New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-03-18
FOR EXHIBITION, But NOT FOR USE,

FOB EXHIBITION. But NOT FOR USE.
We are pleased to learn that the Chi
cago Times and the REPUBLICAN were in
error in supposing that the Democrat
really meant to recommend sassassina-
ton as an institution" in this city. What
We mistook for most bloody suggestion
and the Times thought showed the need
Of hemp, was merely intended as 50 his
torical review or literary essay on the pre-
valence Of assassination in other times, +"
without intending to alarm anybody in
Louisiana. It was the intent Of the writer,
rather than the effect, that was tho sub
ject Of inquiry. We fell into the error of
supposing that he recommended the adop-
ton Of pagan practices here to remove
American citizens from Offices, as the
princes and ambitious men Of old were
in the habit Of "wading through slaughter
to throne"
Our instinct was misled by the bad
habit the Democrats have of referring 10
every Republican official as either des-
pot, q usurper or thief. And as it is the
theory Of all political sssassins. as we'll as
those who applaud the butchery, that their
victims belonged to one or the other of these
obnoxious classes, the presumption that
an old remedy was suggested for An old
evil was by no means strained one. We
are glad to be set right, and no doubt the
Chicago Times will also make suitable
apology for taking the most obvious view
of the editors learned performance in
class ical history. We can assure our
Chicago contemporary, on good authority,
that assassinations Of ancient times are
frequently referred to by Southern editors
only in the way of instructive and pleas
ant writing. There is q fascination in
picturing to the mind the glittering dag
ger as it flashes in the moonlight and
covers itself with red drops of blood.
Children cry for such stories No theatre
should be without scenery for the Red
handed Avenger," and no fireside can be
complete without family journal CON-
tanning classic accounts of the most
famous dagger exploits Of Italy, by which
bands of outlaws would make rulers bite
the dust. Although the best writing is
that which suggests most, man by &C.
cidental combination, and simply to en-
terrain and instruct his hearers, might
stand on the forum, and recount the
deeds of tyrants, usurpers, thieves and
robbers; and afterwards tell how such
persons were disposed of in Italy. Assas-
sination is disagreeable subject; but in
formation concerning the causes and
most approved methods of the olden time
must form part of every gentleman's
education.
Before the war for the perpetuation Of
slavery in this country Democratic papers
often gave "reminiscences and lessons of
wisdom concerning the death Of Lovejoy,
and many anti-slavery presses were de-
stroyed because they told truths not pala-
table to the people. Elijah P. Lovejoy
was an educated American clergyman.
In 1886 he took charge of an anti-slavery
paper called the Alton Obserrar, ru..,.::,i.ol
at Alton, Him ). The gentlemen Of the
pro-slavery p ofession destroyed his Office
twice; hut fai ug to suppress the paper
while the pl Ianthropist lived, they de-
murdered him in November of
the following year. This act was greatly
applauded in various parts of the country,
and so far as destroying an anti-slavery
press was coLcerned it was initiated in
other places. Not, perhaps, because the
pro-slavery pa pers related and did not
condemn the lawlessness; but remark
able coincidence was shown.
There is no need Of going back to an
Gent history or to Cain and Abel for
approved cases Of assassination and MUIR
der. Come down to the brass tacks of
American facts Take the history of the
Democratic pal ty from its inception down
10 the present time, and trace the red
line made by the war it caused; follow
the trail of blood through Mississippi
elections, Louisiana, the Coushatta and
New Orleans massacres, under the patron
age Of that bad Democratic party which
never will be quiet while there is an
office it has not got remaining in sight
Assassination is something that should
be abhorred in all civilized communi-