New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1877-02-21
PATIENnE.

| prefer to trust the question to the
discretion of those statesmen who have
already achieved so much in our behalf.
We would not embarrass them by an i'm.
Fortunate demand to consider our politi-
cal interests in preference to those of the
nation. Without anticipating the further
action of the appellate commission, we
will recapitulate the obstacles which pre-
scented themselves at the close of the
| presidential election. The Democratic
candidate counted 1874 votes, none of
which were seriously questioned. The
Republican candidate claimed 1876, of
which, counting Florida as doubtful
twenty-five were contested by the Democ-
racy. While the Democratic candidate
then wanted but one vote, the Repub-
licans must have secured every contested
vote. Not only was it necessary
to demonstrate the legality of these votes
but it was also indispensable to guarantee
the integrity of the whole Electoral
College against the betrayal or incapacity
of single member. The brides offered
to the electors of this State and the direct
application of Democratic money to the
violation of the electoral trusts of Oregon,
show that this danger is by no means i'm
aginary That the leaders of the ma
tional Republican party have even thus
far succeeded in securing for the people
of the States those rights which Democ-
racy would have taken away by the de-
vices referred to, has imposed upon the
| Republicans of the South an obligation
only to be met by entire confidence in the
same leaders who have conducted them
thus far through the wilderness beset
with such ferocious and faithless enemies.
When we impress this obligation by the
fact that no Southern Republican has
been placed upon the commission of fif-
teen, and that no Southern Republican
has been heard in either house, or we be-
lieve before the commission, in argument
on behalf of the rights of the Southern Re-
publicans, the magnitude of the service
on the one hand, and the depth of graft
tude on the other, is too obvious for any
other comment than that of respectful
contemplation. The national election is
the great stake. The election in Louisi-
ana is regarded at Washington as but
side bet.
We have seen that the Democracy is
divided upon the question of defeating
what some Of its organs call the 'fraudu-
lent count, or of submitting to the de-
cision. AS the matter now stands result
may be soon reached, unless some unfore-
seen issue should arise that would afford
the Democracy an excuse to say that the
stdt,l quo of the Electoral Commission had
been violated. In such case we might ap-
prehend an obstinate debate over every
vote reported by the commission; the term
of the commission would be reached, and
the country plunged anew into supple
ment to the late presidential campaign.
There is significant publication in
trusted to the New Orleans Times, which
it becomes the Republicans in and out of
office to regard. 1t is as follows:
Governor Nichols can, in three hours
time, put upon the streets an army, organ.
lied, drilled and armed, exceeding in num-
Der all the available United States troops in
the South.
The ''serious question" seems to be if
'Mr. Packard be recognized, whether or
not to use this force, and to what extent"
We are told:
The prevalent feeling is to maintain and
defend the possession OF the state govern
ment against all Corners, and to yield to
nothing except irresistible force.
The programme, we are assured, has
mo element of compromise in it." We
can not doubt such to have been the intent
of the White League leaders, and their ad-
hitting sensational newspaper to knowl-
edge of their purposes is proof that they
mean no further concealment Without
undue timidity we may express a hope
that the city may be spared collision,
the result of which we have no manner
of doubt. Led and armed by the United
States troops, many thousand allies, capa-
BILE of doing immense injury. would I'M
doubtedly participate in the conflict. The
navy might, under stress of necessity, Co
operate with the army, and consequences
fearful to anticipate might result. A little
patience viii eliminate some of these COM
bustible elements. The presidential cleo
ton settled, the Northern Democracy
would neither contribute man nor dol
lar to sustain rebellion against the
United States. The conservative capital
and business interests here would hesitate
to contribute their sons and clerks to
this ''army exceeding in number all the
available United States troops in the
South, or to furnish funds for an or
ganized resistance to the Federal gov
ornment. With the notice given
by the Times of the army of
Mr. Nichols, the Federal government
will have abundant time to call, if neees-
sary, upon the militia of other States,
which, we have seen, is ready to the num-
Der Of one hundred and fifty thousand to
sustain the government in execution of
the laws Should the government de-
eide in due time to sustain the lawful gov
eminent Of Louisiana, with notice OF
the revolutionary army Of Mr.. Nichols,