The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1876-03-28
MILITARY NOMINEE FOB THE
PRESIDENCY.

fk6SlU6kV1e
The following article has been sent rs for
publication, and as it is from the pen Of q
citizen of large experience and acknowledged
political sagacity, we cheerfully give it place
in our columns, though not prepared to in
dorse the arguments advanced in support of
military nominee for the Presidency.
We believe that the entire country is SICK
OF military rule, and will gladly welcome q
change, but at the same time, we think that
there may possibly be circumstances which
would render the nomination Of tried and
true soldier not only a wise, but necessary
measure.
The article is we'll written and will repay
perusal:
s'NIilisarism.''
What is Militarism? We hear the phrase
frequently used and generally in reference
to the Democratic nomination at st. Louis
It seems to convey the idea that as the
Democratic party represents constitutional
ideas and opposition to the administration of
Gen. Grant, therefore its nominee must be q
statesman and civilian, and not q soldier. a.
it is generally added, the country is tired of
militarism.
We are not now arguing that it may not be
wise for our party to nominate statesman
and q civilian. To do so has this argument
in its favor, that we nominated civilians in
1868 and 1872, and hence we should repeat
our policy in 1876. It is true that we had no
brilliant success in 1868 or 1872, bat who
knows what may happen in 1876, especially
if we link our nominee into the popular
side of the financial question, hard money,
soft money, ''half and half" which is it?
But we propose simply to challenge the
assertion that the country is tired of militar.
ism. We see no evidence of this fact. The
Republican lparty. which has had successes
which we envy, does not believe this. Last
tall, in Ohio, they passed over Judge Taft,
their stateman, and put up the soldier, Gen.
Hayes, against Gov. Allen, our statesm IN,
and the result showed that the soldier won
In Pennsylvania we nominated an eminent
jurist and statesman, and these obstinate Re-
publicans chung to their soldier, Gen. Hart
ranft, and the statesman again was y failure.
Where is there purer or sbler statesmen
that Gov. Horatio Seymour? or a noblr
philanthropist and representative of "Con-
stitational ideas than Horace Greeley? Yet
the rude soldier went over them roughshod.
How is it in the South? Does the states-
m an or the soldier rule Gen. Gordon beats
Withers, in Virginia, beats r. N. T. Hunter,
the representative statesman of the South.
1t would be within limits to say that in
every eighty counties out of hundred,
North and South, excluding those where the
negro governs, a majority OF the good paying
offices are held by soldiers. It does not
appear from this that the military is unpopu.
lar. 1t is also within limits to say, that
excluding our African brethren, one half of
the white voters, North and South, have either
been in the army, or their fathers or brothers,
with whom they fully sympathize, have been,
and it is asking too much to require Us to
believe that soldier thinks less of a man
because he has been soldier.
The tie of soldierhood is the strongest ex-
cept that of race, which can bind grown men.
Look at Napoleon; everything failed him but
his soldiers love. Look at Graut; his SOL
diers have twice made him President, and at
this day make him the strongest individual
leader in the country. The Republicans have
utilized this potent force in national contests,
and the Democrats have disregarded it. Look
OF results We are not now disposed to raise
a hornets nest by asserting that the only
chance Of success for the Democratic party is
to draw aid to its ranks by nominating SOL
der; but we are only endeavoring to show
that the phrase "militarism is misapplied
when used with the meaning attached to it as
before stated. We of the South have enor-
nous interests at s.ake-far greater than our
Northern friends In the debateable States
the issue is, Shall it be Fetish or Christian,
Congo or America? Now the National Ex-
ecutive is on the Fetish side, and even when
the majority of the people favor Christian
government, the Federal bayonets put Congo
on top.
In Louisiana the National Republican
party have maintained and enforced system |
Of government which places the whole cleo
tive franchise of the State in the hands of five |
electors, called Returning Board. The peo-
pie, it is true, 60 through form of voting,
but this does not count. Governors, Con-
gressmen, legislators, judges, constabies,
every elective officer must receive the votes
and certificates Of the Returning Board, or
they have no claim to Office; and, whoever
receives their votes and certificates, takes any
office they may award, and their action can
not be questioned or revised in any court or
BY any other power on earth. This is sober
ruth; this is practical actually. Hence,
necessarily, we in Louisiana wish to have
Republican government rather than this Vene-
len chamber of electors Great God five men
only entitled to vo.e in this State, and the !
Federal Government. supporting them and
heir organization, and allowing them to per.
petuate themselves.
It is in view of the magnitude of our inter
ssts that we feel disposed to investigate any
proposition tending to influence the action of |
he St. Louis Convention. We are advocating |
no Particular candidate; we are earnestly con-
,idering the chances of success or defeat;
md We think that New Hampshire shows
hat the Democratic party has no surplus of
chances to throw away.
DIED.
RAELE1T-On Sunday, March 26, 1876, at l
o'clock r. NJ, Edward L.. infant son of E. L. kanet
md Joseph ne McWilliams Of this city, aged |