New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1877-01-18
MULTIPLICATION PoR OFPIoE.

PAObOAbo VIC ONbS 6bdAhhA0 Va CAhA0SNOA
and qualification for office. Our Repub-
lican friends can not complain if we call
their attention to this memorable fact, nor
that we quote the signal example recently
before the public in which several at
tempts have been made to destroy the
party by the treachery, ambition, or spite
of men who owe all they have ever been
to the Republican party, and whose acts,
while Republicans, have imposed upon
the party its heaviest moral responsible
tiles before the American people.
1t is too much to be regretted that mem
bers of party come to regard its con-
fdential appointments as matters of spoil
and personal compensation. Men come
to look at an Office for the improved posi-
ton or extravagant income it may give
them, not for the opportunity it affords to
strengthen their party by the able manner
in which they perform its duties. The
candidates before the convention of the
Democracy demanded the shrievalty or a
clerks office, without knowing feri
facias from an dd quod danlnuno, or writ
of certiorari from duceS tecOm. In either
case the incumbent would employ a
deputy, and live in ease upon the ample
margin between the revenues of the Office
and the cost Of service.
We are compelled to say that we have
seen too much of this selfish disposition
in men of our own party to thrust them
selves into Office as perquisite of their
political pretensions, and even attempt
the disruption of the party if these de-
mands be questioned. The Republican
party is entitled to the most competent
men in every branch of the public service.
The principal strength of the party is in
the colored people, and its offices can only
be filled by their vote 1t would seem,
therefore, that the world is looking upon
the result of this experiment of unqualified
suffrage. There is but one test of this
experiment. It is the character, quail
| fcation and success Of an administration
| of public affairs chosen under this rule of
suffrage. If this result should show
incompetency and corruption, ineficieney
and reaction In the progress Of govern
| ment; if it should result in an increase
| of public debt without adequate consid-
Grafton, and in an undue imposition of
taxes upon property or industry there
may be review of this generous grant.
The nation which gave may take away,
and those who may appear to be unable to
discriminate between competent and in
competent representatives may be re-
manded to tarrY until the nation considers
them better qualified to execute great
common trust. 1t is a duty to remind
those vitality interested, of the weight
and responsibility pressing upon the
Republican party from the con-
sequence OF timidity and distraction
among the colored Republicans of the
South. That consequence is the Demo-
cratic claim of the whole colored vote in
the Electoral College and in Congress.
This incapacity to maintain the Republican
South committed to these voters, has ac-
tually turned power given for their pro-
lection over to their oppressors. What
danger exists lest the national Repub-
licans may yield to the Democratic de-
mand, and repeal a perverted representa-
ton which alone embarrasses the nation
in establishing Republican principles!
To put this proposition very plainly.
we do not hesitate to say that if the Re
publican party should from any cause be
brought to believe that the representation
of the colored people can no longer be
directed by them in the manner that their
heart and consciences would dictate, the
very object of granting that representa-
ton would be best promoted by suppress
ing power captured and turned against
its defenders.
These reflections find an example in the
extraordinary ballot for Federal Senator.
There would appear fifteen persons fit for
this station. This is wealth and super
fluffy of talent which demonstrates either
humble appreciation of the duties of
the appointment, or reckless ambition
to prefer the promotion Of private content
to the welfare Of the Republican party.
For it really seems to our mind that the
Legislature can not have weighed the inn
portance Of the duty which it is called to
perform.
What is Senator Of the United States2
A representative of the nation; one
whose voice should be heard in its most
solemn councils; one whose moral weight
should be felt in its most responsible de-
alterations The value of such men to
the State and to the principles which they
represent has been seen in Webster, the
Atlas of the constitution, bearing on his
shoulders the interests and the rights Of
millions; in Clay, the representative of
conservatism; in Calhoun, the incorrupt-
ible champion Of faith which united
millions in its avowal and defense; in q
Morton, to whom today the Republicans
look as the champion and defender Of
their political existence.
1t isl light thing TO vote for or to ac-
cept the duties Of Federal Senator. To
consider our foreign and Federal rela-
lions, to mark the policy or measure the
resources Of the nation, to examine the