New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1875-01-30
rHE puoisAR OF 1wPE1iALInf.


Those persons who have thought the
country was drifting into anarchy will be
delighted to learn that their fears are moi
well founded, though it may cause them
a momentary fright to be assured that il
is imperialism which threatens us instead.
The New York Nation has been on the
lookout for that burglar imperialism ever
since it became evident that the American
people would not accept the peculiar doc
trines and politicians of the Democratic
school. The World is devout believer
in the imperialist tendencies of the Re
publican party, and is ready to affirm and
prove by its figures that the success Of the
Northern Democracy, with its Southern
allies, is th only preventive for the great
bugbear. This is all very appropriate for
partisan newspaper. in the interest of o
party whose principles offer nothing in
viting for discussion.
The Louisiana case is made to serve as
the occasion for reviving the alarm
against imperialism. Especially is the
instance of the appearance of troops in
the House of Representatives dwelt on
as conclusive evidence that imperial rule
has already set in, and hence we are all
serfs and subjects of single will. The
circumstances connected with the event
cited, and the character of the persons
extruded, are ignored and even stoutly
denied. It may not make wrong right
to charge it where it properly belongs;
nor would the employment Of troops in
protecting the rights of the House of Rep
resentatlves, if wrong in itself, be sancti-
fed by the fact that the Democrats had
asked for it. Though such showing
ought to stop them from charging it
upon the Republicans.
Had the Conservative side of the House
been strong enough to effect an organiza-
ton under protection Of the federal guns,
we should have heard nothing Of tyranny,
Imperialism, and the many
other frightful names by which baffled
par,isans now seek to frighten the tmid.
But failing in the very means by which
success was sought, the innocent instru-
ments, the soldiers, come in for all the
abuse. The Democratic papers have rung
;he changes upon the incident OF the
iourth of January from one end of the
country to the other. The more common
way of stating it is: "a State Legislature
broken up by the military" ''The men,
,ers of the House dispersed at the point
# the bayonet." Slow, tagging truth
.mbles over the country whispering, in its
till, small voice, ''The elected persons
we're not members at ALL but this only
erves to increase the racket. Those who
re determined on making out case of
Imperialism and ruin, double their
lamors and cry ''despotism, and beat
heir tom-toms to drown the sound Of
pposition.
Fortunately the American people have
habit Of paying in kind. They answer
lords with words and reserve their blows
D meet blows when they come. The cid
lave owners have discovered this trait
nce the war, and are satisfied that if
hey had kept their sacrilegious hands off
ne peoples flag they would not have
cen brought to an account for their in
luities and inherited wrongs of a century
ven to this day Thousands of people
ill accord a sort of political credence to
le inflated reports Of federal outrages
ithout considering that anything further
due to the occasion than q little wordy
ldignation. The utmost use the average
orthern politician will ever make of the
ectment of the five Conservatives who
ere not members from the floor of the
ouse will be its employment as weapon
yainst political opponent in barroom
,ntroversy, after the manner of he pom
srous Thurman and fippant Upton in
10 Senate. We except the newspaper
en-, of course. for they will howl and
hine about it as long as it will sell an
lditional paper or enhance their impor-
nee.
There are altogether too many states
en- in the Union to make it feasible for
e man to seize all the power. Perhaps
We we're to inquire philosophically into a
e cause of the "woes of Louisiana" we q
ould find four statesmen, two genteel u
ellis, lawyer, Snowman, and Il
of the gospel to every truly indie
ndent artisan in the city, and the coun- 81
7 completely under the domination Of o
9 white land owners, who, in turn, are n
bject to the city professionals. The IL
or laboring man finds it hard enough as u
is to support his family and The public q
ches at the same time. All he can .
Ike is absorbed under one pretense or az
other, leaving nothing to lay up for al
nself The wages of the colored labor a.
on the plantations have been scaled te
low that at the end of the year they Is
generally in debt, and more completely ca
the power of their local despots than 81
II. Imperialism can have but little ter na
for those who are thus ground down. NJ
$ the middle men, like the great barons II
the War of the Roses, who most fear
strong hand of central authority.
this State the Democratic parry pc
chiefly composed of this class. bl
ey have been made to feel, Gu
ing the past ten years, that there is a clf
trail power residing somewhere which We
y must respect To them it seems like esq
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