New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1875-02-13
ANOTHER TRADE OFF.

would listen to them would come
nothing. At one time we hoped some
these Gagged statesmen had escaped fror
their keepers, and would yet appear
the bar of the House time enough t
y draw their pay and perhaps do a littl
something toward earning it. Thirty
t eight of their own number thought SO toe
it is evident, as they voted week ago fo
!, their emancipation, and the doors of til
prison were actually opened. But tn
Committee of Seventy, and small squa
of politicians at Clay statue, aided by tn
Gravier street bagpipe, succeeded il
keeping the members confused until til
doors could again be closed, when the,
were all made prisoners again.
This controversy arose upon two propo
sitions: l. The return of Democratic
members in sufficient force to give then
control of the House. 2. The lorna
recognition Of Governor Kellogg's execu
tive authority.
It will be seen that the Democratic in
depreciation of the so-called compromise
gave all tie substantial advantage to that
party. The first proposition was impor
tant. The second Of no moment. The
House is the key of the political situation,
which for the Republicans to give up
would be grave mistake. The recogni-
ton of Governor Kellogg is not an open
question. The Democrats are compelled
to respect his authority whether they like
it or not. They have virtually declared
by vote OF SO to ~ on one occasion and
by SO to on another that there is no
legal objection to this recognition. They
offered to give formal consent to his
administration in exchange for the control
of the House. They were willing to call
Kellogg Governor on condition that at the
same time the legal means be placed in
their hands to deprive him of his high
Office. Judge Wheeler rather CURLY in
formed them that this preposterous propo-
sition is not accepted.
The Republicans understood the terms
of this trade in quite different sense.
They were willing to make some conces-
sions in their political policy, in exchange
for like concession on the part Of the
Democrats. They never contemplated the
abdication of dozen or so members Of
the House as consideration for the re-
turn to duty of the Democrats. They
never made the absurd proposition Of
trading off their king for dozen pawns.
Such move would be as fatal in politics
as in chess. Our ideas Of the duties of
Legislature differ from those Of the De-
mocracy. We think that body is en-
ployed to make laws for the good Of the
people, not to peddle out Offices and dis
tribute political patronage among DEM
ocratic leaders. There has been SO much
clamor for reform among the orators and
journals of the opposition that we were
led to believe something of the kind was
actually wanted. We confess our mistake.
The contrary has been proved. A fair
offer has been made by the Republicans,
to cooperate in the enactment of such |
measures as the Democrats have so often |
demanded. But the latter will not hear
to anything which gives them less than |
al the political power. They insist
upon having the political club placed |
in their hands, with which to break
he Republican head. At the same time,
hey protested that they never intended
% use it. Their anxiety to obtain it,
however, excited suspicious which their
olemn asseverations of honorable inten-
ions failed to allay. 1t was asked,
why should such stress be laid upon
he control Of the House, if no use is to
,e made of it?" There has been no time
his winter, probably, when the Repub-
cans would have given up the control of
be House in exchange for the empty
romises of the Democracy to recognize
he authority of Governor Kellogg. We
re aware the Democrats would never do
nat unless they were satisfied they could
OF help themselves. If they saw any
respect in the future Of deposing his
zcellency, they would wait till the time
omes, and then do it.
The Picayune is correct in saying that 6
lere is little or no difference in substance
etween the proposition adopted at the
sucus on Friday by vote of SO to p,
I'D that subsequently agreed to by SO to q
Both involved the surrender of the
ouse to the Democracy by ousting Re-
lblican members. Both give qualified t
nsent that Governor Kellogg shall r
main undisturbed for the present. But, t
one Of their orators explained, "Once e
; get control of the House, the control s
the Senate and of the executive will c
eedily follow" 6
The Republicans are stretching their d
urtesy by keeping some fifty chairs b
cant for the absent Conservative men, C
rs. Forty-eight Of our members have n
clared over their signatures that they Il
, ready to welcome them back p
d work with them in all the proper p
ties Of the House. But this courteous n
er has been spurned with contempt
cause its acceptance would be al
the way Of certain plans for the cam fir
ign of 1876 The Louisiana dispute OF
s already been nationalized, and lie
,ssrs. Bower Hall, Hammond, Eustis te
d others can not be permitted to take ne
cir seats and attend to the business of bi