New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1875-01-16
THE grand AMY OF rHE REPUBLIC.

| THE GRAND ARMY OF TIE REPUBLIC.
/ We have received several responses Il
the inquiry in the REPUBLICAN, addressed
to the Grand Army. Of the Republic
"Why not speak," They are of q Divers
character. but re valuable SO far as the!
show the sentiments Of large class o
OUT voting population. An anonymou'
I correspondent informs that any homes
1 expression Of opinion on the part OF tn
members would expose them to the perili
of assassination. We can attach but Gttls
weight to this opinion. however, as VI
see frequent expressions Of opinion ad
verse to what is published in the opposi
ton papers as the prevailing sentiment
and boldly made. too. by well known per.
sons who are not molested. Anothe,
gentleman explains that were the mem.
bers to speak out, they would be at once
| exposed to social and business ostracism
and prescription. There is limited
| number Of ex-Union soldiers employed in
public Offices, all of whom hold by an
uncertain tenure. When they lose their
situations they will depend upon obtain
ing employment in private stations for
means Of existence, and they fear it
would damage their prospects Of success
to have their names inscribed in the list of
the prescribed
From another source We learn there is
o movement ON foot for a meeting or con-
sultation to consider the question, and
that an expr essiop Of opinion will be OBJ
tanned. We hope such may be the case,
and that the testimony, when il does
come. will be of q strong and positive
character. We may as well make an issue
now as to wait for the storm now raging
against the Re publicans to wear itself
out. There is NO measure of coercion
which our op ponents resort to which can
not as well be readily adopted by our
party. Leaving tho fears of assassination
out Of the question, as not being well
founded, we are called upon to consider
the proposition Of the gentleman who
fears disastrous result to private inter-
ests. 1t has been boldly proclaimed by
the Democratic papers that any man can
live here and transact business, provided
he will not ''meddle in our affairs
or vote with enemies Of the people," The
inference is that if he expresses opinions
adverse TO those Of the white majority or |
votes the Republican ticket, the injunc.
ton of the Democratic State Committee |
Of 1868 will be enforced: ssTo discourage !
at attempts to establish . social and bust
ness foothold among u.s." The Repub-
|ican mechanic will seek employment in !
rain; the shopkeeper will see customers
pass by his door and seek the establish
nent under the banner of the White
League. Every Republican merchant.
clerk. and even porter will be regarded as
| moral lepes, TO be avoided Those who
IAN not be provided for in public Offices
nay either starve or emigrate with their
'otes and their political sentiments.
So far as we know, there has never been
ny attempt to organize general retalia-
Dry measures. The Republican customer
'oes with the money in his hand to the
Democratic merchant, gives his order,
ays the price, chats gaily with him, if he
appens to be q personal friend, and de-
arts. without it ever occurring to him
hat he might have been quite as we'll
uited it he looked for merchant more
early of his political faith. Such mean
bought rarely ever occurs to q Repub-
can. He claims the right to exercise his
wn judgment in politics and religion and
oncedes like privilege to all others.
he time may come, however. when the
xigencies of self-protection may force
lie Republicans to adopt some plan to
,lieve themselves from this long con-
nued and burdensome practice Of their
pponents. They may not, perhaps. dis.
urse as much money in the course Of a {
sar as the Democrats, but theie patron
e is by no means to be despised, and if I
npfoyed for effect. would be = most
,werfu( agency. Two wrongs do not :
axe right, though sometimes retalia- T
~ measures suppress an existing evil.
According TO our best information the 4
lmbef of e8-Union soldiers in this city 8
so large as to be rather formidable 6
ainst combined effort to crush them S
It. or to make them suffer much by the Fl
ious freezing out process if they should e
solve to stand by each other and make a
cir power felt. The time has come Il
len the Democracy should be made to o
alize that there are blows to receive as al
II rs to give. and that i: they have al
wen out friendly merchants, there are re
hers within easy call ready to lay down "
DDS at our own doors at local market ! i
es. If the New Orleans consumer is | cl
npelled to initiate the Mississippi, G
nth Louisiana. Arkansas and Texan T.
inter and take hand in the "Cincin. 81
j business which has recently spread "
II the whole face of the country. the
1t will be with those who have been
lily of injustice during the past seven th
eight years. No party can expect to n
oy the monopoly of business in great SC
Y like this long at time. The evil ~ ~