New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-01-02


Especial Correspf fnce Of the Republican,
NORTRN POLITICS..
BbN, December q, 1875.
The religious rid of New England con-
tinues to be @ted over the issues raised
by the prese of the Confederate
power in Con 9ss, by the protest of the
Southern legrhgainst being used any
Z --seA 80 pno f.ot-ball in game of "white
mans politics,' and by the determination
Of the Protestant sentiment of the nation
to assert itself in politics. When use the
term religious world" I do not men the
"ianaticar' spirits Of the Evangelical con-
gregstional denomination of the Eastern
States. mean that all denominations in New
England, whether Protestant, Catholic or
Rstionalistic, are beginning to feel the
power Of those forces which always presage
. coming social convulsion or political
revolution. The far.sighted and clear brain
ed who see over the heads Of their fellows
nnderstand that the point of "honor" in this
ptruggle between Puritan" New England
md the cavalier" South, invovles the
Question of "victory" also. That point of
honor" consists in the assertion of two
Princicles on the part of the South:
l. That this is Q white mans govern
hent.
9. That moral conviction has nothing to
% with the affairs of politics.
If the first OF these propositions can be
r6arri>d, the second follows as q matter of
eourse, and the FIRST seems to many to be in
fair way of being carried. But the many"
in this case constitute the great body Of
superficial observers whose value in polit-
ical warfare consists in not being able to
see anything with confidence in the future,
and with alYsys being found wanting when
the strain comes. The truth ie, there never
was time when the anti slavery North was
more thoroughly prepared to meet the
"cOlor" line in politics than now. The Con-
fsderate conquest Of Mississippi, and the
presence of the Confederate power in the
American Congress, has transferred the
''col0r" line in politics as far northward as
the lakes and the ice-bound shores Of New
England. 1t is clear to the clear-brained
and true hearted men and women who COM
pose the life and soul and driving power of
the Re publican party that the Mississippi
Confederate power in Congress and the
Electoral College must be overthrown. Of
course, if New England "fanaticism" sets
its mind on the idea" that the "white mans
government" idea. must and shall be over
thrown, then we are to have q renewal of
the anti-slavery struggle on the part OF
those who will carry their ''moral convic-
tions" into the struggle, and maintain the
purpose born Of those convictions until the
"color line" purpose of the Confederates is
defeated. or until the Puritan idea of free
govern ment and the political brotherhood Of
man is finally and forever overthrown.
In previous letters written to the Re-
PUBLICAN from New England, your cores
pondent explained the vital relation of New
England to the conflict now raging at the
South. The political alliance between the
Southern Confederates and the Western
Democracy, as lately renewed at the ma
tion's capital, is 'con6rmation strong" OF
the antagonism between the cavalier South
and Puritan New England, which underlies
American politics. Why an alliance between
the South and Westl Why between the
Confederate" South and the Democracy"
of the West9 Plainly because there is
nothing in "common" between the COnfed-
crate idea of social order, and that enter
tanned by New England. Plainly because
the Western democrat" is more Con-
tederate than New Englander.
The interesting feature in this phase OF
American politics is found in the fact that
New England stands in it for three things OF
very great corse quence in our politics as
things 90. New England stands in this
contro versy for the anti-slavery sentiment;
che stands for the Protestant sentiment
and she represents money. capital backed
by enterprise These three things mean
great deal in this matter of-fact, go-ahead-
tive Anglo Saxon republic; more than the
despe rate "revolutionist" in his 'banditti'
den in Mississippi or Louisiana has any idea
of. These things mean power. They mean
tireless purpose. They mean final VIC
tory-the victory of moral conviction and
modern civilization over the semi-savagery
Of the dueling pistol and the political
bowie knife.
The effect of New England ideas and
New England influence upon Western
politics will be clearly exhibited in the
preside ntial contest of 1876. We shall then
witness the overthrow Of the "alliance OF
sections" proposed by the Confederstes and
the triumph Of national sentiment" over
all forms of sectionalism. We shall then
witness, also, the downfall Of the idea OF q
"white mans government" and the as
tendency of the nobler idea OF govern
ment knowing no race or creed or convlc-
tien in life-knowing NO North or East or
West or South, and resting upon the broad
and enduring foundation OF the civil
equality of all men before the law. NOR
will their victory in 1876 end with the "vlc-
torv for President" in that year. The po-
litical brotherhood idea will 90 on and go
forward until the citizenship rights OF the
emancipated race is made good beyond all
doubt or question.
Staub.
A Sunday morning visit to Staub's news
,. % No,dth o. aite'a bOOketOro, No. 69