New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-05-02
MIR. Leonard,s Letter ut the North.


The Cleveland Leader, a prominent ex
ponent of Northern Republican sentiment
uses Mr.. Leonard's recent letter as text
for comment upon the political ethics of the
two sections of the country. As the article
contains significant suggestion, we pro-
duce it entire:
The Hon. A. II. Leonard. Louisiana
Democrat, and one of the most conspicuous
members of that party in his State, has re-
Gently written long letter on the situation
in the South. The style Of the document is
mild. The author advises continued and
persevering action on the part of the South
erners in opposition to the Republican
party, with no resort to mob law or attempt
| to deprive any man Of his rights. He ad-
| mits that the Republican party embraces a
large proportion of the wealth, intelligence
and responsibility of the North, but insists
that the respectable people OF the South
! can never be drawn into its folds. We have
here q discrimination for which it would
be difficult to find good reason.
Admitting that q party is good enough
to recommend itself to the acceptance of
the respectable and intelligent classes of
the North is certainly bestowiDg high
compliment upon that party. Asserting in
the next sentence that said party can never
take deep root in the South, must wither
and die when the support of the federal
administration is withdrawn" is equivalent
to a condemnation Of the taste and judg
ment of the people OF that section. Al
though the principles Of Republlcanism are
such. in the estimation of this writer, as
to recommend them to the intelligence of
the North, yet he emphatically de-
clares that they can never be &C
cepted by the people of the South. The
ouly conclusion to be drawn from this is
that the respectable classes of the South
do not desire to train with the same ele-
ment in the North. They desire to raise
an insurmodntable barrier between them.
Their propensity for sectionalism is 80 pow
erful that they prefer an alliance with the
disreputable minority of the North to 3
union with the intelligent and wealthy
majority of the North, and are apprehen-
siye lest their people may be won over to
the ranks of the respectable classes. This
writer therefore advises continued perse-
verence against the Republican party as
the only way of protecting the rights OF the
South.
In Texas there is a matter before the
State Legislature by which the real feeling
of the Texas Democrats can be well tested
Hon. John Hancock, Representative in
Congress from the fifth district Of Texas, is
before the Legislature as candidate for
the United States Senate, to succeed Mr..
Hamilton, whose term will expire on the
third of March, 1877. In 1862 this Han
cock was Union man, and was expelled
from the Legislature because he would not
take the oath of allegiance to the Confeder-
ate government, and for this reason he will
not be trusted by the ex-Confederates Of
Texas No man who refused to enter the
Confederate service and aid in destroy
ing the Union can have the suffrage of
the members of the Texas Legislature.
This amounts to nothing less than bes:ow-
ing reward npon services rendered against
the Union. 1t is defining the lines little
more sharply than they are in Louisiana,
but the Democrats of the two States are
really actuated by the same spirit. The If
reeoncilable hatred to the Republican party
in both States is based upon one sentiment
and springs from the same undying hatred
to the men who put down the rebellion. 1t
is new and dete rmined assertion OF sec
tinnalism n the centennial year, declaring
oonth Will Oe DROUGHT Ind0 ...er.ar, nf the
vent the differences between the two Sec
;ions from being healed up.