New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-12-02
1,HE POLITICAL CRISIS.
A TINE OF PERIL TO THE REPUBLICAN
PARTY.

A TINE OF PERIL TO THE REPUBLICAN
PARTY.
TIE ONLY COURSE ONE OF FAIRNESS AND TRUTH
DEFEAT DETER THAN uL-GATNED sUoCEss-A
SUSPICION THAT MUST BE OVERCOME.
To the Edifor Of The Tribune.
SIR: There is a strong apprehension rapidly shap-
ing itself into the sembance of fact. in the public
mind that the result of the election in Louisiana Is
being narrowed down to question as to whichparty
shall be able by any desperate measures OF political
cheanery to outwit the other and secure the cleo
tora vote of tho State The burden of responsibility
and the remembrance of suspicion lie to-day at
the door of the Republican party because they hold
the mower and control the election retUrnS IN the
State 1t IS full time that the Returning Board
of Louisiana should be made TO realize by unnils-
akabie evidence that their action will involve con-
sequences of vital interest to the Republican party
of the nation. Never since the Republican party
was born has it been brought face to face with
more important crisis than that which meets it now,
all the more important and the critical because
the future Of the party lies TO great extent in the
hands Of a few men in Ncw-Orleans who have not
given the most satisfactory evidence in the past of
their fitness for the trust However deep the aiXl-
city that our Democratic friends may feel in the
issues now before the country, those issues are Of
infinitely greater moment TO rs as Republicans than
10 them, for we have more at stake. The absolute
necessity for just open, and equitable proceedings
in canvassing the vote Of Louisiana is question OF
life or death 10 the Republican party. IL can stand
four years Of Democratic administration and rise mp
at ihe end with added strength for the next Presl-
dental struggle. but il counted in" at this time
under any well grounded suspicion of fraud, the next
four years win suffice TO bury it, as political organ
izarlssl. past all hope Of resurrection.
1t is within the power Of leading Republicans to-
day 70 allay the excitement and anxiety which has
been aroused throughout the land 1t is useless to
characterize the suspicious OF the hour groundess
and causcless What good reason is there why Demo
Gratis should be totally unrcPrescuted in the Return
ing Board Of Louisiana? Why il Is that their re-
peated requests, which seem 10 the average human
intellect cminonty reasonable and proper, are re-
peatedly denied If good and sufficient reasons Tor
these neutrality-suspicious. exist, 1t is time that
such reasons should be dyulged. While the kepuDI-
can party should not take single step backward
from arry vantage ground which have justly
gained, while we ought not and viii not yield to
Democratic buster and threats single point that
isIightfully ours yet we can afford TO be generous
and it is absolutely and rightly essential TO the per-
pctuity Of the party that should be just II every
prominent Republican newspaper of the North
would follow the example of TIE TRIBUNE In
vigorous donunciation Of every act that bear
the stamp OF political scbemIng ana intrigue ana az
calling Tor a fair and honest decision, upon legal
grounds, Of all disputed points, II would teha 70
diffusc a feeling of quiet confidence among an
parties in place of tie universal uneasness and dls-
trust that now prevail. The Republican party must
rise above the suspicious that surround II or ~ Is
doomed. And 1t wlll rise above them. HE
sacred memories that cluster around the
graves of Lincoln and Seward and simmer
and Greeley and Chase and Wilson iotm
mystic barrier Of defense against those elcmCnjs
al destruction which aSsali the party that lhey
brought into being. The Wild ana reckless fanatics
WHO are rushing the party very close to ruin must
NOT be allowed to wreck IL. Let the voice on the
honest element in the rank and he of the party 20
forth with no uncertain sound, and it will be heard
ana heedcd. NJ H.
HhiAc5seE, =. y, Nov. p, 1876.