New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1875-02-05
{C0mmunicatsd.
The Record Of . Rene6ade.


EDrros RxRuBIIcAN:
Through the kindness of q friend have
received copy of the REPUBLICAN for
January IA, in which l find the following
inquiry:
Please cblige an ardent inquirer by asking
the New jersey papers where WAS Mr..
Phelps during the war, and in what manner
did he identify himself publicly with the
Republican partya
Part Of this question can answer, but
part OF it, although citizen in the district
that gave Phelps an opportunity for mis-
chief, can not He is . Young man, COM
psratively unknown, and but for his wealth,
estimated at from Sc, ,O00. 600 to $2o, ,00O, 900,
would probably have remained 90. He is
not Jersey man, but New Yorker, who
has residence on the New Jersey side of
the river. The question whore he was
during the war was frequently asked by
myself and others ON the stump last fall,
but whether he was in Europe to play gen.
tleman and evade the draft, Or whether he
was yet in boarding school, acquiring the
education necessary to practise ''statesman-
ship" amonk the unsophisticated and CON
6ding rustics of Nsw Jersey, has never
been satisfactorily answered.
To the rest of the ques tion I can reply
without doubt or hesitation. In sll the
great achievements of the Republican party,
during the war and subsequently,, Mr..
Phelps had neither part nor lot Even his
whereabouts at the time is unknown to his
constituents. Up to two years ago he was
man without q name and q record.
Happy for him had he renamed 80. The
first We heard of Mr.. Phelps was ss an office
seeker. He wanted to 60 to Con gress. Fail
ing to get the Liberal Democratic" NOM
ination, his wealth enabled him to pack
popular convention of Republicans in his
favor, and over the head of known tried
and true Republicans, young and unknown
political adventorer became the Congress
sional candidate on the Repub lican ticket.
In numbers, If not in principle, the Repub-
icans of the fifth district are strong, and
he was elected by majority Of 200 votes.
In Congress he has distinguished himself
principally ~ supple tool of the Bourbon
Democracy. The Northern doughface, q
class We hoped We had got rid Of forever,
revfves in Mr.. Phelps. On every distinct
lively Republican measure he never orce
failed to vote with the Demo crats. In
every contested election case from the
South he, with . pretenoe Of non partisan
fairness, took sides with the Democracy.
and Of tho twelve Republican renegades
who defeated the civil rights bill Phelps
was one. BY this course he secured the
good will Of a large portion of the Demo
last GUNNER to make him the
Democratic nominee, or to make NO Demo.
cratic opposition to his reelection. The
party, the leaders of which saw
"money" in such q course, and the rank
and file completely befogged and befooled
by the tricks of an impudent political
however made him its capdi-
date again and hoped an easy victory. Yet
three weeks before election it was thought
doubtful if any man in the district would
accept the nomination ag ainst him,
70 certain was he OF victory. At
this time new element made its appear.
snce. and for my part in the movement,
which is considered that of leader, am
willing to take the responsibility. The col
'red vste in the district numbers about
1000. We are Republicans from principle.
md always hitherto had 70 ted for any and |
'very candidate the party offered, but |
Phelps. In view Of his shameful record, we
'ould not and would not support. To tho
of the mere politician, We |
'aised tho standard of revolt, and on the |
hid of November, when the votes were |
counted. the nearly 5000 majority of two
'ears ego was nowhere, and Phelps " o. de-
Gated, with q majority of seven against him.
His recent course In New Orleans proves
he wisdom of our course. His position as
'et gives him an importance his character
3 = man does not warrant, but let ne have
atience. After the 4th of March he will
70 like bird have read of. He will have
- ''roost lower"
The Republicans Of the district, till re-.
emily his friends, now utterly repudiate
i'm; and the Democrats, though willing to
80 him as tool while he remains in Con.
ress, are not anxious to take him into full
'embership, as they have men enough of
heir own to fill all the offices at their dis