New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1875-06-03
THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION OF 1875.

THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION OF 1875.
Our political opponents at the South
are preparing to convince the people that
as all their misfortunes are, according to
allegation, attributed to the federal mis-.
government, SO change Of federal admin.
istration will relieve all misery, and re-
store the pristine progress in which the
States and cities Of the South once re-
joiced. We should have supposed tina.
the total failure of the Democracy Of New
Orleans to restore the prosperity Of the
city by the inauguration Of Democratic
administration for two terms, would have
| satisfied the destitute and dissatisfied
thousands that food and wages do not
come and 60 in this republic at the will OF
| party. With the expectation thus to be
again excited, we deem it well to trace
the course Of the remedy to be effected
by the election Of Democratic President.
We grant, in advance, that percentage
of the men most active in this election
will be provided for. The honorable this
or that may 60 abroad or stay at home on
salary. A few hundred sons and sons
in-law will be provided Tor in the revenue
and other Offices, which they may stipulate
in advance as the price of their disinter-
ested patriotism.
There may be some contracts given to
party favorites, and they may employ
their followers, but sum all these and they
will amount to but small proportion
even Of the party to whose success they
will have owed their places. The census
of 1870 shows 1900 holders of Office in this
city. This ould be about three-fourths
Of one per cent upon a population Of
100000. 1t would give three Office hold
ers tc every 400 people If society looks
to political Office as its chief source of
subsistence it will be seen that each office
holder must from his salary maintain the
number stated. This would be absurd.
Then why teach that business should be
postponed to politics, that men should be
ostra cised or punished in employment
solely because they may have voted for
one party or against another?
If Democratic President should be
elected we are taught to expect an imme-
date relief from Decline and the rapid
restoration Of prosperity The process
by which this is to be effected NAV be
examined in detail:
/. There will he restored accounta-
bility and economy in the expenditures Of
the government. This improvement we
shall hail under any administration, but
the sudden cess alton of expenditures for
the jetty or the levee would produce 10
perceptible improvement in the comfort
of our people. The rate of taxation upon
imports must remain the same as long
as the federal government owes its pres
ent debt, nor could we anticipate any i'm
mediate relief fr ON that source. Ad-
hitting, however, that every man who
calls himself a Democrat is virtuous
member Of society, and that every one
who calls himself Republican is
vicious person, we may concede that the
change supposed will substitute much
cheaper and less expensive government
for that which now exists. It is not
however, when our city government is
required to spend every dollar it can in
street and wharf repairs, that our people
are expected to understand that the great
reduction Of federal expenditures will
promote the immediate welfare of the
destitute.
The particular variety Of Democrat in
our vicinity is a free trader. We believe
they admit the propriety Of protective
duty on the sugar product Of Louisiana.
If we follow their argument, it is this
Repeal the duty en- iron and cloth, and
other prime necessities, and the people |
will obtain these articles great deal
cheaper than under a system of protec- |
ton. This may or may not be true, but |
now will the interest on the public debt |
De paid? How will the expenses Of the |
be borne? Do our opponents
propose to enlarge the internal revenue
system?
1t would really seem better to teach the
Southern people that as 6 tariff was indis-
oensable to pay the debt and expenses Of
he city, and as this protection was re-
'tricted to no section, they should avail
of this protection and SO
levelop American industries. But does
my one suppose the Democracy can re-
luce the tariff, or that they intend any
such thing?
II so, it is only necessary to refer to the
act that the Democratic Representatives
rom Louisiana, Pennsylvania, New York
md New England are protectionists. Let
my man bring forward a plan to repeal
be tariff, or to reduce it below protection,
md it will be seen in the opposition or
.bsence of Democratic members. that tree
rade is no part of the Democratic creed.
There is, then, no power in the Demo-
ratio party Of Louisiana to repeal the
aritf. Nor could they effect such reduc-
ion Of the expenditure Of the govern
nent as to reduce the taxes or increase
he wages of the laborers among US.
The position of the Democrats in pos
ession Of the federal government would
'e in exact analogy with that Of the Dem
cratic administration Of our city govern