New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-09-28
THE PRESS AND TIE NOMINATIONS.


THE PRESS AND THE NOMINATIONS
:, The majority of the Democratic jour
mails receive the nominees Of the severa
ward clubs with wry faces. The Time
! alone swallows the whole ticket with ,
; profession Of satisfaction. The Picayasa
; cautiously remarks that some of the nomi
nations are eminently proper, which, in
deed, they are, but forgets to add that thu
majority are outrageous. The Bulletin
by great effort, restraints its enthusiasm
and finds but few Of the candidates wor
thy of favorable mention. The Bee in
dulges in a grumble from beginning t
end, relieved, however, by few com.
mendations of admittedly deserving can
didates.
We have turned to the newspapers TO,
their opinions, because We are well aware
that as rule the ward clubs have ignored
and set aside the favorites of the press,
and insisted upon candidates for some Of
the principal Offices in disregard of such
intimations of public opinion as we have
been permitted to receive through these
mediums. There is no danger that the
Democratic journals will openly repudi-
ate the ticket, but it is not in the nature
of things that the Picayune, Bulletin and
Bee should feel any great enthusiasm or
| display much zeal in the consummation
of a compact to which they were not par
ties, and to many of the stipulations Of
which the conductors are necessarily op-
posed. How far the boast of the clubs,
that they did not require the support of
the press, may influence the conductors
of the Democratic journals we can only
learn hereafter. At present it looks as
though the clubs would carry their point,
as the Times has already completely sur
rendered its independence, the Picayune
given only partial and qualified dissent,
and the Bee contented itself with grum-
BILE. The Bulletin is very evidently we'll
pleased with about half dozen of the
nominations, which it mentions, and
thoroughly disguised with the remainder.
The Chamber of Commerce, merchants,
bankers, Insurance men, ETC., were SO far
fortunate as to include two of the success
full candidates in their recommendations,
while the bar meeting, improving little
on the example Of the merchants, named
three Of the eight judges whose nomina-
tons were already foregone conclusion.
The rest pass away with the other rubbish
Of the convention, to come in hereafter |
for reward or punishnenA, according as
they shall behave on the day of election.
Thus, it will be seen that the press, the
clergy, the merchants, bar kers and insur-
ance men may recommend whatever they
think proper, but after all is said and
done they are nothing more than sup
plants before the ward clubs, without
my real power whatever. For we see
people thrown to the surface for the first
lime; men whose names are entirely un-
Known on Change, and unembalmed in
he complimentary notices Of our con-
emporaries. They derive success from
he fortuitous circumstance that they
ontrol, no matter how, the delegates
rom their respective wards, who are
raded about as 80 much capital stock
a the grand contest .snr three or
,ur millions Of dollars. The chief
ause wing these weaker elements ap-
ear so strong and the strong ones
how so weak, is that the one class
united by the strong bands of sss;,i
,terest, while the other is div::ssed by the
ivalry Of competition. A want of unity
+ sentiment among the business men of
his city, and neglect of the little details
elonging to the duties of citizenship
ave been the great evils that aff1ict New .
|rleans. It is very common error to
impose that half hundred names of
rominent business men, lawyers, parsons
nd doctors, appended to q political
,anifesto, and published in all the jour
ais free Of cost to any body but the pub
shers, is sufficient to awe the unwashed
cement into quiet, and if need be to
svolutionize society. Such policy has
very different effect, because it is we'll
Understood that these parties who are ever
, ready with their advice rarely ever .
i'm out and vote. 1t is true, they SUBJ
.ribe money freely to political clubs, but
ave not the least control over those who
IN out with their money. )
The property holders, sometimes known / -.
: the familiar appel!ation Of "shanty :
appear to have had no voice
hatever in cooking up this dish for "the
eople." 1t does not seem to have oc-
,rred to anobydy in the convention that
lere was such an organization in exist
ice as the Property Holders Union.
his neglect no doubt proceeds from the
me cause which led to ignoring the press,
le business men and the professionals.
hat is, they are regarded as of very f,
tile consequence on the day of election.
he ward clubs, run with the money of
le business men and freely advertised by
lie press, have got complete control of
10 whole Democratic machinery and are !
inning the party regardless Of the wishes
ad instructions of the so-called better z
asses. The press will prove it's independ-