New Orleans Republican., 1877-05-16
REPUBLICAWsM IN DANGER,


REPUBLICAlESM IN DANGER.
We have seen good deal about the
identity of Republican and Wing doc
trines, and we have certainly seen that a
good deal of Republican sentiment about
liberty and equality has sloughed of
within the past three or four months
Yet we do. not see that the Republican
leaders address themselves to the matured
measures which Clay and Seward recon-
mended. The principal energies of the
Republican party seem to be directed to
apportion the small loaves and fishes
among the innumerable applicants. Not
to put too fine point upon it the Repub-
icans seem to rely upon the spoils of
office for the maintenance of party ascend
ency. On the other hand the Democracy
having learned the fallacy of their tradi-
tional distractions to progress and devo-
ton to the spoils, appear to have waived
their opposition to Federal appropriations,
and have constituted themselves the Pc
culiar advocates of the Union, the pro-
tective tariff and Federal Improvements.
Upon this basis the Southern Democracy
will unite with the Northern and Western
Democracy, and this unity will make them
formidable. Republicanism is, then, in
danger if it rely upon the spoils alone.
The identity of political professions has
left the people to bestow their votes upon
the most competent representatives, with
out regard to party. The Republicans have
certainly the advantage ofthose Reophytes,
the Democracy, in having built the rail-
roads and fostered the factories of the
United States. The administration of
President Hayes should assuredly receive
the support of the Southern people by
preference if it recommends the levees
and the railroad. Should the policy of
the administration open Sonora to South
ern enterprise, it would not certainly be
wise in the Southern people to displace a
Republican administration for Demo-
cratic direction, which, however willing
to receive public work, has not the same
experience in the policy of constructing
it on Federal account with the Repub-
licana We have apprehensions that the
Democracy of the East will not consent
to vote for the levees or Texas Pacific
railroad. The first will cost good deal
of money which will be wanted for other
purposes; the railroad will be a work
rival to that which now conveys the Pa
ciic trad de in monopoly TO New York. 1t
must not be forgotten that when the De-
mocracy of Louisiana gave their best
efforts and good deal of Republican
blood to the election of Mr.. Tilden, New
York, in return, gave one vote in Con-
gress for the levees of Louisiana.
The Republicans of Louisiana must or
ganize the few Offices left them by ap-
pointment of the best and most unexcep-
tionable members of the party. This will
at least protect the party from prejudice
and scandal, but this alone will not effect
much in securing this State to the party.
The Republican postmaster should secure
q more perfect mail service; the collector
of customs should improve the foreign
commerce of the port; the collector Of in
ternal revenue should attend to the equal
and satisfactory collection Of the taxes
committed to him. With the cooperation
of the Federal administrat lion the party
may be able to increase the trade of the city
and the employment of our people, and
SO secure q renewed lease of power. II
is incumbent On the Republican
party to guard against the apathy OF
cupidity of its members. The price OF
continued ascendency in a republic is con-
tinual progress, and if We pause our oppo-
nents may pass us and assume the head
Of the column. To our mind it would be
supremely absurd if the Republicans,
having adopted and established the doc
trine and work of protection and internal
improvement, should find themselves ex-
cluded from the direction of these doc
trines by the recent Democratic converts.
A naturalized American citizen, being in
dispute with native about some act Of
the administration, exclaimed: sIf ye
don't like the ways of the country why
don't ye lave it2" 1t will be just as absurd
to find the Democracy taking charge of the
progress Of the country and rebuking the
Republicans for any discomfort about it,
Should the Republicans, then, allow
themselves to be diverted from their prin.
ciples and policy by the attraction Of the
spoils; should they allow the Democracy
to claim superior ability TO secure the
great works which all SO much desire, il
would be folly and reproach to which v.
hope they viii never be subjected.
ULTRAM0ETAEE HIGHER Law.
The doctrine announced by Dr.. Thoma,