The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1877-02-20
A MERCHANTS VIEWS.
Philosophical Analysis Of The Political Sit.
uation by John d. Laiittc, Esq.

Editor Denlocrat-If, In your opinion,
any good can be accomplished by the
publication OF the accompanying COM
IN msnication, written by one who has de-
voted forty years to mercantile pur-
suits. only taking such part er interest
In political affairs as behooves every
American citizen who never has been
and never expects to be an aspirant for
public office; who counts among his
BEST friends many members OF the Re-
publican party who has experienced
sufficient of both prosperity. and
Of ady,ersity to be no longer
the other; who has reached time
Of life when the fires Of personal ambi-
tion burn dimly, and the passions wait
upon judgment; who. entering upon the
decline OF life, can view the nearer
approach of the final close without q
feeling of dread who lives less for him
self than for his children and his child
ran'a children. who feals that hia frat
duty now Ia to transmit to them unim-
paired the precious Inheritance Of free
dom he received from his progenitors
who loves his whole country with an
ardent love and whose sole object Is to
do what in his power lies to promote the
welfare and prosperity OF that country;
you are at liberty TO publish it.
Truly yours. JNo. B. IATtTTE.
The situation, ana our DUTY To our
state ami Country.
At no previous period Of our history
has the political situation been more
critical. and 1t is painfully evident that
the very existence of republican institu-
tions Is seriously threatened. A slight
retrospect will show that the present
situation Is the natural resa1at OF the de-
fective elements Of our HHtem Of gov
ernment, brought into aaaSe force by
the late war between the States.
It IL unnecessary to refer to the
causes tn at led to that war, except TO
say that the lack og proper under
standing by each section. OF the prin-
ciples and fixed resolve OF the other,
was the main obstacle In the way OF a
peaceful settlement OF the difficulties
that then existed, and q similar misun-
derstanding at the present time may lead
the actions Of eur political leaders been
characterized by such purely partisan
motives; therefore, 1t is eminently
proper that the mercantile and other
non-political classes should exercise
all their influence to avert the dangers
that threaten us.
After the close Of the war the control
Of the govern ment naturally remained
in the hands OF the purity that had car
ried on that struggle to a successful
termination. The then situation re-
quired that those in charge of the gov
ernment should have been iasbued with
the purest patriotism and endowed with
craftsmanship Of the highest order.
which alone could have restored real
peace to our suffering country.
Unfortunately the assassination Of
President Lincoln removed from the
chief magistraoy the only man who
could. at that time. have restrained the
passions of his subordinates. and real
ICED what he often declared to be his
sole ambition, to wit, to be the Presi-
dent OF the whole country. BY that de-
clafation he surely meant that his am
bition was to be the President OF q
united people.
At Mr.. Lineoln's death the chief mag
istracy passed into the hands OF q man
distrusted by the victorious section,
owing to his being Of Southern birth,
ana despised by the other section for
what they deemed his treason to his
own State. The strife which had ter
minated in the field was renewed in the
halls OF Congress-, and from that day to
this the dominant rarity has striven to
retain power by stimulating and per-
petuating sectional animosity by every
species OF falsehood and villification.
A remorseless band OF plunderers was
turned loose upon the South to prey
upon an impoverished people and con-
sumo the small remnant OF their former
wealth. Not daring to treat the South
ern States openly and avowedly as con-
quered provinces, and ignoring the self
evident proposition that under Our sys-
tenn States can only exist as co.equals,
they endeavored to exercise over them
q dsspotic rule under the forms OF re-
publican State governments.
Such o policy could lead to but one
result, the consolidation OF the South
ern States as o unit against the party
that oppressed them, and this has, un-
fortunately, given to the late presiden-
tial election much OF the character Of q
sectional struggle. The result Of that
election shews q solid Southern cleo
toral vote in favor OF the opposition
candidate, with @ sufficient number OF
other States to secure his election.
History teaches us that q party CON-
ing into power under such circum-
stances as placed our government In the
hands OF the Republican party, and
maintained In power for 80 long period
and by such measures as they have re-
sorted to, has seldom, II ever, been dis
placed without bloody revolution. To
every intelligent and unbiased mind it
must be evident that Mr.. Tilden was
fairly elected President, and the action
OF the Republican party leaders would
seem to indicate that such was also their
conviction. To defeat the popular will,
and retain the control of the govern
ment, they discarded the method Of as
certaining the result Of the election pre-
scribed by the constitution, and, profit
ing by the timidity OF their opponents,
have enacted the now famous Electoral
law.
It is difficult to say what phase this
question may present at the time this
article may appear in print, but at the
hour of writing, either one Of four re-
suits may be reached. First, the cleo
ton Of Mr.. Tilden, which would re-
store peace and confidence, and, as a