The Opelousas patriot. [volume] (Opelousas, Parish of St. Landry, La.) 1855-1863, 1855-04-14
Present Condition OF Parties In Louisiana.

The old parties are alike defunct in Louisia-
NO differing o little in the manner or mode of the
demise, but not whit as to their absolute and
essential nonentity. The Wing party may be
said to have been fairly whipped -scourged
to death on principle but the Democracy party
Is killed-having actually committed selfmur-
der And there is another marked difference
to be noticed and relnembered-the Wing party
HAS acknowledged its fate, and has shown signs
ofa willingness to submit to its sealed destiny
without any extras in the way Of after-throes or
outside struggling while the Democratic party
In its mud-turte tenacity Of life processes still
to live unhurt, though its head is severed clean
ofE-even like the tabled snake, it thinks to live
till sundown, at least though mangled and
bruised in every extremity, and bleeding at
every pore.
And why is the Democratic party dead and
wherein did it commit suicide2 The written
history of its own career within the last four
years, or lesss will answer. As well might it
be asked why Jeshurun waxed fat and kicked
why Israel forgot Color why it was ever
necessary in the worlds government for
any corrupt Ruler to be taken from his
ythone and beheaded by the people he
had outraged. Partisan leaders maddened
with lust for momentary place and personal
sggrandizenent, have run-revel with the reins
Of goyernment-professng to be guided by
principle and to have the good of the people
at heart, while party organization was their
ouly beacon-star, and self their only ain,-until
the peoples rights and best interests are brought
into chaotic confusion, and the prosperity of
the land, as commonwealth, sickened and
marred to deformity. Is it not so? Let the
proclivities of the general legislation Of the
State answer. Let her bastard internal i'm
provement system answer. Ay,.let her system
Of taxation and constitutional prosperity,
coupled with her special legislation and fee-bill
dspensations, and official requisites, answer.
We say it is so; ; and farther, that the present
pseudo-Democratic party is mainly responsible
for the fact that it is so. No, not responsible,
nor even accountable mo more than is the
shadow responsible for the substance.
And yet this party, in its fragmental deforn-
ity, wants still to stand before the world in an
organized shape! And for what? We answer
70 do what it has been doing for many years,
If not always, to feed its favorites with fat Of
fees and honorable distinctions, at the expense
and to the humiliation Of the plebeians-thc
common people, the real sovcrigns of the land
and to have the power to excomnunicate and
summarily tread out ofranks" every one of its
pendence and honesty of purpose to quietly ac-
quiesce in and help on every contemplate and
politically dishonest and personally degrading
scheme, devised by hardened party leaders to
carry out party ends! This is for what the
present fragment of the so-called Democratic
party Of Louisiana wishes still to retain an or
ganized existence and distinction before the
world, and for nothing else under heaven for
to say it desires SO to remain and exist in Or
der to accomplish any end in legislation that
shall have for its object the general and impair
tial good Of the State, would be fasehood too
palpable to utter, If we are to Judge ANYTHING
Of the future by the past.
And taking this candid and incontrovertble
view of the matter, the masses of the people
must read, with mingled feelings of scorn and
contempt, that the selfstyled Democratic party
Of Louisiana is to hold Convention at Baton
Rouge, on the third Monday i'll June next, for
the purpose of making nominations for the va
rious State offices Yes, and nominations
it will be, and nothing else for when any one
nominated at and by that Convention becomes
IN ofice-holder, Jordan may no longer be deemed
o hard road to travel, and vile sinners every
where may have hope Of being carried to Par
adise on fowery beds of case, while saints and
holy men shall be sent to endless woe by the
roughest conveyance possible
No, it cannot be SO. The old parties are
defunct in Louisiana, as elsewhere, and a New
Dispensation is being instituted-a new reign
is proclaimed. The Star has been seen in the
Hast, and the shepherds upon thousand Ameri-
can hills have buckled on their arnor to do bat
tie under its distilling and liberty preserving
rays. The theory that man is capable ofself
government is to be newly affirmed and con
frmed-upon q basis more durable and firm than
hasever been-a basis which, if it shall not prove
superior to the touch Of Time must at least for
while battle the skill and wizard orgies' of
al demagogues and corrupt "party leaders"
whether Of native or Of foreign birth. And
then, shall it be well with the land
But, while the old parties are disorganized