New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1877-05-23
The INVESTIGATIONS

Ina democracy are very properly TAX
ing stock" in all the offices to which they
have succeeded. They do not desire to
be held responsible for any antecedent
abuses which may exist. OF this we do
not complain. At the same time it should
be remembered that the former incum-
bents of these Offices are not represented
with the same efficiency as the parties
conducting the investigation. 1t should
moreover be remembered that in addition
to the commendable desire to avoid any
interested official responsibility will be
mixed disposition to prove that the Re-
publican predecessors deserved expulsion,
and that their exaggerated abuses even
justified the armed capture of the govern
ment and the forcible amotion of its
incumbents from their offices. We are not
surprised to see, therefore, the examina-
ton Of the Auditor and other officers con-
Quoted upon somewhat es parte princi-
Piles, accompanied with a running re-
porters comment, imputing by innuendo
general irregularity and dishonest intent
to the Republican officials implicated.
Any such comments tend to generate
prejudice and do injustice.
1t was once said, in deprecating post
norton censure; 'Let us confne ourselves
in strict justice to the truth. The dead
can not reply" Nor can men expelled
from Office, deprived of the control of their
own records, meet all the ungenerous
structures which may be imposed upon
transac tons which they have not the OPP
portunity to vindicate or even to explain.
Let it not be inferred that the REPUBLICAN
opposes investigation, or would palliate
just exposures. We have stood for the
past years in open, almost unpopular OBJ
lection to the general policy upon which
the Republican offices have been admin
istered. We have seen men sent to the
Legislature and others appointed to prin-
cipal Offices who had neither the char
acter, the ability nor the courage to main
tain the principles of the party. We have
seen the public debt increased under the
name of the Republican party, and for
the benefit of the Democratic brokers and
stockholders. These abuses We have la
bored to correct, and to the expostulation Of
such Republicans as ourselves this reduc-
ton OF debt, and reform of abuses has
been due. The REPUBLICAN has always
endeayored to construct the party on the
basis of home rule, preferring in all cases
men bound to the destinies of the State
10 those whose connection was mercenary
or transient. The principles of the Re
publican party have been saved by their
own intrinsic virtues, and in spite Of the in
capacity of those who had assumed their
representation.
We wish fair field for the success of
those principles. Investigate and dis
place all men unworthy TO bear or follow
the flag Of Republican progress. Consti-
tute color guard of true men, place at
their head the Republican President, and
let him display the great measures of pro-
gress upon which the success of the re-
public depends. Let the next message
pledge his administration for the reform
and permanenee of the sivil service, q re-
publican continental policy Of commerce
and protection, consisting of reciprocity,
national railroad to the Pacific, with
steam lines to the tropics, and the inter-
oceanic canal of Nicaragua. With these
measures the true Republicans and Con-
servatives of the country can unite, and
the prosperity Of the Union viii be es-
tablished. There can not be too much
just investigation for US. Just in proper
ton as the issues of office and misruIe
shall be eliminated from our local con-
tests, the great principles and indispensa-
BILE measures Of the Republican party
viii loom up into consequence far more
impressive than the strife Of candidates
or the distribution of patronage.
We regard the scrutiny into official adj
ministration very much IS good house,
keeper would look upon lot Of auction
furniture She will apply course Of
sublimate and hot water before they can
be set up IN her house. We look with
the aane philosophy upon the invessi-
gators. II they are honest it can do
no harm, and no one could regard with
more oomposuEe the dsstruotiono Of oasoisl
vssmin than those " Whona thsy may