New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1875-12-22
TAKE AWAY THE SOLDIERS,

A party organ which lately commenced
grinding has much to say against the pro
priety of allowing United States troops tc
remain in Louisiana, and especially in
New Orleans. The presence of few sol
diers in back part of the city, and in the
regular garrison at jackson Barracks, is
spoken of as 'a standing army watching
and guarding the people in their walks Of
business. We are told that "there are
soldiers quartered in the large building
near Leeds foundry, lately vacated by the
Christian Brothers" 1t does not appear
that the owner of the large building
lately vacated by the Christian Brothers
objects to receiving rent from the United
States; he is probably very glad to get
good paying tenants, the better to en-.
able him to pay his taxes. The
neighbors who saw the foundry made
an arsenal of by men organized
for the purpose of overthrowing a Safe
government, should not complain more
bitterly now because a few well behaved
soldiers are lodged near by. But the
complaint does not come from the owners
of property, and merchants, who are sup
posed to have some interest in the welfare
of the city; it comes only from politicians,
whose missions are to disturb the peace
and get Office. To the average Democrat
the blue uniform of United States soldier
presents hateful appearance. The feel
ing has not changed for the better since
1860. Even when General Butler came
here, with Republicans in his ranks re-
cruited from Massachusetts,, from Vermont
and Connecticut, his men were not well
coined with that cordially due to the ma
tional conservators of the peace The
Confederate General who managed the de-
lenses of the city against the United
States was highly offended; he so thor
oughly despised Union soldiers that
he would not allow his own
men to associate with them, and be i'm
mediately withdrew his forces. Mayor
Monroe, whose duty i; was to welcome
the strangers, spoke for his constituents
and cursed the saviors of the Union as
bayoneted tyrants. Mr.. Monroe was
obliged to step down and out, but in 1866
he was rewarded for his strict adherence
to Democratic principles by being re-
elected when the paroled Confederates
were allowed to vote. Presuming that
the United States soldiers would not
again dare to interfere in the interests of
peace especially because Andrew John
son directed the affairs of the nation, and
had commenced reconstruction, Mr.. Mon
roe's police attempted the murder of an
entire constitutional convention.
1t is not necessary to cite all the in
stances which have occurred year after
year in this city, making the presence of
troops necessary. The shame has been in
the cause, and not in the consequence.
Ever since secession and the first subscrip-
ton to the million and quarter fund
raised to keep Union soldiers out of New
Orleans, the uniform of the United States
soldier has not been popular here with
men of the Democratic persuasion. Why
this antipathy to an important branch of
the United States government has existed
so constantly has been pu zzle to many
well disposed people In times of peace
the presence of Union soldiers means
peace. Our soldiers are all respectable
citizens; they are clearly, decent men. If
by chance they become noisy on Demo-
cratic whisky they are promptly punished,
as other men ought to be. They earn
their money and spend it wherever they
are. If the entire army of the United
States were encamped here, New Orleans
would get its wages and grow rich by
keeping suffers shops. From the time
General jackson protected New Orleans
from British invasion to the time when
traitors struck the American flag and run
up secession colors, the officers and SOL
diers of the Union army were held with
some sort Of respect here, even by Dem
ocrats. Union soldiers we're not considered
as disgusting, even SO late as the Mexican
war. A Confederate change has come over
the Democratic part of public sentiment,
and for fifteen years Union soldier has
been permitted to remain in New Orleans
only under protest. 1t is true there is
nothing just now to quarrel about, and
there is peace. There are few soldiers
here, in winter quarters, doing nothing,
and the new Democratic organ inquiries if
this exhibition of military force can be
anything else than ''insulting to us?" The
question is seriously asked, and our MEM
bers of Congress are expected to use their
influence to get the detachment removed
from the large building near Leeds foun-
dry, lately vacated by the Christian
Brothers.
THE LEADER OF THE HOUSE.