The New Orleans Democrat., 1876-07-12
THE PENN MANIFESTO.

we think the Executive Committee OF
the Penn movement have placed Gov.
Penn In an unfavorable position in the
proclamation they published In the
morning papers and promulgate in
the DEMOCRAT this evening. It Is no
recommendation OF prominent citizen,
aspiring to the highest office Ia this
State, to this people, to declare that
there Is upon his skirts none OF the
virus of partisan contagion." This
is harsh attack upon all citizens
who, having the defeat of Rad
icalism MS the first object Of
their political effort, have been and are
party men: it is a most violent and un-
wise assault upon the only system OF
political organization which has ever
been devised to make prevalent
through civil means great principles of
government and great measures of re-
form. All the greatest. most patriotic,
and most useful statesmen have been
party men, who insisted upon party
discipline and submitted to party dis
cipline. What these gentlemen OF the
Penn Executive Committee contemptl-
ously denounce as ''party virus" stains
all the ablest leaders and all the most
virtuous citizens Of the Republic.
Ii Mr.. Penn belongs to no party, then
he has no clearly,defined political views
nor clearly defined theories of admins
trative reform, and IL he has none OF
these he is not the man the people Of
this poor, miserable, Radical, ring-rid-
den State needs at the head of. affairs.
We want rs our candidate for Governor
a man who distinctly recognizes that
broad, deep and impossible line which
separates the Radical party from the
Democratic Conservative party; man
who understands ell the real, stern
issues between these parties, and whose
opinions upon them are clear, pro-
nounced and uncompromising.
1t is little singular, however, that
the gentlemen Of tho Penn Executive
Committee, while pressing the claims of
their candidate upon the ground that he
has upon his skirts none of the virus Of
partisan contagion, have at the very
outset )f their movement resorted to the
EXTREMIST party machinery to secure
his nomination. They denounce us all
rs pestilent partisans; as political
lepers, and in their very manifesto 10
which they do this they organize a
party movement within the
party and resort to the most approved
and radical party machinery to accom-
plish their purpose. The fact is, these
gentlemen have picked up clap-trap
denunciation Of parties and politicians
which every man resorts to when he is
about to become politician or party
himself. It Ia sure sign that
men are setting to work to run for
office, or to manage party movement,
when they grow especially loud
mouthed and virulent in their abuse Of
partyism and politicians.
We entertain the very kindest per-
sonal feelings for Gov. Penn; we have
not one word to utter in derogation OF
his personal worth. But IL he Is not
partisan in this fight. and q very strong
partisan, we frankly say, we do not
think he is the man to lead our
armies. His friends in their zeal
have made grave mistake in inaugu-
rating his candidacy through this un-
wise and, we think, with all respect to
the Executive Committee, rather silly
manifesto. 1t would be wise In Gov.
Penn to repudiate the document and go
before the convention upon his own
as pronounced member OF the
Democratic-C Conservative party, and as
the representative Of no special interest
and Of no special class Of the commu-
nifty. Nominated under such auspices, he
would, as any other Of the distinguished
gentlemen mentioned for the candidacy
will do, rally to his support the whole
of the Democratic-C -Conserva-
tive party.