New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-06-25
STAND By THE CINCINNATI PLAN.

STAND BY THE CINCINNATI PLAN
We have been for some time satisfied
that the spoils combination would have t.
..come out of that high grass" and take
position where people may know who
and what they are. The Democratic Con
servative party has concealed its incon'
sistent character long enough, and the
intense antagonism which it comprehends
must sooner or later meet with exposure
either from the members of that incon'
gruous party or from their opponents.
What is conservatism? 1t represents in
a great measure the business and social
interests of the State. 1t represents the
Union doctrines of the Southern Whie
party. 1t is equally averse to lawless VIC
lence and to political corruption. Its nat.
ural and ultimate alliance is with the
Union Republican party. This tendency
is inevitable. There are obstacles to its
immediate result. We shall indicate
them.
What is Democracy? The aristocratic
and intolerant school which agitated the
South into a revolution for which it had
neither the wisdom to prepare nor the
| ability tc conduct? Since the war it has
regarded every Southern man as much
bound to its authority as if the war was
not at an end-the exhibition of any
dissent from the opinions Of the Demo-
cratic leaders as treason against the honor
and interests Of the South. The present
local phase of this Democracy here is that
Of the White Lea que. The domination
of this band would, in our opinion, lead
to the practical notification Of negro suf-
frage, and reverse, as to this State, the de-
cisions of the war.
We say to the Republicans, candidly,
that there is but one thing which, in our
opinion, binds the Conservatives to this
dangerous and arrogant Democracy. 1t
is the imputation, false or true, that the
Republican admins trations have been in
the past extravagant and corrupt. It is
the belief, false or true, that these admin
istrations have fallen greatly into the
hands of men not bound to the destinies
of the State-men who would ride the
Republican party until it fell beneath the
force of its adversary, and then abandon
it to whatever fate White Leaguery might
have in store for it. This Conservative
belief may be as nfounded as that which
defeated the most popular Republican at
Cincinnati.
False or true, it is Conservative faith.
This compels Conservatism to continue
its connection with party which it really
fears more than it does Republicanism.
From this practical view we have urged
the Republican party to follow the exam
pie Of Cincinnati and nominate men OF
unexceptionable personal character-men
whose permanent responsibility for the
destines Of the State shall be beyond
question.
The Times assumes the Democratic and
Conservative parties to be identical, and
constitutes itself champion Of the COM
bination. 1t is sort of political hyphen
which converts the two names, and GER
tainly proved at critical moment that it
was strictly Conse- vative of-itself.
1t has recently avo wed itself the cordial
supporter Of prominent Conservative
candidate for Governor. What right has
the Times to assert that consequences
which would, in our opinion, result from
the election of Democrat would follow
the election of a W hite League Democrat?
Did not all recognize the diference-the
collision between these two elements at
the revolutionary Inauguration Of Septem-
Der, 1874?
We believe that the White League De-
mocracy permits the moderation of the
Conservatives only to secure success
which Democracy will take to itself the
moment after victory. 1t is now under
stood to be still at the head of the military
and drilled clubs of 1872 Is. 1t is
understood to control the politicians of
Red River, Feliciana ard Baton Rouge.
The White Leaguers may employ Con-
servative moderation to capture the game,
but conservatism may rest assured 1t will
never he allowed to disturb hair or
feather Of the game it has aided to capture.
We have warned the Republican party
that the nomination of men against whom
the whole artillery Of the Conservative
Democratic party may be concentrated,
will not be an election. 1t may
be true that we have as little respect
as did the Cincinnati convention for the
blowers and prayers who often surround
nominating convention; but common
sense teaches that the money which could
purchase a vote in the lobby would have
better effect in the wide field of popular
election, and that the tricks of the ballot
would neither protect the ticket that they
make, nor the persons obnoxious to the
Conservative objections stated.
Enough has been known by the Repub-
lican party OF those despicable creatures
which have surrounded the halls Of Con-
gress, seducing the weak and complicat-
ing the pure. Enough has been seen here
Of the same class who have subjected the
Republican party to defamation and
death. When the hour Of responsibility