New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1875-12-08
THE SOUTHERN ANTI-REPUBLICANs.

THE SOUTHERN ANTI
The proceedings in Congress show that
the anti-Republican sentiment is not
''avowedly" Demo cratic. We have read
carefully the very careful speech of Mr..
Lamar, made before the caucus, as an
outline of anticipation policy. We
can see no symptoms of discomfort with
the principles that have been adopted.
There is profession, which we believe
to be sincere with most anti-Republicans,
but which we doubt in the last ditch
Democracy, to support the Union and
make it 'the protector of every section
and of every human being of every race,
color and condition in the land" The
duty of Democracy is said to be the re-
form of abuses. In this we cordially con-
cur and cooperate. This is accompanied
with an intimation that the protective
system, based even on tariff for reve-
nue., must be repealed. Mr.. Lamar had
no reason to intimate that, i'll the opinion
of the Republican party, 'the era of
constitutional politics had closed" The
result Of legislation which confirmed
the decision of the war, amended
the federal constitution by deciding that
this is constitutional government of the
whole common people instead of con-
federacy of American States; the form
alities by which these amendments have
been guarded by the assent of the States
themselves, prove that the respect shown
to the decision of the federal courts, now
established as the decision of last resort,
except upon political questions; the strict
respect of the executive department to the
will of the very Representatives to whom
Mr.. Lamar assigns such just attributes,
all show that the constitution was never
in higher respect or administered in more
legal vigor. That Congress found itself
confronted with the question OF local gov
eminent, that the States accepted the
arbitrament of Congress, is very far from
proving contempt for the constitution. 1t
only proves that question of State and
federal Jurisdiction, which might once have
involved these two powers in conflict,
has now been decided according to the
amended and expounded constitution
With this profession of sincere acquies-
cence in the situation, it was a little in
cautious in MIR. Lamar to make ''secur-
ing the equal rights of all States and of
all people one object of Democratic SER
vice. This would imply either that the
equal rights of the States exist already,
but require Democ ratio guardianship, or
that they do not exist and require further
constitutional ass urance. No doubt Mr..
Lamar would disclaim any purpose to re-
peal the constitutional amendments; no
doubt he is sincere in his desire for re-
form, free trade, and in hostility to in
ternal improvements.
The facility with which Democracy
supports any one bearing that political
name, without regard to his constitu-
tional opinions, would lead us to appre-
bend that it is with Mr.. Lamar and his
friends alone that the constitution has
lost its ancient form. There was q Dem
ocratic candidate for Speaker who was a
Pennsylvania protec ZIONIST, "with all that
the name implies" He received sixty
three votes. There was another Demo-
cratic candidate who is anti-tariff and
anti-internal impro vement; he received
seventy-seven Democratic votes. This
was less than majority of the whole vote
cast. Yet with this glazing difference,
the election of the anti-tariff candidate
was, on the motion of the tariff can
didate, made unanimous. If, then, "the
era Of constitutional politics has closed"
the Democratic party has certainly SUBJ
scribed to the doctrine.
As Mr.. Lamar accepts the amendment
of the constitution, and still thinks DEMO-
cratic ascendency necessary to secure
''the equal rights of all the States, so he
would also secure the rights of all the
people and the protection of "every
human being, of every race, color and
condition, in the land" We fear this last
assurance is also subject to some qualif-
cation. In the speeches of Mr.. Lamar
and of General Gordon during the Missis-
sippi campaign, and in the action of the
White League constituents of Mr.. Lamar,
there was much less centennial senti-
ment promulgated.
We understand that the programme is
rather what Mr.. Lamar and ourselves.
wish 1t to be than what it is. We appre-
bend that if the last ditchers among US
could prescribe the issues of the next
campaign they would send Mr.. Lamar
to the rear under guard and place some
more combative officer in command.
1t is very possible that the charge
made by Republican speakers, that
the Confederate members of Con-
gress would agitate for . disturb
ance Of constitutional compromises, may
have rendered this patriotic defamation
proper. II is to be hoped that it is war
ranted and that it will be maintained by
the whole Southern delegation. The
Southern anti-Republicans will, we be-
ieve, indorse the patriotic assurances of
Mr.. Lamar. They will, with the Repub.
licans, support any measures of official
reform, but very few Of them will attempt