New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-08-31
POLITICAL NOTES.

inal alt0rAtiOn OF the EeglsLSUlo1 oooA''
Spcb an accusation could have but one pur'
pose or effect, viz: To arouse anlmoslty IN
the breasts of the parties who we're made
to believe they were cheated and provoke
them to violence against their political op-
ponente.
It ia hard to believe journalist would
resort to such base partisan tricks through
deliberate malice Yet can we find no ex'
ouse for the ignorance OF the Times in this
matter. 1t first uttered the charge that the
Republicans were tampering with the regis
tration records with o circumstantlallty
which implied An intimate and accurate
knowledge of the facts. 1t solemnly ana
threateningly commented editerially upon
the statements made by it's reporter. Later
it called upon Mr.. Packard or the kEPUB-
L1cAN to explain these criminal proceed
inee, and upon our denying that there was
anv foundation for its allegations, it again
retorted-even as late as yesterday, when
the books were in the hands of the ward
registrars and open to the inspection of the
Democratic supervis0rs-as follows:
The REPUBLICAN attempts a weak
denial of the charge made by the
Times, that alteration was going on in the
registration books Of 1874. The REPUB
IIcAN might with more prudence have dis
claimed any knowledge of such alterations
in the registration books, The charge is
true, Notwithstanding the statement OF the
REPUBLICAN,. The Times reiterates it upon
proof positive, and begs leave to assure the
organ and the leaders of the party that this
business will not be tolerated. An expla-
nation now, with prompt amends, may save
some very disagreeable explanations In fu-
ture.
What excuse can the Times offer for so
gross and lnexcusable an attack upon our
veracity and upon the honesty of the
'leaders of the party 1t knew that the
Democratic State Committee possessed
duplicate of the registration of each ward.
and that any alteration, change or erasure
in either name or addition must be detected
immediately. 1t could have ascertained by
the slightest effort that NO one was risking
q sentence to the Penitentiary for any such
act, and it could have seen by the books
themselves, at any of the ward offices, be-
fore its latest reiteration of the charge,
that they had not been in the least tam
pered with.
This is "disagreeable explanation" we
must admit, but the absolute forsaking of
the truth and fair play in the Tines attacks
renders the duty of making it imperative.
Such outrageous and unwarrantable ap.
peals to partisan passions threaten more
danger to the peace and prosperity OF New
Orleans than thousand such Independent
papers could ever restore.
The retiracy of Governor Wells from the
congressional contest in the Fourth District,
is an evidence of the earnest patriotism Of
that worthy gentleman. 1t eliminates
from the canvass dangerous contest, upon
which the Democracy built high hopes Of
creating dissension, dlscord and weakness
in our party. The Republicans Of the Red
river parishes will now act harmoniously
and solidly ogether-nothing will be per-
mitted to divert or deter them from doing
their whole duty at the ballot box-and
this fact must destroy the last lingering ex-
pectation of carrying the State in the minds
OF th0ughtfol democrats.
The fourth ward feud is growing per-
sonally bitter, and instead Of living har-
moniously together like Barnum's happy
family, the Democracy more nearly initiate
the renowned Kilkenny cats. When the
Canal street promenader is startled by q
fusilade of vehement EXPLANATIONS such as
''shysters," )" "frauds," !" "rings" and "cheats,"
he may rest assured that it comes from q
group of one wing of fourth warders dis
cussing the merits of the other.
There was sound of revelry last night,
and in each corner grocery the "Old Third"
had gathered her muscle and her "bums."
The chivalry haunted the fashionable clubs
and gilded bars; but each gathering was
animated by the same spirit of ardor and
alcohol, and discussed the same topic. The
reader has already guessed the question so
often asked and 60 variously answered:
will Fitzpatrick be elected tomorrow"
We have not wagered dollar on the
event-all our char ge is saved to bet that
Governor Morgan carries New York.
Opinions are as cheap, though, as advice, so
we just give this one away. Fitzpatrick will
again come off victorious. Notwithstanding
the strong and pronounced opposition, the
Finnerty forces have not broken badly at
any point, and they comprise the workers"
of the ward. They have policy, too; they
will crowd the polls early, and keep their
lines filled all day, and the man who has a
bale of cotton or load of flour to sell, or
patient to visit, will have to manifest ten
fold more patient endurance than his class
ever yet manifested, to get in vote at
primary. 'Rah for Finnerty!
The Democrats are contemplating all
manner Of registration frauds again, and
the Republican authorities must be alert
and keen to defeat them. One chief fea-
ture of these rascally proceedings is the
registering of minors. Scores of idle and
dissolute or thoughtless young men who
fall short of legal majority, will be in.
duced to perjure themselves by the ''elec-
tioneerers," which in this city certain
class of Democrats have made a regular
calling.
The wide.awake supervisor of the fif-
teenth ward has partly nipped this evil in
the bud. Noticing in the Democratic club
professions number of youngsters whom
he suspected were less than twenty-one
years of age, he got all the information he
could from doctors, midwives and old resi-.
dents bearing upon their birthdays, and if
some Of them don't sojourn in Fagan's hos
telry, it is because this paragraph may