The New Orleans Democrat., 1876-07-14
GOV. PENN'S CANDIDACY.

we always desire to hold the most con,
teous relations, scarcely preserves 1t
good nature In noticing the very tenn
perate comments Of the DEMOCRAT o
the manifesto OF the Penn Executiv
Committee. 1t tells US roundly tha
Mr.. Penn belongs to broader and NOR
catholic order OF men than ourselves
that the Democrats have been "pjg
headed" and charges upon the Democ
racy OF Louisiana long catalogue O
SINS
We may not be so broad and cath olit
In our views as Gov. Penn, indeed, i
the spirit OF tolerance which that esti
mable gentleman, IL he indorses the
manifesto Of his Executive Committee
must indulge toward all the politica
elements OF the State, constitutes
breadth OF view and catholicity of opin
ion, we are certainly not up to his stand
ard. Our tolerance Is so broad that we
desire to see an organization OF the Dem.
ocratic-Conservative party so liberal
that every man who is opposed to the
National Republican party and To
Louisiana Radicalism, can stand upon
Its platform and support its candidates.
Beyond the utmost verge Of the boun-
Diary which encompass these elements
we cannot go, and we confess that we
have little tolerance for those who can.
On that verge the battle line, or, to
speak less figurativeiy, the party line,
is drawn, and every man beyond it, or
whose longings are to be beyond it, is
our foe, because we believe he is the
enemy Of the State.
The Bulletin Is somewhat ill tempered
because party men have attacked the
manifesto Of the Penn Executive Com
mittee. We suggest to our friends OF
that paper that that manifesto is virrl-
lent attack upon those who have replied
to it. The committee therefore has in
Judiciously opened war, or rather at
tempted to open a war, inside of
the organization which it's mem
bers profess to support. Uncharita-
BILE or suspicious men are apt
to say that dissention and division was
the object OF that document, and that
1t is simply new phase, or rather a
weak strategy Of the third party men.
We do not think So We believe the
gentlemen who signed it are entirely
sincere. But mistakes In politics some
times assume SO nearly the likeness Of
the strategy OF the Trojan horse, that
men often assume them to
be, though perpetrated with the best of
the wisdom OF treason. This
manifesto has been just such mistake,
aud many persons have regarded it as
fire-brand designed to disorganize our
party combination.
1t was for this reason, entertaining
very cordial respect for Gov. Penn, |
though opposed to his nomination, that
we suggested that he repudiate the
go before the Convention on
bis own merits, and as the candidate OF
no special class of the community.
Many OF Gov. Penn supporters think
that our suggestion was good one, and |
that the manifesto, the spread banner at
The st. Charles Hotel, and all the hurley
hurley with which his candidacy has
been inaugurated, we'll calculated to
weaken his strength.
Our neighbor, with some asperity,
In its issue this morning, still ad-
Vances the claims Of Gov. Penn upon
the ground that none OF "the virus Of
partisan conntagion" stains his skirts.
But in our columns this evening will be
found communication from an init
mate friend and warm supporter Of
fov. Penn, disclaiming for him the
newly discovered virtue of non-parti
and affirming that he is not
only pronounced party man, but the
only consistent party man in the
'anks Of the leaders of Louisi-
ma. Certainly there is some de-
'ect in the organization of the
Penn movement when the most brilliant
md able organ Of the movement, and
'ne Of the most intimate friends and
supporters Of Gov. Penn, and
We will take occasion to say most saga
'ious OF his managers, thus disagree as
% his position. The status of candi-
late who has a regular executive COM
nittee and two Of the leading papers OF
he South to support his nomination,
With headquarters at the st. Charles
Hotel, designated by the largest flag in
he city, ought to be more clear
y understood by his friends. The
question now, which will agitate
he political circles of the city until
here is an authoritative determination
# it, is, whether Gov. PeEn's skirts are
lot stained with 'the virus of partisan
as our friends Of the Bulletin,
firm, or whether he is covered from
he top Of his head to the soles of his
eet with that terrible leprosy, and is,
s Another Citizen" declares in our
olumns this evening, the worst and
most virulent case in Louisiana.
AS for our part, we entertain, as we ]
ave said before, the most cordial feel /;