New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1877-01-09


by Democratic spectators to sell
for miserable mess Of pottage
the sacred birthright of others. They
satirically say that if these legislators had
no more sense than to grant their political
enemies the sinews of war, and no more
sense of justice than to employ the pow
ers given by just nation to despoil tbeil
tellow-citizens, the whole emancipated
class had better be remanded to the tn.
telage of the whites until they may be
safely entrusted with their own rights,
without prejudice to the rights Of others.
Such has been the Democratic device 70,
obtaining these profitable grants, and
then making the improvidence and abuse
of the grant an argument against those
who have conceded it.
That the Democracy enjoy the advan.
tage of these monopolies is, we believe,
undisputed. What, We may ask, has be-
come of the gains of those who granted
these and other appropriations from the
public treasury and of the State credit
With a very few exceptions thosewho -four.
ished in those flush times and who may
have been smenable TO the charge of sell
ing their votes and influence, tine mass Of
these offenders have fallen into theiI
primeval poverty, have lost the confidence
of all who suspect their true character
and can never again expect to be trusted
with the right to sell constituency. Let
the Republicans, and especially the col
ored Republicans, ponder on this result.
A few men have been enriched, many have
wasted the price Of their political
treachery. The Republican masses, who
received none of this money; who neither
concealed this bargain of Judas in distant
investment, nor squandered it in the
open and unseemly opprobrium of vice
or extravaganza, now bear the entire re-
sponsibility of the offense. They have
been driven to the swamps, slain by the
bulldozers, intimidAted in their indus
try and threatened with loss of their
suffrage or representation. We ask il
this be an equal participation and divi-
sion of proftsH One man sells the vote OF
another-his constituent money,
with which he buys a farm or public
securities, or wastes it in riotous riding in
double buggies, or in disgraceful disso-
luteness. The man whose vote has been
thus sold, without his knowledge or con-
sent, is shot by the bulldozers, or de-
prived of his rights by Democratic gov
eminent. We ask is this an equal ap-
porlionment of the purchase money OF
this voter The massacre of Colfax, the
murders of Feliciana, the cruelties in
ficted on the Pinkstons, all claim as an
excuse, the abuses Of legislative power.
In the year 1872 the Republican party
became convinced Of the evils resulting
from this loose and dangerous Legislation.
1t checked the increase Of the State debt.
It forbade the addition to the city debt,
and while it can not be said to have cor
rected all the abuses of the period, it has
certainly reduced the expenses and i'm.
proved the reputation Of political admin
istrations.
The time is at hand when the Repub-
lican party must maintain the progress
Of reform. Its enaetments must be passed
on their merits Its officers must be
chosen for their personal worth. When an
act depends upon the approval of the
people it must be founded in the welfare
Of the people and come unstained by any
suspicion of venality. Where such ap.
pointments to Office may depend upon the
recognition Of the Federal government,
there is the more reason that every cir.
cumstance connected with the appoint.
ment should bear the strictest scrutiny.
The Federal government has assumed the
authority to investigate every act of q
State appointing power. 1t demanded
that electors, Congressman or other officers
appointed by State shall be in every re.
spect worthy associates of the representa-
tive or other body to which they mag b
accredited. No dishonest bargain can b.
so secret, no party influence can be sc
strong as to guarantee any national officer
or representative chosen by the Legisla.
ture, peaceful possession Of the appoint
ment If any competitor contest, or any
political opponent demand investigation O
credentials. Il win be seen, then, that ne
such appointment should be made unless
the incumbent can carry before Fedora
examination clear record, personal and
political. We may expect for some tint
q continued conflict between the two par
ties contending for the legal representa-
ton of Louisiana, and nj exception to th,
character or legal qualifications of any ap
pointee should Be possible. We have Ger
tainly had enough Of such embarrass
ment.
In impressing the necessity Of legisla
tire integrity, we have no fear that th
practices attributed to the past should b
repeated. Tho danger is too great, th
consequences TO the party too moment
Gus Revolution and disfranchisemen
are not lightly to be defed. The dispo
sition d the Conservatives 70 prefer Re
pubiican principles, honestly admins
tered, to the lawless violence Of the Las
Diteherss is not to be Dgrieyed away" b.
the selfish acts Of a few dishonest men
Honest reform Is now the common in