New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1878-09-21
70 9HR PUBLIC.

prevailing quarantine bnat prevent
ed the attendance of a quorum of
delegates has devOlved upon the Re-
publican State Central Committee
renewed responsibilities of guarding
the vital rights of tho people con-
fided to it.
We have deemed it duty to come
to the aid Of these authorities, and
contribute somewhat to the preser-
walton of principles endeared to them
in the past, and essential to Repub-
lican safety in the future. There is
a very large portion of the people of
Louisiana, amounting, in our opin-
ion, to an unintimidated majority,
who are entitled to defense at the
hands of all to whom they have here
tofOre given their support. We shall
give an undated and uncompromis-
ing support to Republican principles,
and support with zeal, all Repub-
ican candidates who may be nomi-
mated by any Republican constitu-
ency; but we deprecate forlorn and
desperate contests, which may injure
the Republican cause by solidifying
all the elements of hostility. We are
aware of the want of those materials
ofpolitical warfare, without which the
soundest doctrines are inapplicable,
and which would render an indie
pendent Republican campaign fruit
less9 We have no desire to seek in
the discussions of our opponents an
equivocal gain. 1t is our sole pur-
pose to preserve the vitality of Re-
publican principles by bestowing
an independent and uncompensated
support upon any who viii maintain
them. Whether the policy of ex-
President Grant suspending the
Federal protection of the Southern
States, and the contamination of the
policy by his official successor, was
either just or wise, is no longer
practical question. That action is
irrevOcable, and remains to be treat
ed as an accomplished fact. The
compact between the national execu-
tive and his Democratic- Conserva-
tive constituents of Louisiana, under
which the national troops we're with
drawn, and the present State and
city authorities inaugurated contain
ed conditions whose maintenance is
indispensable to the safety of the
Republicans Of the State. The joint
resolutions Of the Legislature Of the
seventeenth of April, 1877, endorsed
by Governor Francis T. Nichols,
contain every principle of constitu-
tional law, as Of political and legal
right embodied in the Republican
creed and platform of 1876. The
pledge of general amnesty for sail
past political conduct confirmed all
those guarantees, and the Repub-
licans were at least consoled for the
loss of political power by the recog-
milton Of their political principles.
The indictment of the officers conn
posing the late Returning Board for
an alleged violation of law, founded
on the information of the Attorney
General, was regarded by many citi-
Gems as violation Of the amnesty.
The dismissal Of this indictment for
error by the decision of the Supreme
Court of the State left undecided the
question of a violated amnesty.
There have been within the past two
years ample evidence that the spirit
Of lawless violence has not been ex-
tirpated in distant parts Of the State,
nor is there any assurance that with
an organization Of a general Repub-
lican ticket for State and municipal
officers and representatives, for q
campaign contest, that spirit win
not break out with violence en-
HANGED by the absence Of all means
Of depressing it. The Republicans
Of Louisiana should, therefore, con-
tent themselves with maintaining
through their own efforts and that
Of others the terms Of this important
compact. They do not propose a
merger, coalition or bargain with.
any party. but they propose to be-
stow their support upon any anti
Democratic organization which will
pledge itself and its candidates to
maintain this compact with the am
nesty therein contained ID substance
and spirit. This win be our object.
and IN the absence Of all the ele-
ments Of an aggressive and success
ial campaign. to content ourselves
witt establishing in the public failh
tho psissiplea Of the Republican
party, as embodied ia the agreement
81 paciiica
There Il anes legitimate service
tho Republicans nsg render to their