New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-02-26

IOrtQ as 8CCUSeIs, OuV Us IclOILucI6, uOt "
grumble uselessly at past maladministra-
ton, but to protect ourselves from its re-
currence.
1 have cndeavored to abstain from re-
Marks that might be construed as per-
sonal, but the time may yet come when
the interest of the community will de-
mand the rending Of the veil that hides
individual iniquities. To such as feel
guilty l say, beware! To those who are
wavering l give the warning, be on your
guard, keep in the path of duty, or
If there's q he il a your coats
rede ySu tent it,
che.'s alhang you taking notes,
AND faith, he'll prert it.
Again l say, take heed! Let Senators
and members beware how they pass bills
ostensibly for an innocuous purpose,
while clause sneaks in exempting privi-
legged persons from penalties and taxa
ton: let those tremble WHO have bartered
their political patronage for their indi-
vidual gain. could throw daylight on
some Of the iniquitous proceedings that
bring scandal upon our State, and merit
us the contempt Of the whole country.
Enough for me to say that we
want no venal legislators. no defaulting
tax collectors, no inefficient and easily
influenced assessors, Sweep away edu-
cational boards, composed Of the unedu-
| Gated: crush out OF power treasurers de-
| frauding tie school funds, and men
| trading upon their patronage, placing
| their tools in responsible positions, and
sharing the emoluments; and hurl from
| high places men who trade away the pub
| lie revenues for personal gains. These
| are the delinGuencies which degrade Lou
| isiana, and render her a retuke to re-
| publican form of government The lepers
must be banished, the laws vlndlcated,
and tie constitution 40 longer more hon
| ored ia the breach than by its observance.
There is nothing SO much talked OF and
+! so little honored as this same constltu-
| ton. It is in the mouth of every one who
| endeavors to enact laws for dlsEonorable
purposes II you look into the motives
| OF these cons litutional hacks, you Will
| find that il Is used as a means to lntlct
some contemplated outrage on the COM
munity It is a branch OF liberty claimed
| iJy some to enable them TO be as wicked
and as proaigate rs they please. The
| evi. that has been done IN the name OF
the constitution nay be computed, bit
| we know not VIVA. we may have to resist
In the future. Strike, then, at the root
with the Ak. The time for action is
closing in upon Us: let the action be
taken in November, AID not September.
indicate the law,
"Le,: When OIL .a.c-, Aopc > :sed yet'ss:e OF our
And Learn by proc, Il some Wild hour, how the
wteatLcd DAG.
It will be no cas- task to uproot a sys-
TEN so vicious, but We must buckle on our
4 i>rI L. ~ ~ I
encouraged by the strength Of our organ
| ization and the material OF which it is
composed. 1t fills NE with hopeful an
ticipations Of influencing for good the
coming elections when | see around me
| body Of men true as steel, strong Ill their
! determination to defeat misrule and to
raise the standard OF reform. Already our
| influence is permeating throughout the
! state; there exist among US order, peace,
| friendship and a rigid obedience to the
laws, and we shall be found ever ready to
do our duty in support of our principles.
We do not seek to increase our numbers
from the lukewarM or the faint-hearted;
We do not care to see on our roll
| tie names Of men who may come
to the front for personal advance
ment, and who would shrink back on
occasions when their presence might
serve the general good, nor do We desire
among US men who will throw stones
| and hide their hands. We only want
those who are bold staInch and reliable,
and woe be unto him who comes into our
ranks, and then swerves or seeks to play
Us false. AS We now stand We can boast
Of unity and frmness of purpose that
will show itself when the hour arrives to
support men of capacity and integrity; the
right men il the right place, regardless of
party lines. To accomplish this end we will
use our utmost en- rgy, and we will I'M
deavor, if possible, to effect our purpose
as peacable and Law abiding citizens. Our
purpose is righteous one, and in the
rcctitude Of our cause shall we tird the
strength requisite to grapple with and
defeat corrupt practices. We do not de-
sire to dictate to parties what they must
dc, but when the tine comes We will tell
them what they must not do: We hope
to effect our purpose III 8 lawful and tenn
perate manner; ard with this declaration
we extend the hand OF relationship to all good
citizens and true patriots, calling upon
them to come to the rescue and Join in
our campaign cry, Il oulsiala first and
party atterward.
We must not be led astrav b men who
sing their own praises for the purpose of
selt-aggrandisement: good men are ever re-
firing, hiding their light under bushel.
We must have a more reliable guide
than the estimate men put upon them
selves; lie. us look to their antecedents.
"a good tree bringeth forth good fruit"
A man who is upright and fair in all his
dealings and submissive to the law is a
good citizen, and viii not belle the trust
reposed in him by bis compatriots; let us
wean ourselves from party prejud!ces, and
at least, as regards our local government.
take a more generous and enlightened |
view of the situation.
Political parties il the South consider
themselves integral with the great political |
parties throughout the land, and in a con- |
test for public confidence affiliate them |
selves with those whose name they bear. |
Now, it can not be denied that the local |
questions at issue differ in great meas |
ure from the views Of the national par
ties; still the Republicans, as whole, feel |
that they are responsible for the change in |
our domestic relations, and that unless |
they support their party in the South the |
principles enforced by the war might be !
endangered.
Or the other hand, the Northern Dem
ocrats begin to fear that the conduct of |
those claiming to be OF their party in this
State may weaken their influence on the
public mind, and might jeopardize their
chance of success in the presidential cleo
ton. Hence it appears to me that unless
the Democracy here wish to cut adritt en-
tirely from the national party, they must
hy temperate and iudicious action. con-