New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-03-24
DEMOCRACY AND DIsUHIoy.

DEMOCRACY AND DISUHI01.
Every day renders it more probable
that the Southern Democratic leaders had
determined to divide the Union if they
could no longer govern the Union. The
masses of Southern people engaged in
the war formed q determination not to
lose q valuable investment which they
had inherited or acquired. There were
others who owned no such investment
but who dreaded the effects Of emancipa-
ton, and entertained a determined nos
tility to the idea of political and social
equality. The Democratic leaders TOOK
command of the Confederacy; they mo-
nopolized its honors and emoluments;
tbev Instituted a system of administra-
ton so despotic as to excite the vehement
opposition of Governors Of States and Of
the Southern people.
The acquiescence of the Southern
masses in the results of war proves that
they prefer a republic to any other form
OF government, and they will welcome
the centennial with as much sincerity as
others. There have been in fact results
Of capital and industry secured by the
war, which have satisfied laboring classes
that after all they are better off than
before. Lands are very cheap and of
easy acquisition. Labor, once held in
monopoly by those who could purchase, is
now open to any who can hire. Under this
fact thousands of ex-Confederate soldiers
who could never have aspired above the
grade of an overseer, can now rent planta-
tions and hire labor, and send to market
larger crops than the mas mates of the
land. The demand and reward for mer-
chandise and mechanical services is, of
course, much better where the colored
laborer now purchases clothing, furniture
and other articles of superior cost and
quality to those purchased for him by his
master. Then there came the general am
nesty, which reinstated these people in the
exercise of all their rights, political and Of
property; relieved them Of fears from
emancipation and having actually sue
ceeded to the possession of that labor
once held in exclusive possession by their
wealthy and powerful superiors, these
voters, toilers and warriors of the South
ire contented to. remain in the Union
which their fathers had done so much to
create.
These men have had, besides, an ex-
ample of what their leaders intended.
The Democratic despotism at Richmond
was by no means calculated to incline
:hese men of Republican stock to die
;ator, to select foreign protection, nor
relapse into the condition Of colonial
dependence Of European government
That the Democratic leaders of the South
nave what the great Republican, Patrick
Henry, called squirting toward mon
lrchy" may be inferred from their vim
lictive abuse of the Republican admins
ration, without the admission of single
act of Justice. If the advocates Of mon.
archy should try the American experiment
BY the Democratic testimony, it would
be set down as fraud upon humanity
which should be at once set aside for
European prince Of the blood, the gov
eminent of a legate latere, or other &C.
clesiastical agency from the seat of all
wisdom and piety.
We have no proof, and, therefore, do
not charge systematic endeavor on the
part of Southern Democracy to bring the
.epublic into disrepute. to render the
people disconnected with the Union, and
hereby dispose them to seek refuge under
he monarchies of Europe. To avow such
purpose would shock the patriotism of
be Northern Democracy and defeat such
movement. If, however, European gov
rnments choose to intervene for the dis
race or destruction of the American re-
'ublic, as England did when she sent her
missaries into New England, or Spain,
vhen she fomented the secession of the
Vest, no course could more effectually
'romote such an object than to organize
party on the principle Of opposition to
be Union Of the American people as
ettled by the late war.
Corrupt and incompetent officers are a
urse and disgrace to any country.
Waste and extravaganza are evils which
ain any patriotic heart, but the over
brow of a republic founded with the
'lood and the prayers Of the best men the |
arth ever produced, would be crime for |
which repentance can not atone, and for
which justice has no adequate punish |
nent. Every true Republican should,
hen, labor to reform any proven abuses
q the government, lest the Democracy
inter- and overthrow the form of govern
lent, which constitutes the sole hope of |
umanity.
EMOCRACY PROPOSES TO BURY THE
UNION PROMPTLY"