New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-06-22
REPUBLIoANs, READ AND REMEMBER.

| REPUBLICANS, READ AND REMEMBER.
The Republican party of Louisiana has
had an experience which should profit it in
the future, if, indeed, history teaches any
more by experience than by example.
The domination of Republican principles
was accepted by the South as inevitable.
The administration of these principles
was intrusted to such agents as offered
| themselves. In some Of the Southern
States, among which Virginia was the
most prominent, the situation was ac-
cepted. The rights accorded by the con-
| stitution were recognized, and officers
| were elected to execute this acceptance
without regard to their opinions, or in
many cases, of their nativity. In one re-
markable instance the people of South
ern State elected as Governor a gentleman
| who had hell the commission of Gen.
eral in the federal army. A large vote in
the South was cast for native Of YER
mont an abolitionist, protectionist and
an advocate Of invasion as President,
and for federal General who had led ne
gro regiments to the subjugation of the
South as Vice President.
The unqualified hostility to the consti-
tutional amendments which actuated so
| many in Louisiana seemed to increase in
intensity as the danger Of asserting it by
arms passed away. This eliminated in
the massacre of 1866. 1t was followed by
an intolerance toward Republicans which
has continued to the present, and which
has compelled a military Intervention in
this State not found generally necessary
throughout the other Southern States.
From this state of things it happened
that the Republican party was compelled
in the earlier stages of this controversy to
nominate for office chiefly men whose re-
publicanism was established, but many
of whom were undoubtedly subject to the
exception which is manifested in all coun-
tries and under all forms of government
It is that the incumbents of Office shall
be in all cases citizens bound to the des-
TIMES of the State by their vested interests
in industry and property, as well as by
the social come ction Of friends and
family. All know the disadvantages Of
such nomina tons. What were the Re-
publicans to do? The colored people
were too new to the duties of citizenship
to take upon them selves the exclusive ad-
ministration of government. The odium
visited upon every citizen who joined the
Republican party was such as to deter
many excellent men from assuming that
responsibility.
With such representative and admins
trative organization as it could command,
the Republican party assumed the govern
ment of Louisiana. Very soon the diff
culties of the position and the dangers of
defective material was demonstrated. The
entire legislatures were accessible to in
fluences which imposed on their mex
pe.ience or appealed to their cupidity.
The anti-Republican element, however
hostile to the federal laws, had no objec- |
ton to federal currency. The legislation |
of colored members was in their view in |
suferable, yet the grant Of a railroad sub
sidy, or a monopoly of butchers meat, of |
gas, lottery tickets, or levee tax, was
not illegal. The published vote on this
subject has shown that anti-Republican
members of the Legislature voted for
these monopolies. Judicial records prove
that many Of these monopolies are under
Democratic ownership and control even
at present.
In the year 1872 these abuses had
reached their greatest height. They had
in an open fight for the State
government. The anti-Republican party
had secured the control Of the Returning
Board through majority Of its men,
bers. The Republican party was divided
and the disafected faction had thrown
INTO the hands of the Democratic party
such agencies as it could command for
securing to that party the election re-
urns. Senator Edmunds, Republican,
las said of that election it was void for
and Senator Bayard, Demo-
rat, has expressed the same opinion.
The Republican administration, at the
md of 1872, was charged with an aggre-
,ate State debt and contingent liability Of
ifty-two million dollars, and with rate
# taxation popularity said to be equivalent
o confiscation. The Republican Legisla-
ure was denounced as illegal, and any
Democratic Representatives elect were
denounced for taking seat in that body.
The Republican Governor W. P. Kel-
ogg, accepted the suggestion of business
interests and needed the complaints of the
ax-ridden people. The Republican Leg
Stature seconded him. Relieved by the
of an lnimical element,
larmed at the responsibilities Of debt,
and misgovernment for
hich the Republican party was held ex-
lusively responsible, the Republican
legislature had 'sto tread the wine press
lone" They were principally colored
lembers. They saw the danger to their
ewly granted rights They felt the re-
roach upon their competency. Alone -.
nd unaided, they instituted those re-
rms which have redeemed the Repub- y