New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-05-14

World blossom as the rose, the abode OF
civil liberty, of education and of all that
elevates and dignifes life.
Going back to the days of Webster and
Clay, we find the wonderful com mingling
of elements which are now represented in
the national Republican party of the United
States. Webster was an sbclitionist, and
Clay was an emancipationisr; both were
unionis.s, and both intensely national and
American. Although Webster differed with
Charles Sumner, Wendell Phillips and Will
liam Lloyd Garrison, as to methods in deal
ing with slavery, yet he was in cordial
sympathy with the anti-slavery senti-
ments of those and other radical abolition
lists. Practically, there was perfect union
between their anti slavery radicalism and
the constitutional conservatism of the great
expounder. AS it was in that early day of
the struggle between freedom and slavery;
between sectionslism and nationality, so in
this year OF 1876 we find all the differing
elements which compose Northern society
combining for the common goOd;" that
common good being understood as finding
its only safety and best development in the
Union, one and inseparsble," and in the
overthrow of Southern sec.ionalism. And
as the Union stands for the best good of all
the States and the people thereof, so the
unbroken unity Of the national Republican
stands for the best good of all ths members
of the party. Hence, Wendell Phillips and
Hamilton Fish are one as to Republican
policy and purpose. If Mr.. Fish, fer in-
instance, believed that the nomination of
Mr. Phillips tor the presidency would best
promote the success and unity of the
Republican party, then the Massachu-
setts labor reformer would be the first
choice of the distinguished, wealthy
and aristocratic Secretary of State
for the highest official position in the ma
ton. On the other hand, if Mr.. Phillips
should see that the times demanded the
leadership of the distinguished and ou!-
tured New York conservative, then he
sor of General Grant. The illustration here
given could be extended, but this is need
less. l give the illustration TO show that
each representative man of the Republican
party is falling into line, first making sure
of his own vote for the Cincinnati nominees,
and then doing all he can to make sure OF
every vote he can influence for the came
ticket. This applies to the colored voters,
who have just cause of complaint at their
treatment during the last eight years.
Blaine, Bristow, Hoar, Butler, Morton,
Hayes, Conkling, Adams, Fish, Chamber
lain, Elliott, Fred Douglass. Wendell Phil
lips, Ex-Governor Clatlin, Of Massachusetts,
the President, and thousands of earnest
men and women unknown to the public,
are all working as by common instinct to
the one purpose of saving the unity of the
Republican party, as the type and guaran
tee of the Union itself; each man in hi:
order, each man according to his opportu
mites, and each man IN his own way, but
yet not in conflict or jealousy or antagc
nism, as the end will prove. So much fol
the makeup" of the great political army
with which the Confederate Democracy
will soon grapple, IS in final death strug
gle, at the North for the control of the ma
tional government, with it's treasury, its
army, it's navy, it's archives and its patron
age.
The source of the power and vitality of
this wonderful Republican party was vel
and impartially sketched in the editorial oi
the New York Herald, which I made the
basis of recent letter to the REPUBLICAN
The national Republican party does moi
| represent the ignorance or the crime o.
Northern society. 1t stands for the intelli
of all that constitutes ''the free North,' il
| the broadest and best acceptation of thil
term. Such party will have it's periods O.
reaction, of carelessness as to the conse
quences Of given political policies, but il
has also its ever watchful sentinels, its de
voted men who do it's picket duties, it,
watchmen on every tower of the wall whicl
surrounds the camp. When the crisis come!
and action is seen to be needed, the eie
meDts of such @ party coalesce with tht
rapidity with which summer clouds unite
By mutual attraction, and form the thunder
storm and covering the sky with sudden
darkness, suddenly shifting the earth with
hail aud rain and lightning.
The mission of the national spublican
party is not ended. 1t is not ended because
| Southern reconstruction Is not finished
| work; it is not ended because no othel
party is competent to inaugurate the era O
| moral and material reconstruction which
must now take the place of congressional
| Intervention in the local affairs Of tn,
| South; it is not ended because the natiOna
Republican party is alone capable Of con
Quoting this work of moral and materia
reconstruction to happy conclusion; it il
not ended because upon the Republican re
construction of the late slave States of tn,
American Union depends the future of fre'
institutions in the West Indies, in Mexico
| in Central America, in the Spanish main
and in South America.
Let every Republican, therefore, be his
personal convictions or preferences what
they may, prepare for the political contest
which will soon be upon US. The North is
! to be the battle field. The North must be
and will be carried solidly against the Con
federate Democratic coalition. upon the
reactionary issues of Southern sectionalism
and negro serfdom on the one hand and the
progressive issues of American nationality
and civil liberty on the other. The one
watch word now is "Close up the ''anks!"
Il.