Year: 1872

probably the contest in the State is IN
volved in the action Of that body, which


now represents the Republican party.


With good ticket we may carry the city,


but il would be hardly won victory


but with an inferior ticket we may lose


the State. by having the Republican ma
iority in the country overcome Dy the
Democratic majority in New Orleans


The signs are auspicious OF favorable


result in this community, but these signs
are based upon the suggestion which we


have at all times put forth, that our party


intended to nominate men that would


compare favoraEly with the best, if they


did not take precedence Of all, in point Of


ability and moral worth We declared


that this would be done from the fact that


only by such course could our nominees


hope for success. It is hardly to be be-


lieved that there are any aspirants in the


Republican party, standing chance for


selection, who are anxious to be nominated


merely for the purpose Of being beaten ;
and, if there are any such, it is the duty


of the convention to withhold help from


any such stubbornness. The necessity Of
the hour requires vigilance and discretion


on our part, not only to insure the general
result but to secure as large majority as
possible in New Orleans.


In the first place it will not do for us to
calculate upon the weakness of the oppo-
sition because that may be mended and
strengthened, but upon our own cause and
it's supporters. The Republican party is
in the minority in the city, and its only
hope Of success depends upon the rein
foreements it can obtain from the disaf-
fected of the opposition and from con-
servative citizens who vote for the best
men without regard to party nominations.
If we can present better ticket than any
other party it will find supporters among
all sorts of men, and this support will
have tendency to insure the general
ticket If we present the worst ticket
which is not contingency to be appre-
hended, the opposition will use it to such
an advantage as to persuade thousands of
Republicans from going to the polls, thus
putting in jeopardy the ticket headed by
Grant and Kellogg. 1t is to prevent any
such unfortunate mischance as this that
we utter the present admonitory reflections.


The principal strength Of the Repub-
Iican party is confined to the colored peo-
pie, and to this class Of voters we consider
it necessary to address these words Of eau
ton. They must not consider that because
they constitute the majority of the Repub-
lican party, and can dictate its. nomina-
tions, that therefore they form the ma
jority of the people, and can elect whom
soever they choose to put forward. In the
first place, they are largely in Che minority
in the city, and if they make mistake in
regard to Now Orleans they may put in
peril their general ticket. Unpopular
nominations in this city may give the
Democrats such local majority as to
overcome the Republican majority in the
interior parishes, and thus we should lose
all instead Of gaining a partial success.
Popular nominations, such as the conser-
vatives can support, will allow us to in
sure the State to Grant and Kellogg, and
to hold some hopes Of winning the city
and parish. The main point, therefore, is
to make our own strength secure by judi
cious selections, without any regard to
what the opposition may do.


This is o very decisive contest with re-
gard to the interests Of the colored people.
The matter at issue is as to whether they
are willing to build slowly and surely, or
whether they are SO anxious to enjoy the
privileges os freemen that they will con-
sent to peril their rights in order to obtain
them. The mass of the colored people are
not place-hunters, but some Of their repre-
are, and that, too, without being
or intellectually entitled to an
election at the hands Of any party Ii
such men are not defeated in their am
bilious selfshness the Republican party
and the standing Of the colored people
will be put into very unfortunate posi-
lion, for we can not look to any quarter
for that assistance which We refuse to give
TO ourselves.


The convention, therefore, if it does its
duty, as there seems to be every prospect
that it will, must take heed es to its nomina-
lions, giving US the best men to be had
without any special regard to their past
political antecedents. Any citizen who
will consent to go before the convention
and abide by its decision, is good enough
to be nominated. The test
should be applied as to his intelligence
and character for integrity, and where
men can not pass muster as to ability and
honesty, they should be. rejected. A bad
man should not seek nomination and he
should not get it if he does; a good one
should not be waited for as place seeker, |
but should be put up as help to the
oaEty. Our entire ticket is the stake at
ssue, and no man should be considered |
worth a moments consideration who de-
hands that his personal desires shall be
consulted in preference to the interests Of |
be party.


1t would indeed be a great triumph if
Jew Orleans as well as the State at large,