The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1867-01-02

betrayed, duped. and indignant at the PEI
fdi.y by which their slaves and harvest
were swept away, although originally On
ion men, joined our ranks. Terror an
tyranny were everywhere.
i; Tho Southern, men last year proclaime,
the revival Of che D. fnocratic party, an.
though denounced as ssrefuaed rebels,
the convention Of the lst Of May was call
| ed. They gave it strength and vitality
They cnce more lifted the Democratic fla.
land saved the party from becoming a mer
4 transient and personal organization.
I In regard to nominations md candidates
they showed the noblest md most disin
terested indifference. It was said by thos,
who had failed or refused to take any ac
tive part in resisting the aggressions o
which all complained. that it wonld at tina
time be inexpedieht to nominate any on,
Tot office who had been actively identified
with the South. This was said to sprins
from no desire to monopolize Office or ex
cude returned Confederates, but to be {
mere temporary policy, until the Democra
cy could be recognized and a campaign
could test our strength.
The patty so organized was denounced
as but secession party in Disguise
sneers and denunciations were met with
manly defiance, and splendid victory
achieved by an unprecedented majority
which restored the depressed Democracy
throughout the Union. =,
! In the local elections returned Confede
rates were not received as pardoned Grim
'nals or traitors on probation, but they
were everywhere nominated and overwhel
mingly elected. The people were less DO.
lite or distrnstful than the convention. and
with generous a,dor welcomed back to
their hearts and honors the brave men who
had stood by a noble but unfortunate cause
and had been tried in the furnace Of con6s.
cation and fiery ordeal of battle.
mention this in no spirit Of dissatisfac.
ton, but SO that we may see clearly the
difficulties thst surround the party now.
and to dissipate the apprebensions created
since that time the Temporary policy ad-
opted last year may ripen into precedent
and precedent into law.
This feel assured cannot be done. II
50, prescription would indeed be the law Of
the land. Jtwould not only he ordained
by the constitutional amendment, but
would be eDgraited rs a permanent princi-
pie in the Radical platform, and be affirmed
by the Democracy. The millions of people
could look nowhere in the land for free
dom.
II the people accept their own pardon
under the amnesty by the sacrifice of their
chiefs and trusted comrades and leaders.
then indeed are cur misfortunes irremedia-
Die and ourtd'shonor unfatbonabla. When
a Virginian looks in the face of Lee, or a
South Garolin;an in that Of Hampton. or a
kentuckian in the countenance Of Breckin.
ridge, and can say. to himself, !" reeained
my rights by deserving and denouncipp
yours then in sooth, is our degradation
perfect. issts. .,i5tfii IA,
Is it to policy like this that the Dem.
ocracy must be reduced before the AFRO.
gance Of abolition can be satisfied? Are
we to creep with whispers through conven-
tons to find out the means of avertinq
their anger, and to offer up friends and
comrades to their wrath? 1t is far better
for the Democracy to live as disbanded
frecmen than in organized submission to
tyranny.
No one is more assured than l that the
generous people WHO, in August last, hy
their votes expressed their long stiAed
resentment at The affronts and injuries Of
the four preceding years, will never adopt
such apoiicy; but | state what my in.
stlncts tell me has been q constantly in.
creasing feartin the hands of friends and
comrades for the last year. clearly and
boldly, SO as to guard against danger of
misunderstanding and dIscord.
II we wish to compact our party upon a
foundation that will make Kentucky an
impregnable bulwark to the rights ofIfree.
men. and against sectional aggression, no
such timid distfust Of the people should be
shown. If the October elections terrily
politicians into useless concessions, it does
not infect the body of the party. They
only utter louder cry of defiance against
the Radicals, instead OF bowling before
them and propitiatine them by declaring
that they will forever disffancise Or exclude
from Office all who served in the armies Of
the Confederacy.
The people neither hate nor censure
those WHO fought the battles of the people
with admirable courage, and who sustain
ft,OIn ,tnhJ O.. - ~.