New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-01-30

| lU,Ul4 VOC08. Ibis WOulu give COA
parative race vote as follows:
q Whites. ....................... ~
i C0lOred 49,
Total, .l8s, 3
We assume that this majority will vol
. the Republican in preference to the Den
ocratic ticket To bring it to the pol
becomes, then, the supreme and imm'
diate tactics of the Republican party.
1t is admitted that unarmed voters ca
not be relied on to assert their suffrage q
the risk of their lives. 1t is plain tina
the army of the United States can no
spare soldiers enough to detail two mel
to escort each colored voter to and from
: the polls, or from discharge and NAL
treatment afterwards.
The colored voter has but one protec
ton in Louisiana. 1t is the Conservativ,
who needs his labor in the field, tn
workshop or on the levee. To secure
this guarantee it will be necessary for the
Republican party to convince the Con
servatives that the suffrage of the colored
man has been and will be devoted to the
reform of all possible abuses. The Re.
PUBLICAN has heretofore impressed the i'm
portance of carrying out all the measures
for reducing taxes. cutting down salaries,
and so taking from the famished Democ-
racy their chief motive for the intimida-
ton and murder of the colored voters.
To effect this vital object no one pretend
! ing to be Republican should be allowed
to place his personal ambition or cupidity
in the way of the common safety. Still less
should any dare to compromise the rad
ical reduction of those princely official
perquisites which have armed the Delaoc-
racy with the means of civil warfare. If
it could be even agreed that both parties
should serve the public for nothing, the
Republican party would triumph in the
laborious industry and excess of its num-
bers. If the government of the State
and city is to furnish support for the idle
and extravagant, then ~colored suffrage
will be worth no more than woman suf-
frage where the voter has to go to the polls
under fire.
The safety of the colored voter, the
guarantee of the conservative capitalists,
the existence Of the Republican party,
depend upon the adoption of this
schedule.
We return, in this connection, to the
consideration of executive patronage.
We have shown it to be an anomaly
among Republican constitutions. We
have had the demand of Governor KEEL
logg himself that he should be relieved
of its responsibilities, chiefly in regard to
the duty of filling municipal vacancies
by appointment and not by election.
We boldly demand to know what this
executive parish patronage has ever been
worth to the Republican party? He who
founded this system found it utterly un-
availing to protect his political interests.
There is scarcely one instance in which
its exercise has appeased Democratic hos
tility, while there are many in which the
Republican party has been held RESPONSE
BILE for the unpopularity of the nominees.
We recur again to the parish of West
Feliciana. On Thursday last, the assem-
bled property holders thus dictated to
Governor Kellogg: That the designations
of all ignorant and incompetent police
jurors, justices of the peace and consta-
bles is requested. The parish judge
is also requested to resign, and the Rep
resentatives in the Legislature admonished
that their continued presence is incom-
patible with the peace and tranquility of
the community" The Governor is told
that il his appointments "merit the con-
fidence and support Of an intelligent
people" they will be supported in the dis
charge of their duties. If the nominations
by the Governor are not confirmed by
this intelligence, the continued presence
VI SUCH OuCOI WALL NO uCCnCu tAuCOAu-
patible with the peace and good order Of
the parish" The testimony of Judge
Dula and Sheriff Smith explains very well
what this means. The Governor has been
thus compelled, to save the lives Of his
parish appointees, to nominate none that
would not be confirmed by the parish
Democracy. We would like any one to
assure us in what has this patronage ever
strengthened the Republican party? We
wish any Republican to explain when by
force of arms the patronage of the State
shall have passed into Democratic hands,
when the local affairs shall be administer
ed in Democratic interests, what possible
show the colored voter will ever have to
realize the free intent and purpose Of his
right of suffrage?
The power which in Republican hands
has been insufficient for protection, may,
in hostile hands, effect the extinction of
the Republican party.
If this right of election be RENTED to
the parishes the conflict would be q among
themselves. The rays of bitterness now
concentrated upon the Republican ad-
ministration would be divided, refracted
and lost in the intervening obstacles of
local ambition. Smith and Jones candi-