The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1877-07-25
OUR PACKARDrS VIEWS.
WHAT HE THINKS or TUE RETURN
ING BOARD INDICTMENTS.
The Republican Party Ruined Irretriev~
ably by Hayes.

The Republican Party Ruined Irretricv~
ably by Hayes.
IN. Y. Tribune.1
Mr.. Packard OF Louisiana, Governor
de june, as he believes himself to be-, sat
In his shirt. sleeves this afternoon In his
parlor at the Fifth Avenue Hotel, and
talked for an hour about politics with q
correspondent OF the Tribune.
Mr.. Packard's talk was first in an
swer to q question about Louisiana.
"Who is Judge Hunt" he was asked,
whom 1t is reported President Hayes
is going to put on the Supreme Beneh?"
"Oh, that Ia my Attorney General.
You remember him-the fine.looking
man whom you often saw In the State
House.. He's not judge, but he's one
Of the. best lawyers in the South. He
has O brother who is a judge. He was
always a Union man, never acted with
us until last year, when he came over
with number Of other first-elass men.
It was particularly hard on those, men
to be "ginned" out by the Commission.
They argued and plead, and showed
how we could gain @ large native white
element IL we could only hold on, but 1t
was Of no use. The Commission came
down to close up the Republican party
have talked to the wind. Do you think
Hunt has been appointed ?"
There's such report in the papers.
They have o way at Washington, how
ever, OF sending out reports OF appoint
ments to see what will be said about
them before they come to final de-
cision."
II thought" said Mr.. Packard, THAT
they would put Judge Woods on the
bench, and give Hunt his place."
In answer to q question about the
prosecution OF the Returning Board
members, Mr.. Packard said that he
scarcely thought 1t was instigated from
New York, though it might be. The
Bourbon leaders In Louisiana were de-
termined to take their revenge on prom
inent Republicans, and Of course singled
out the Returning Board first. He sup
posed that Wells and Anderson would
have to stand their trial. There had
been no Indictment, but under the
lodged by the prosecuting attorney
was equivalent to an Indictment,
and the accused could not de-
mand action by. the Grand Jury.
The sentiment Of the Louisiana Demo-
Gratis demanded their trial. He did not
believe Gov, Nichols would protect
them. He had no faith in any Of the
Democrats of his State, however fair
their professings might be. Mr.. Pack
ard talked with good deal Of feeling
OF the pecuniary ruin brought upon
most of the Republican leaders In Louis
lana by being compelled, after an ex-
pensive campaign, to EN- bark In another
after election, and carry 1t on for five
months at their own cost, only to be
thrown out of their offices In the end
by the action OF the President they had
elected.
Afterwards he spoke of the present
National politics and the prospects for
the future 1.-THE half was not told OF
tenth part. The newspapers out there
are edited by postmasters, and the AS
ISOLATED Press agent fs postmaster, 20
Of course the opposition to the Presi-
dents policy was In as mild way as
possible in the dispatches. There was
a perfect furore of opposition. The
few policy-men who went to the
convention were amazed and ST.
fenced at the torrent OF feel
hours In Des Molnes. The resolution
endorsing the policy was tabled with
contemptuous bowls, while the C6nyen-
ton greeted me with enthusiastic
shouts. I never had such hearty re-
ception. And then. Secretary McCrary
went back from Iowa, and told the
President that there wasn't much dis
satisfaction there with his policy. Nc
Crazy didn't go to Des Moines, but he
might easily have found out at Keokuk
what the feeling was. ! assure you
knowledge when I say that the
Republicans of the West are almost
unanimous in opposing the Southern
policy of the Administration. I have
been among the people; / have talked
with the farmers, the merchants, the
doctors, the mechanics and the lawyers,
and know what they think. don't
know how it may be In New England,
but the President Is deceiving himself
grossly II he imagines the West is COM
ing to his support.
"You think, no doubt, that the Re-
publicans will be defeated next fall In
all the close States ?"
Beyond any question. We shall
lose Wisconsin, Ohio and Pennsylvania.
The Democrats will have $1,000 major
ity in New York. Our party is going to
pieces. We are all broken up, and
am afraid the ruin is irretrievable. I
don't care, much for my own grievance,
but it makes me feel melancholy to see
the old party destroyed by men OF its
own household"
Mr.. Packard did not look at all melan-
choly as he spoke in this strain. On
the contrary, he seemed the picture of q
man contented with the world and him
self-a genial philosopher, in fact, &C.
customed to laugh at the reverse of for
tune. His good humored face was sell
dom without smile during the whole
conversation. But the grave ex-Gov-
ernor and would-be Senator, who kept
his seat in the adjoining room, grew
more solemn than ever at these dismal
predictions.
''Do you see no help for the threat
ened downfall Of the Republican organ
ization?" the newspaper man asked.
eyes, II the President would change
his Cabinet. LIE: him put out Schurz,
Evarts, Devens and Key. and put in
their places good Republicans OF the
old sort-Zach Chandler for one-and
the party will get right up on its feet
again. The Republican papers ought
to insist on this. II the leading jour