New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-12-10
TIE FAULTS, OF PARTIES.

| 9HE FAULTS OF PARTIES.
A review Of our political history for {
few years past will show that the perill
of . renewed conflict between the nation
and the Confederacy might have been
prevented by faithful contamination Of
the principles established by Republican
victory. We propose, while the present
uncertainty is impending, to impress the
nature and consequences of this derelic-
ton Of duty.
l. The theory of the Federal govern
ment as its trainers intended was in ques-
ton. It was decided, and by the judg.
ment of the nation entered up and re-
corded in the constitutional amendments,
regarding the rights of the citizen and
the correlative obligation Of the govern
ment toward him. This decision would
have required review of the constitution
and conformity of all its parts to the de-
cision stated. 1t would have given the
equal citizens the same power in the Sem
ate, whether they resided in one part of
the republic or another. It would have
made Senatorial representation multiple
of the House of Representatives. 1t
would have grouped several States or at
tached them to larger States as election
districts. The representation of the peo-
pie would then have been based upon Q
uniform numerical ratio in the one house
or the other just as has been done in the
State governments.
2. The same principle of equal popular
representation should have been applied
to the choice of the national executive.
The cumbrous machinery Of State agency
in the expression of the popular will
recognizes the doctrine of Cenfederacy.
It even subjects the will Of forty-fve mil
lions of people to be tempered with in
the hands of three or four hundred men,
and left for expression to the chances of
human weakness, error, or cupidity. Able
and true statesmen have long since seen
and exposed the dangers of this system.
It was due to the logical consistency of
principle that the Republican party should
long since have reformed it.
3. With the death of Lincoln, Seward
and Chase the Republican party seems to
have lost sight Of the motives for which
the terrible war was fought As the army
of the Carthaginian conqueror was de-
moralized by falling at Capua into the
corruptions of its foes, 80 the Republicans
adopted without qualification the i'm
moral doctrine of the spoils Democrats.
It came to believe that the sole object of
the war which shook the Union to its
foundation was to ennoble or enrich those
who rallied around the headquarters of
victory. It neglected to set guards. It
omitted to require passwords. There |
were sights aud sounds of revelry among |
the victors, and the vanquished have
rushed in to regain all that they had lost;
perhaps more.
4. The bestowal of patronage has not
been conducted on just or judicious
principle. We have had men entrusted
with the honor of the party who have
basely sacrificed their trust to personal
aggrandisement. There have been others
o whom has been entrusted important
influence who have remained in camp
While the main army has been engaged
nd needed their assistance. Patronage
veil bestowed is power; patronage i'm
properly awarded is weakness and a
urse. We approve the candid avowal of
resident Grant. No President can be
nswerable for the fitness or fidelity of
hundred thousand men, '.in almost
very case appointed without a per. ,
onal acquaintance with the appoint
es," but those who have recon-
tended incompetent men have been ]
Use to their party, and have deceived
8 chief. The Democratic doctrine that
lis is government of spoils, will first ,
emoralize, and then destroy any party.
o king ever lost his crown except through 6
10 crimes of his courtiers. They fawn q
BON the monarch, and fatten upon the d
sople until the first intimation which his i,
ajesty receives of the discomfort of the c
'ople is the clang of their sledge ham, f,
ers battering at the palace gates. n
We have indicated the reforms which n
nsistency requires to be made in the d
'deral constitution. We will add that p
9 appointing power everywhere Federal s.
d State shall see that patronage be p
ufined not to crafty the claimant, but o,
engthen the appointing power in the te
nfdence of the people Experience has
own that ambitious and mercenary Off.
IS care for little beyond their own
IN. The riches they take to them W
yes. The reproach they leave to their SO
'ty. The great men of the American W
ople have no other interest in the Offices pr
N integrity and economy of govern tn
mt. They intend to have these indis- m
asable attributes, and will cast out one sit
Of men and install another with no by
Ter motive than to insure good govern in
mt. No party tie can bind the Ameri- on
people beyond this great object; no re-
:sonal influence can pervert the saga to
us and resolute execution of this pur- co
,e. tn