The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1868-08-26
The Radicals Threaten War.


late Democratic Convention Gen. Blair
wrote letter to a friend giving his
ideas on the recent Radical legislation
and proclaiming the terms under which
he would permit his name TO be used
in connection with the Presidential
nomination. The letter, like every
thing else that proceeds from its au-
thor, was bold and outspoken, and left
no room for doubt as to Gen. Blair's
position on the question of which his
letter treated. Frank Blair never has
any political secrets to keep, but when
he has any opinion he is very apt to
give expression to it. Hence his bold
ness and frankness have often gained
for him the reputation of being an i'm
prudent politician. But he has found
that, in the long run; the course he
generally pursues is much safer than
that of the trimmers aud tricksters who
labor under chronic fear lest an ex-
preston Of opinion should aleniste
some Of their friends from their sup
port.
Gen. Blair's letter attracted but lit
tie attention in the ranks of the oppo-
sition until his nomination for the Vice
Presidency, when it was assailed with
such torrent Of malignant abuse as
would lead one to think that Seymour
is not in the field at all, but that the
whole campaign OH the part of the
Democracy is directed to the sole oh
ject of electing Blair and carrying out
his platform. They say shat the NOM
ination of Blair means revolution, and
that his election would LEAH to another
civil war between the American States.
Such declaration is tantamount to
saying that the Radicals are determin-
ed to elect their candidate, or else to
make his defeat cause for another
war. Such an announcement is in
strict accordance with the revolutiona-
ry course of the Radical party ever
since it's organization as a political
party. That they are determined to
rule or ruin must be obvious to the
mind of every one who has paid the
slightest attention to their course with
in the last few years. Every time they
are defeated they must have war, in
order that they may succeed in keeping
alive the sectional animosities which
form the sam of their political stock
in trade. They wish the United States
to become another Mexico where they
have revolution and a war every
time their rulers are to be changed
The United States government, under
the control of the Radicals, is fast hur-
rying to the condition of Mexico, and
unless the party should be driven from
power, will soon be as contemplate in
the eyes of the world.
But let us look into General Blair's
letter, and see what particular opinions
he has expressed, which, according to
the Radicals, will lead to another war.
Gen. Blair says that the financial poll
cy Of the country--whether the bonds
are payable in gold or greenbacks-is
small matter in comparison to the
reconstruction question, because there
never will be any prosperity in the
country until the Southern States are
properly restored to theirposition in the
Union. He sees that Radical recon-
struction is the cause of all the evils
under which the government now la
bors, and says that reconstruction must
be undone as speedily as possible. He
knows that it would be a too tedious
and perhaps unsuccessful job, to under
take to repeal the reconstruction bills
by Congressional legistion. He is,
therefore, in favor of declaring them at
once unconstitutional and void, and OF
administering the government as if
they were not on the Statute book
Nor can we see why such course
should lead to a war. Mr.. johnson, a
Republican President, overturned the
old State governments without driving
the Democrats into a war. The Radi-
calls overturned Mr.. Johnson's govern
ments, and all other State governments
at the South, to which the johnson men
and the Democrats submitted without
the slightest attempt to take up arms.
If, therefore, the Radicals intend to
fight because the Democrats overturn-
ed their rotten, Carpet-bag govern
ments, it is virtual acknowledgment
that the party Of CLAW and order" is
the only rebellious party in the Union,
and that the cry of their leader let us
have peace is as hollow and insincere
as the thousand promises they have
broken, and the thousand pledges they
have failed to fulfill.
But the Democrats are getting lit
tie too old to be frightened by any sucl
cry as that raised by the Radicals over
Gen. Blair's platform. They mean to
elect their candidates, and with that
election to consign Radical reconstruc-