New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-08-13


Of Hayes aud Of Wheeler, our God and our Time!
Hearts OF zeal IN our breast,
Gallant men at our head,
We always are ready;
Steady boys steady.
Well march, and the world shall fan in with our
tread New York Graphic.
Especial Correspondence Of the Republican,
NORTHERN POLITICS..
Who Shall Govern the Natioue
New YORK, August z. 1876.
As the political canvass advances, imma.
terial issues drop ont and are left behind,
just % the weak drop behind in IN army'e
march to battle. The ranks OF both of the
great parties to the contest before Us are
daily closing up more and more compactly.
As they thus close "strsgglers' fall to the
rear. The one issue on which the fight is to
finally turn becomes more and more clear.
That one issue is the same which the Con-
federated coalition raised in 1860,
and on which it has been beaten at regular
intervals ever since. That issue is involved
in the inquiry at the head of this letter.
"Who shall govern the nation!" Hamburg
has sharpened the point of this issue. It
has not only sharpened the point, but has
placed blood upon it. There ia NO question
as to the verdict of the mass Of the Amer
lean people on this issue thus sharpened
The government will not be turned over to
the Contederate-De Democracy.
It will be remembered by your readers
that very early in this correspondence I
predicted that the Northern people would
never, under any circumstances. commit
the national government to the hands of
the Confederate Democracy. allude to
this to explain the origin Of the article
from the Brooklyn Union which I incor-
porate into this letter. This article was
not suggested by your correspondent. It
reflects the conviction of the managing cd
itor of the Northern paper in question. 1t
is similar in spirit to recent article in the
Boston Journal and of one in the New
York Times. It shows that the coming con-
test is to be one of close-quarters, and that
the Confederate.D Democracy must expect to
receive deadly blows.
The article in question is a. follows:
From the Brooklyn Daily Union.l
HAVE WE GOVERNMENT?
When the Observation-Disclosures in 1860
flor it was essentially the Confederate-De
mocracy then) proposed to settle the presi-
dental contest of that year by q process
unknown to the constitution, the great ma
jority of the American people felt that the
trial of the stability Of the American gov
ernment, as government, had at last come.
We say 'as government" because it was
trial of institutions" The issue thus pre-
sen.ed by the Confederate Democracy was
not even trial Of the popular sovereignty
doctrine. It did not necessarily involve the
question of slavery. 1t involved an issue
which lay back of all these; and that issue
was, whether we had government at all So
the North, waving all other questions as
practically immaterial for the time-being,
asked the question, "Have we . govern
mentW Following up this question with the
determined purpose OF maintaining the gov
afrerward, we refused all the propositions
of so-called peace which the disunion lead
ers offered.
After four years struggle for the integ-
rity of our national life. the Confederate.
Democratic party once again raised the old
question. The nation was offered ''peace"
under ConfederateD Democratic auspices,
and General Mcclellan was nominated as
the presidential standard bearer of the
peace party. The North had but one an
swer to give to this second attempt to COM
Of the nation. We replied that we had no
terms to offer or accept from those who
were armed against the national authority.
"Lay down your arms, surrender to the
government, and we will treat You with
These were the words ad-
dressed to Jefferson Davis and his follow.
ers. On the issue, as thus formed, we re-
elected Mr.. Lincoln, increased our armies
and pushed on the war.
The result of this struggle lie known.
Now, again, we have before US the same
party which placed itself in an attitude of
defiance to the national will in 1860 and
1864. Again this party propose ''peace"
under Confederate Democratic auspices!
To this proposition we reply as we did in
1860 and 1864: Have we government We
propose to settle the question, "Who is to
rule the nationw before we settle any other
question. The Confederate. Democratic
party shall not take control of the national
government. if Republican votes can pre-.
vent it, The party of JEFF Davis and Gen.
eral Mcclellan is not the party to give the
nation peace. 1t can only give us peace on
terms which dishonor the memories of
hose who rejected with the outflow Of their
hearts blood on the battlefield the same
,erms of adjustment" when offered to the
nation in 1860 and 1864. Such q settlement
would unsettle the government itself, be-
'ause it would be practically the final
triumph OF the Confederate.D Democratic
esders over the national will.
Thus, back of the financial question,
Jack of administrative reform, back of
ivil service reform, back of all the minor
luestions of politics, is the question of
government itself. "Have we q govern
nente" asks this Northern paper. The
question will be echoed by hundreds of Re-
publican papers all over the North. This
uestion will be responded to by every
nan who recognizes the fact that govern
1ent il the first need, and permanent need,
f every civilized society. America is
sssing ont of the primary conditions and
ocial simplicity of primitive Republican
fe. We have entered on . new era-a
ew period. This period represents all the
,rces of complex civilization. This COM
lex civilization il determined to receive
IMMENSE development during tho next |
fly years. In order that this development |
lay 60 hand in hand with peace and con- |
'rvatism, it is necessary that We have gov
mean by government" not the