The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1859-07-20
THE PARISH CONVENTION.

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custom the Democratic Parish Central
Committee of Rapides have appointed
day for the meeting Of the Parish Conven.
ton and another for choosing Delegates
who shall compose it. From the first
publication of the notice to the time fixed
for Precinct meetings is ample time for it
to come to the knowledge of every Demo-
crat in the Parish.
is important that the Precinct meet
ings shall be full. It is commonly seen
that large proportion Of the Democratic
voters of Precinct have such entire con-
fdence in the selection of Delegates made
by such of their neighbors az. are present
that they think their own presence need.
less But these small meetings give q
Ipretext for our opponents to bark at us.
Accustomed themselves to growl, scratch
and fight over official bones in their wig
vans, they snarl at our party because
we settle all these things in a decent,
quiet way. This attempt to bring the
plan of choosing candidates by Conven-
tons into disrepute has been pursued
with assiduity by all the haters of Democ-
racy for some months past. We hope
that neither the approaching Parish Con-
vention nor the preliminary local meet
Iings will give them anything new to
whine about.
The leading object Of a Convention is
to get the true sentiments of the party
with regard to candidates and this can
not be accomplished with entire certainty
unless general interest is taken in prima-
ny meetings. Our true candidates are
always those who are most acceptable to
a majority Of the party. Hence due no.
tice should be taken of the preferences
which prevail in primary meetings, in
|order that Delegates may represent their
constituents fully, whether instructed or
not.
I We have the best State ticket that was
ever nominated in Louisiana by any party.
1 We have candidate for Congress and
one for the Board of Public Works OF
whom we are all proud. There is moth
ing left for us to do but to make a Parish
ticket of the best material our party can
/ furnish. Harmony, liberality and zeal
: have given the Democrats Of Rapides a
high reputation throughout the State ;
they can maintain this prestige by union
and by active interest in nominating and
electing worthy men to our local and
legislative Offices. Let us not forget that
the standard of Louisiana Democracy has
been placed in the worthy hands Of De.
mocrat of Rapides, but let us show our
appreciation Of the honor extended to us
: by having the best of candidates and by
I giving the whole ticket from top to bot
? tom the largest Democratic vote ever
;. polled in this Parish.
{ We scarcely need to state that VIC
I deem it improper for the Democrat to al
: vocate or oppose any candidate tor the
: local nominations and that the expression
t of any preferences we might Individually
: entertain would be neither fair-dealine
towards other candidates nor worthy thai
confidence of the whole party which Il
l reposed in us and which we are resolved
= to deserve and keep. We are prepared
9 in advance to be satisfied with, and sup
G port the nominees, nor do we fear IN TIN
I least that they will be unworthy OF oui
best exertions.
After our parish nominations arc made
u it is to be presumed that the friends OF tn
$ various independent Or opposition cand
/ dates will combine their forces and con
G centrate their votes upon a single nam
for each office. preliminary arrangement
d for such combination may be assumes
u as having been already made. This Goa
Y ltion will constitute sortof bastard cor
# vention which, while lacking in regularitt
y and all the qualities of a fa,r arrange
ment, will subserve the pruricnt ambitio
N of the clique who rule the opposition.
'e the plan suits them let them proceed
IL matters little to the Democrats of Rapide
IS whether they meet their opponents sea
"a tered in squads or combined in sing'
J. body.
al rag H. A. Gillette, the travelling ager
y of Messrs. Buckner Fisk & Co., who wa