New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-02-25
HONEST MEN FOR OFFICE
TIE ONLY HOPE OF THE FUTURE

am permitted by the committee ap-
pointed to regulate the order OF lectures
on our political programme to deliver an
address upon the eighth article, which
reads as follows:
"The nomination and election in 1876
to all local trusts of men OF integrity and
capacity"
The text almost speaks for itself, yet l
will endeavor, by discussing the theme, to
impress upon you what the country ex-
poets from all good citizens in the coming
general election. Our organization stands
pledged by solemn obligations to set aside
party Influences, and advocate the cleo
ton to places of trust only of men of
honor and capacity, who deserve the con-
fidence of the people.
We. the Southern Republicans, seek
combination OF parties, combination OF
interests, combination of intelligence,
and combination OF honest men, to form
one grand unit, powerful enough to carry
out the policy foreshadowed in our pro-
gramme
There will never be peace, order or good
government among us until parties exer-
else wise forbearance, and are content to
bury old animosities in oblivion. The
country has too long been prey to con-
tending factions, who either by fraud at
the ballot box, or by the force Of arms,
have struggled with greedy pertinacity
to secure the spoIls of Office at the ex-
pense of constitutional law and common
justice
Let us come forward and show that We
are not unfit to govern ourselves, or IN
equal to the task CT appointing proper
men to office. The want of energy and
tirmness on the part of tar-seeing, wise
and temperate politicians, once dritted
this State into all the horrors of civil
war, the cruel memories of which still
linger among us, and serve to embitter
the social and embarrass the political con-
dition of our people. We have suffered,
and are still suffering, from the results of
this fratricidal strife, contisca,ion, over
whelming taxation and secta1ian hatred.
To continue this perpetual system Of par
ty contentious and corrupt practices, will
most certainly drag us into another open
and armed collision more terrible than
the past. Are We prepared for this?
Shall We by supiEeness permit or aid ex-
tren lists Of any side to obtain power, and
thereby renew struggle unequaled in the
history Of civilization? Better than this
would it be to redelegate cur rights to the
general government, annul the whole
body polite, and, coming under the rule
of Capitalization, submit to military
oligarchy.
Any system would be preferable to these
continual conflicts, leading us step by
step to a state Of anarchy which threatens
to envelope us like the robe of Nesuss,
bringing destruction in its deathly en-
brace.
1t is curious to observe the workings of
parties, how they are brought together,
and how they are dispersed; how those
who have been most bitterly opposed to
each other Will be enlisted under one ban
ner, to fight the common enemy. and how
the strongest party may break up into OPP
posing factions, when no longer bound
together by community Of interests.
We have seen in our State marked in
stance of this fact Those who remember
the antagonism existing in ante-bellum
times between the old Wing party aud
the Democracy may well marvel at the
fusion which took place when the change
came over the land by the abolition of
slavery. What two parties could be more
opposed than the Democrats
and the Wings? Yet Immediately after
the war, stung by the remembrance of
their sutferings, incensed at the wrongs
they considered they had equally sustained
at the hands of a pitiless parent, bound
by the same interests, they joined
together to oppose the general
government. The Union men stood aloot,
and the Republicans confronted them.
Public opinion outside the Southern States
supported the latter party; hence it APP
peared wise policy for Wings and Demo-
Gratis to unite against their common foe.
But the more violent spirits soon gained
the supremacy, the Democrats assumed
command of the battalions, the Wings |
had to fall back into line, and became the !
rank and file under the absolute control
of their former opponents, who, like the
despots OF old, they led conquered in
chains, while the conqueIors seized upon
the spoils Of victory.
The Wings, although, without doubt, |
the best thinkers in our community, per-
mitted themselves to be whipped into lire |
by the more turbulent Democrats, and |
have remained in state Of thraldom, the |
continuance of which will annihilate them |
for it is to the more cultivated minds, and |
the most temperate and reasonable, that |
the country should turn for aid in its |
hour of danger. Let them arise while |
yet it is time hoist their standard, and |
rally around it their scattered forces;
timidity will conquer nothing; let them
unite with the moderate of all parties, and |
by an energetic effort, sweep every OBJ
stacle away, and obtain power which,
welded with moderation, must secure a |
glorious future for poor Louisiana, now
lying bleeding at the feet of political ag-
gressiveness. How truly does the emblem
Of our State represent its mourntul cOndi- |
ton Louisiana is the pelican, yielding
its likelihood to its offspring, and the |
greedy politicians are the unnatural child |
rem preying on the vitals of their devoted |
mother.
Contending parties must not forget, that
while at their political gambols Louis
lana languishes, Nero tddled while
Rome was burning"
Parties constituted as they are at this |
must not vainly suppose that |
they are ''all the talents" and that all |
the virtues are invested in them; there is |
q third estate" an unconquerable power |
that can not be silenced by blatant party |
protestations. 1t is public opinion"
uor popuA, Goa Del, that Wlll sustain the |
law, the State and the people against
overwhelming political aggressions
/ am not ignorant of the first causes CT |
our misfortunes, but we must not waste
our opportunities in brooding over the
real or tancied evils of the past. The con-
aition Of things soon after the war, when
passion reigned paramount over reason,
brought about as have stated, fusion
Of the Democrats and Wings, and they
rushed into power before the Republican
no riv ooul1 oru.p ;1o itoalf Tho old or,lar |