The New Orleans Democrat. (New Orleans, La.) 1875-1876, 1876-07-26
MONEY IN POLITICS.

respondent at Baton Rouge was correc
) In his statement that the Cotton Ex
change OF this city had telegraphed te
their friends at the Convention urging
the nomination Of Gen. Nichols and
coupling with this advice the promise
that, In the event Of his nomination,
they would furnish campaign fund fol
the coming election.
No one appreciates the merits and
high character Of Gen. Nichols more
than we do; no one would receive the
news OF his nomination with more sin.
cere pleasure than we would, IL he
should prove to be the free and unbiased
choice OF the Convention, but we can
not approve. and we feel perfectly con-
fldent that Gen. Nichols would be the
first to reprobate, such an attempt on
the part OF any institution to influence
the Convention as Is now imputed to the
Cotton Exchange. We hope the day il
far dietsft when delegates to louis
lana convention. to whom are entrusted
the honor, welfare and safety of the
State. will allow themselves to be con-
trolled In their selection of candidates
for Office by such sordid consideration
as the promise OF q campaign fund
| The appearance OF money rs oontroll-
ing element In political contests Is one
Of the evil consequences Of the general
decentralization In public and private
life produced by our late civil war, and
has been too freely tolerated dur
ing the last few years; but now-a-
days, when the universal cry for reform
is not mere ror ct prBterso nihil, but
the utterance OF deeply felt want, no
right-minded citizen can help being
shocked at the suggestion that the offer
OF money for campaign fund can effect
a given nomination, and at what would
be, If this charge were true. the i'm
proper iatermeddling Of non political
body Of merchants with the delibera-
tions Of a political convention.
It is sometimes said that the moneyed
classes OF the North are determined to
control the National Government, and
it cannot be denied that they have to q
large extent controlled the legislation
OF Congress by means OF the powerful
pressure which they are enabled to bring
to bear through organized effort. but 1t
hsss not and cannot be said that a Louis
lana Democratic Convention has ever
bent the knee to Mammon, or sold It's
birth-right OF dignity and Independence
for mess Of pottage from any source.
As for the alleged promise Of a cam
paigp fusd, we can say to tho people |
OF this State that the Democratic Con-
servative party will achieve ! bsilliAnt
victory at the coming election without
any support from the Golfers of any
moneyed institution. II 1t can only be
obtained at the cost Of subserviency to
its dictation or that OF any body but the
masses of the people.
Many Of the best friends Of Gen.
Nichols and Gov. Penn are indignant at
the manner in which their candidacy
for the Governorship is made to be as
sooiated In the public mind with the
use OF money. It is just such indiscreet
and improper action as is now imputed
to a worthy body OF merchants, and the
recent bluster and banner raising OF
certain Carondelet street speoulators,
that prejudices the poor and
honest masses OF the common
wealth against those who are always
the right to dictate the con-
duct OF public affairs by reason Of their
social position and pecuniary posses
sions. SO far as we are concerned, we
have infinitely more respect for the poor
mechanic who never fails to cast his
vote atan election, whether the weather
be fair or foul, than for the bloated mil
lionaire or the hungry speculator who
looks upon his vote simply as q means
to some selfish end. In fact, we may
say without hesitation that we have the I
most thorough contempt for any and
every citizen who does not conscien-
tiously perform his political duty by vot-
Ing at the primary as we'll as at general
elections. TO our mind, the most dam
yerous class OF the community are the {
men who cannot or will not look be-
yond their ledgers and examine into the |
practical workings Of our political &
system. II ever this republic should
perish, 1t will be through the apathy I
and indifference Of such men, whose
patriotism and political conscience re- I
side In their pockets, and are only felt g
when the latter begin to shrink. /,
1t 80 happens that In favoring Gen.
Nichols for Governor. these gentlemen
nave selected most worthy candidate
,ne whom the people would be proud to
honor with their suffrages, for he Is GER Q
ainly as fine type Of the Southern {
gentleman as could be found, but 1t is T
true that his prospects are
seriously injured by the coupling Of '
lis name with the odious suggestion
Il the use or promise of money
IS a potent factor in political COM :
,inations. The Democratic party has r
lot fallen to the plane Of Louisiana