New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1875-11-27
POPULAR INSTINCT AND POPULAR Pun
ISHMENT.

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When the Union is in danger the fact is
communicated to the people. In the same
indefinable manner many creatures are
| advised Of peril from food or frost by
unseen limitations to which reason itself
could give no solution. The American
people felt the Union to be in danger from
the conflict which had elevated struggle
for power into an element of destruction.
They arose and extinguished the question
of controversy and returned to their
daily pursuits. They have felt that a
combination has been formed to destroy
the credit of the government and load
them with debt and taxes. They find
that sentiment has been cultivated,
which makes it neither criminal to steal
nor disreputable to be convicted. Under
this arrogant creed Tweed registers him
self as statesman, cell No 10, State
Prison. A professor in the same school,
Mcdonald will still continue, he says,
'to be gentleman in whatever circum-
stances he may be THROWN" and the
indignant people have ordered these in
famous practices and this abominable
doctrine of honorable robbery TO be fol-
lowed up with prosecution and restora-
ton of the money stolen. The st. Louis
Republican well says the ring robbers are
not merely individual rogues; they repre-
sent
A system of fraud and corruption which
has been for fifteen years past creeping into
the high and low places OF government,
poisoning the fountains of legislation, eat
ing away the foundations of federal, State
and municipal administration. and gradu-
ally destroying that popular integrity with
out which no nation can long retain it's lib
critics, and without which no nation deserves
to retain them.
This is all true, but it is also to be re-
membered that unless the principle of
popular virtue had been represented in the
administrations which have prosecuted
both Tweed and Mcdonald, the success of
the doctrine which they represent would
have been assured. There has been a
struggle between the great principles of
good and evil, and the American people
have been happily inspired to sustain the
good and destroy the evil.
The political parties respectively impli-
Gated in the robberies of Tweed and Nc
Donald are the chief sufferers by their
iniquitous deeds. Mr.. Tweed, the Demo-
crat, in virtue Of his party influence as
State Senator, gets away with some mil
lions of public money. With this Mr..
Tweed builds a palatial residence, and
indues with purple apparel and precious
stones all the members of his family. The
people find out this fragrant theft and de-
nounee the Democratic party, in whose
name end by whose signet alone Tweed
could have crossed the threshold of the
treasury. The people find out that Nc
Donald has used similar agency, and
they hold the Republican party respon-
sible in like manner. Governor Tilden
has indicated himself personally by
prosecuting Tweed to conviction. Demo-
cracy grew angry with him about it and
"threw off, on him. President Grant has
arrested and punished Mcdonald, not
withstanding it is alleged men high in the
confidence of the President attempted to
screen Mcdonald, and perhaps them
selves. The President is right after these
ring robbers, and the people are at his
back applauding; he will prosecute it
out on this line," and if the ring rats run
under his official chair for protection they
can not escape.
The people have spoken. Ii the De-
mocracy side with Tweed and murmured
at his downfall, will the Republicans re-
greet the pursuit and conviction of Nc |
Donald and Joyce?
Government is trust. It is the talent |
delivered to be used for the welfare of |
the people. 1t is not to be buried |
in inaction, nor wasted in profigacy,
nor stolen from torpid guards. When
the people come and reckon with such
fruitless stewards they will soy: ''Take,
therefore, the talent from them, and cast
ye the improbable servant into the outer
darkness of hopeless minority"