New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-02-26
a1flt ORLEANS Republican
0FfIciAI JOURNAL OF THE UNITED STATES
OFFICIAL JOURNAL Of NEW ORltANS.
HONEST MEN FOR OFflOE
TIFF ONLY HOPE OF THE FUTURE
Speech Delivered by General ","n",n~
sewc,I, Before the southern I.n 80.
lican Association, "Wednesday f'e"s'
February -. 1876.

sewciI, Before the Sc"tne v.';,0
icon A..ociatiou, wednesday Evening"
February !3. 1876.
lam permitted by the commlt'ee ap-
xo;rtoa 70 regulate the order OF lectures
r., o,,,. nolitical programme to denver an
oaarass mon the eighth article, which
reads as follows. :. ,o-e
..Tha nomination and election in 1876
= al local trusts Of men Of integrity and
capacity" .o,s ,.1
will endeayor, by discussing the theme, 10
impress upon you what the country -
poets from all good citizens IN the coming
general election. Our organization STANDS
pledged by solemn obligations to set ASIDE
party influences, and advocate the cleo
ton to places of trust only OF men OF
honor and capacity, who deserve the con-
tidence of the people.
We. the Southern Republicans, seek
combination OF parties, a combination OF
interests, combination Of intelligence,
and a combination Of honest men, to form
one grand unit, powerful enough to carry
out the policy foreshadowed in our pro-
gramme.
There will never be peace, order or good
government among Us until parties eXeE-
else a wise forbearance, and are content 10
bury old animosities i'll oblivion. inc
country has too long been prey to con-
tending factions, who either by fraud at
the ballot box, or by the force OF arms,
have struggled with greedy pertlnacity
to secwe the spolls CT Office at the ex-
pense of constitutional law and common
justice.
Let us come forward and show that We
are not unit to govern ourselves, or un-
equal to the task Of appointing proper
men to office. The want Of energy and
tirmress on the part Of far-seeing, wise
and temperate politicians, once drlfted
this State into all the horrors OF civil
war. the cruel memories OF which still
incer among US, and serve to embitter
the social and embarrass the political con-
dition Of our people. We have suffered,
and are still suffering, from the results OF
this fratricidal strife, contiscatlon, over
whelming taxation and sectarian hatred.
To continue this perpetual system of par
ty contentious and corrupt practices, Will
most certainly drag lis into another open
and armed collision more terrible than
the past. Are we prepared tor this?
Shall we by supineness permit or aid ex-
tren,ists of any side to obtain power, and
thereby renew struggle unequaled in the
history of civilization? Better than this
would it be to redelegate Cur rights to the
general government, annul the whole
body polite, and, coming under the rule
of Capitalization, submit to a military
oligarchy.
Any system would be preferable to these
continual conflicts, leading US step by
step to state Of anarchy which threatens
to envelope us like the robe OF Nesuss,
bringing destruction in its deathly en-
brace.
It is curious to observe the workings of
parties, how they are brought together,
and how they are dispersed; how those
who have been most bitterly opposed to
each other will be enlisted under one ban
ner, to fight the common enemy, and how
the strongest party may break up into OPP
posing factions, when no longer bound
together by community of interests.
We have seen in our State marked in
stance OF this fact Those who remember
the antagonism existing in ante-bellum
times between the old Wing party and
the Democracy may well marvel at the
fusion which took place when the change
came over the land by the abolition Of
slavery. What two parties could be more
vehemently opposed than the Democrats
and the Wings? Yet Immediately after
the war, stung by the remembrance of
their sutferings, incensed at the wrongs
they considered they had equally sustained
at the hands of pitiless parent, bound
by the same interests, they joined
together to oppose the general
government The Union men stood aloof,
and the Republicans confronted them.
Public opinion outside the Southern States
supported the latter party; hence it ap-
peared wise policy for Wings and Demo-
Gratis to unite against their common foe.
But the more violent spirits soon gained
the supremacy, the Democrats assumed
command of the battalions, the Wings
had to fall back into line and became the
rank and file under the absolute control
of their former opponents, who, like the
despots Of old, they led conquered in
chains, while the conqueIors seized upon
the spoils Of victory.
The Wings, although, without doubt,
the best thinkers in our community, per-
mitted themselves to be whipped into lire
by the more turbulent Democrats, and
have remained in q state Ct thraldom, the
continuance of which will annihilate them
result greatly to be deplored,
for it is to the more cultivated minds, and
the most temperate and reasonable, that
the country should turn for aid IN its
hour of danger. Let them arise while
yet it is time, hoist their standard, and
rally around it their scattered forces:
timidity will conquer nothing; let them
unite with the moderate of all parties, and
by an energetic effort, sweep every OBJ
stacle away, and obtain power which,
welded with moderation, must secure
glorious future for poor Louisiana, now
lying bleeding at the feet Of political ag-
How truly does the emblem |
of our State represent its mournful condi-
ton! Louisiana is the pelican, yielding
its lifeblood to its offspring, and the |
greedy politicians are the unnatural child
rem preying on the vitals Of their devoted
mother.
Contending parties must not forget, that
while at their political gambols Louis
lana languishes, Nero fiddled while
Rome was burning"
IarLleS CONSTITUTED DIS tLey are at ILLS
moment must not vainly suppose that
they are "all the talents, and that all |
the virtues are invested in them; there is |
a sthird estate" an unconquerable power
that can not be silenced by blatant party |
protestations. 1t is 'public opinion"
ron populi, roc Del, that Will sustain the !
law, the State and the people against |
overwhelming political aggressions.
I am not ignorant of the first causes of
,ur misfortunes, but we must not waste |
mr opportunities in brooding over the |
.eal or fancied evils of the past. The con-
lition of things soon after the war, when |