New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-04-21

THE WHITE PEOPLE OF L0UIsIANA,
including al who are Democrats, will n,
make any struggle for political supremac
unless they see some reasonable chance [
win. These self.styled political leader
who believe in speeches, club meeting
torchllght PROFESSIONS, and ell that sort
thing, utter the most absurd nonsense whe
they rave about "rallyine the people," II
people will rally whenever they are col
WINGED that they can accomplish what the
wish BY rallying. but until 20 convince
will not rally ct all. The Democratic part
OF Louisiana has, unfortunately, been in
pressed with
REACTIoNARY, MPRAcTICABLE, uLIBERA
And proscriptive ideas. Its leaders, by din
OF mere iteration, have succeeded in Del
suading themselves and their follower
that it is an abandonment of principle t
accept anything less than entire absolut
control-highly improper to admit the Dos
sibility OF error, and positively dishonOra
Die to attempt to retrieve mistakes. As
natural consequence, that party has NO
only failed itself, but has prevented tn,
success of all attempts to modify and i'm
prove the condition Of the State. True, i
has had NO effective organization since 1870
but its ideas have always been strongly
urged, and the earnest desire and apparent
necessity for union has always enabled
those who consider themselves, par excel
lence Democrats to force into undue promi
hence their peculiar views and methods.
THE LIBERAL MOVEMENT
of 1872. while it might not have been, and
probably would not have been, entirely
successful, would still have secured for the
State good Legislature if the principles
announced in tho August convention of that
year had been adhered to, a. they would
have been but for thu fusion.
The government elected BY the Fusion
party might have been established if promi.
nent Democrats had not, in their efforts to
prevent the election of Governor Warmoth
to the United States Senate, disregarded
the real interests of the State. The Fusion
Legislature was tor nearly sixty days de-
luded with the most irrational hopes OF
Congressional interference, based almost
exclusively on fimsy and unmeaning tele-
grams emanating from an anonymous source
until at last the time, energy and spirit of
that body were absolutely frittered away.
THE BATON ROUGE CONVENTION.
The success of the party organized At
Baton Rouge in 1872 would have been more
complete at the polls than it was, and the
result of the election of 1874 would have
been secured it reacti0nary. impracti cable
ideas had been decisively rejected and NO
attempt made or threatened to establish
the McEnery government in it's entirety e.
an immediate result of that election.
THE WHEELER ADJUSTMENT
would have disintegrated the Republican
party if the true theory of tho compromise
had been understood. accepted and acted
upon. Startling a. the assertion NAV be.
many Republicans, white and black, promi.
nent in their party. were prepared to act,
and will act now with any Conservative
party which will practically recognize and
respect their political rights. But while these
rights were and are theoretically conceded
by eli, every attempt to carry theory into
practical effect, and thereby destroy the Re-
publican party has been Inverted BY Bour.
boun Democrats. Finally the
GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF 1876
would have enacted all measures necessary
to restore material prosperity if the Con-
sentative members had acted a. members
of the LIE gislature and not as members of q
party caucus. The Conservative members
we're not in fault; the blame lies at the door
Of the Democratic convention assembled in
January last, which had the effect those
who called it desired it to have-an effect
which should have been anticipated BY all
reasonable men. The convention was in.
tended to make, and, by the injurious in
1uence it exerted on the Conservative men,
Ders did make, the Wheeler adjustment q
failure as far as it could then be made q
allure. That is to say, the action of the
he compromise from obtaining what should
rave been its legitimate results. The few
eform measures passed on the last night of !
he session are proof of what might have |
,een done if the Conservative members, a. |
listed by the white people generally, had |
lnitedly labOred to accomplish something |
PRACTICAL and not exhausted their energies |
q fruitlessly scheming to overturn the KEEL |
Dgg government.
Many gentlemen prominent in the late
DEMOCRATIC CONVENTION
1sisted that they wanted no reform meas
res enacted unless the Returning Board |
7ss abolished. Unquestionably the abol-
'hment of that board would, in effect, de-
troy the Republican party in this State,
nd the white people could then pass and
spesl all laws ct their will; but can not
Comprehend the reasons which should in
leasures unless at the same time every
hing we claim is conceded. The most san
uine Democrat will probably admit the
of failure at the next election,
nd, in view of that possibility, our inter-
sts should impel Us to struggle for and &C. |
opt any measures which would relieve us
'om even Q portion of the burdens we have |
Orne so long.
The dominant ideas of the late conven-
on, as declared and implied in the resolu-
ons adopted and As stated by the
LEADERS,
Tho seemed to exercise controlling influ- |
nee, afford q practical illustration of the
xtreme impracticability Of these Demo- |
ratio leaders. How can the people, In the
road light of their past experience yield |
ny earnest support to q party which at
empted to delude them with hopes long
D nationalist the Louisiana case az the only |
enedy for our political evils, and which,
nth apparent gravity, proposed to win po-
tical battles with such weapons as pro-
ests and memorialsq This Chinese method
warfare may amuse those who beat the
Ongs and explode the fire crackers, but
an accomplish no practical good. Usurpa.
ons, as rule, are not particularly affected
y protests. however bitter, and memorials,
owever eloquent, are rarely any thing more
han attempted vindications of lost cause
The prominent ideas and general policy
those who control the Democratic party
nd should therefore be rejected.
1t is, OF course, easy to find fault and,
much more difficult task
, construct than it is to destroy political
he0ries. The people may not unreason-
bly, ask what ideas should be substituted
,r those which they are advised to reject
hat question can be fully and properly
only by q convention of the peo-
le themselves. I will, however, endeavor
} answer it now, but very briefly, for this
rticle is already much too long.
Metaphysicians assert that mankind, how
YER varied may seem to be their opinions,
re really, wnen considered with reference
D their mental action. divided into two
carly equal classes. each governed by its
wn mode of thought. One Of these classes
ion and looks hopefully to the boundless