The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1875-03-11
TALKING OUT IN MEETING.

The New York Times, the most able of the
Northern Republican journals, in an article
on the pros ects of the Republican party,
| gives some very wholesome advice to the
| leaders thereof, and frankly says that between
this time and the meeting Of the next Con-
gress, the Republicans must devote them
selves to the task Of finding some common
ground upon which they can all stand, in
timating that unless that is done, the country
will pass under the rule of the Democrats,
a contingency the thought of which seems
to affect the nerves Of the Times seriously.
1t lectures the party for having resorted to
such stringent and oppressive legislation in
regard to the South, and declares the time
has come when the Southern States should
be permitted to take care Of themselves, free
from the interference of the General Govern
ment. 1t were well for the Republican party
did it heed the following words of wisdom,
which we extract from the Times editorial:
A great many of our supporters honestly
believe that the time has fully come when
harsh or oppressive measures toward the
South should absolutely cease. If the South
rebels again, the rebellion must be put down;
but in constitutional country we cannot
legislate under the theory that a rebellion
may possibly break out at some unknown
and distant period. Let anyone recall Presi-
dent Lincoln's plan Of " reconstruction -
that which he had undoubtedly made Nd his
mind to pursue, had his life been spared and
compare it with the numerous measures
which must now be included in the history of
reconstruction.
He will see at once how much further we
have gone than any of us anticipated that we
could or ought to go in 1865. And now to 90
further still in the same direction, is course
from which many Of the wisest men in the
Republican party naturally shrink. We have
always believed that, even in a party sense |
much more might have been gained for the |
Republicans by policy of magnanimity
even of generosity-toward the South than
by giving the Southern people to understand |
that nothing more need be looked for from
us than the closed hand and the ready blow.
That this advice was earnestly pressed upon
Congress in the critical period of 1868 7, by
the late Mr.. Raymond, we need not remind
our readers. And we have ever since re-
peated this advice, and we believe that in the
years to come when those who have offered
it are all gone, but when as a journal we
shall still remain, there will be no necessity
~ cPeii' VI thc Poiioy We nave PuIaueu we
believe, as much as we have ever done, that
Mr.. Lincoln was right rather than Thaddeus
stevens.
The stevens policy has now had eight
years trial, and if it has not worked well it
: not possible that eight years more would
Enable 1t to work any better. Repre5sive laws
IRE not called for for no one can doubt that
rebellion, great or small, were to break
nut in the South, the President would be
ully competent to suppress it. No one
worth listening to questions his patriotism.
nd only the most Incorporate of Democrats
oubt his ability as a commander. 1t is,
hen, absurd to say that the country IS in
anger. 1t is like the stories which foolish /
urses whisper in the ears of refractory
hlldren. This is nota platform on which
be Republicans can be expected to rally. \ : !,
Obey of tirmness and Of justice is what we
mt tn.lny