and know whereof we affirm. The country
will soon be made aware Of the evidence
and positive, overwhelming proof will con
| vince it that it is slumbering over q volcano
The most adr0it and persistent efforts have
| been made to deceive the people, to lull
| them into false sense of security and to
direct all prejudice and censure against the
very bulwarks upon which they must rely
| for protection. But when the truth comes
out, as it will come out, the public mind
will be undeceived, and will recognize the
| abyss upon whose verge it stands. 1t will
| then comprehend the great issue of public
L e. IL, - Ill 10 "a -
not been stirred before since the war closed
2. The country and especially all Repub-
licans should have confidence in their recOg-
nized representatives, and should strength
en- the hands of these chosen and trusty
leaders in dealing with the mOmentOus
questions of the hour. We should recOg-
nize their purity and rectitude of purpose.
We should give them that trust and sup
port to which all our agents are fairly emit
tied until they forfeit it. Instead of treating
them as If they were wiilfully perverse and
were madly bent upon the ruin Of the
nation, we should exercise, if not that com
mon justice, at least the common sense of
believing that they have precisely the same
interest in the public welfare which every
citizen has, and that they are as hon
estly devoted to it as those they
represent. More than that, we should
remember that they are tar better
informed upon the condition OF affairs
than those remote from the scene can
possibly be. Under such circumstance.
they are clearly entitled to consideration,
unless they are either crazy or dishonest
and we fancy nobody will apply either
imputation in a sweeping way. The obliga.
ton equally of political wisdom and public
justice is entirely plain-we should
strengthen and uphold those who are them.
selves seeking to uphold the good cause
which all have at heart. Instead of the |
spectacle Of government faithfully trying |
to guide the nation safely through great |
crisis and partially crippled by the carpinp
criticisms and dnerulous distrust of pro.
fessed friends, we ought to see it supported,
not IN blind, servile way, bpt in friendly |
spirit, with candid discrimination and with |
a just recognition of it's upright purpose.
3. With pluck and positive and well. |
considered policy, the prospect of the Re- |
publican party lie better to-day than it has
been at any. time forgive years. We declare
this as our sincere conviction with the same
Elaboration with which we affirm the alarm.
ng condition of the South. The unreDent,
INT rebels, inflamed by Democratic success,
IRE giving US the weapons of victory. They
ire reviving that one great commanding
ssue Of the national safety and public
lights. And with this state of affa,re, the
me talisman of success is pluck-the pluck
o do our simple duty, the pluck to take up
he gage Of the adversary, the pluck to
make the vigorous and victorious fight
which is entirely within our power. Wien
ve say pluck lie the word we do not mean
ashness or precipitancy or extreme meas
Tres or anything of the sort. We mean
imply that the Republican party shall be
rue to itself, true to it's life long impulse.
nd trne to the best interests of our coun.
ry. We mean simply that it shall fulfill
Is present duty and seize its present oppor-
it shall take its inspiration not
rom half-hearted spirits and ineidious enc
hes, but from its true and courageous
'iends. 1t must not regard itself as beaten
hen it is not beaten. 1t must not vaver
nd doubt when it has victory within it's
rasp. With unity and pluck it can carry
10 election OF 1876.
4: In view of this danger to the country
nd of this possibility Of the future, the par.
mount duty of all Republicans and of all |
atriots OF every party is to support their !
overnment and their representatives in !
st efforts for the public welfare. We do
ot here speak of particular measures. We
D not recite particular facts. There will :
, very much to say hereafter on these i
,ints. just here we dwell only upon the | a
,neral spirit which should govern. and we o
IMPLY say that spirit should be the spirit .
friendship, and not the spirit Of antag. q
ism. The country has yet no conception d
the condition of things at the South; it |
i'll learn, as the facts come out, that a
ave danger hangs over it; it will learn | 8
rther that it's peace and security are at | A
AXE; then it will wake to its duty, and we | a
pc that then it will not be too late.-|
'bdny Journal. C