The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1868-01-26
ORGANIZATION CT The DEMOCRATIC
PARTY,


We have received a copy of a circular
issued by the Democratic State Central Com
mittee, and addressed to the anti-radical
people of Louisiana The circular advises
the anti-radical voters of the State to organize
Immediately in opposition to radicalism, and
concisely states the reasons which exist for
concentrating the political strength of the
white people within the Democratic organiza-
ton. Indeed, the mere statement of the stu
alton insures conviction on this point. Elab-
crate argument is entirely superfuous to show
that the Democratic party of the country is
the only organization capable of competing
with the Republican party, and in fact
the only organization adverse to radicalism
that will be known in the contest. 1t must
be evident to all that we of the South are
utterly powerless in this strife, except as
allies of that great and generous party which
is fighting our battles in the dominant sec
ton and against the dominant faction.
decent sense of self respect requires of us
continued protest against the arbitrary
and despotic legislation of Congress
against the scheme of pretended re-
construction, by which these States are to be
forced into utilization with party which they
detest against the unconstitutional acts by
which the plainest principles of public liberty
have been subverted against the violation of
our rights, and the reckless destruction of our
material interests against the infamous at
tempt, for partisan purposes, to establish
negro supremacy in the Southern States. A
passive acquiescence in these fagitious as
saults upon constitutional liberty would show
us to be unworthy of the rights which we
claim but the passive resistance, involved
in a persistent refusal to accept the radical
programme, will strengthen the hands of our
friends at the North, and tend to thwart the
designs of the Congressional revolutionists.
Beyond this, we are devoid of power. We
can do no more, but expediency and principle
combine to dictate that we shall do as much.
1t will not become us to dictate either the plan
of the campaign which is to be fought, or to
insist on comforting a name on the or
ganization which has assumed the duty
and the task of defending our rights.
If we call on tire Democratic Her.
cules Of the North for assistance,
we have no right to ask that he change his
name to suit our taste or our caprice. When
he ceases to be Hercules he will cease to be
strong. Under the name of Democracy the
Democratic party has achieved many VIC
tories and suffered few defeats; but from all
the defeats it has risen with renewed strength,
and hopeful of recurrent triumph. It's policy
is founded on its principles, but its name is
its religion. To that it clings with tenacity
which may be superstitious, but which GER
taiuly is sincere. An attack on its name it
resents as fit were an assault on its principles
1t has traditional antagonism to the word
Conservative, although, from the peculiari-
ties of its position it is now the conservative
party of the country. The conservatives of
the South, and Of the North likewise, we may
say, have no time to cavil about names. They
have great doctrines, essential rights, impor-
tant interests to preserve. To the Democre-
tic party they look for the preservation of those
doctrines, those rights, and those interests.
With the Democratic party they agree on
every important issue before the country.
With the Democratic party they will, proba-
bly,, agree ON the plan by which the Union is
to be finally restored on constitutional prin-
ciples; by which the rights Of the States are
to be revived by which the liberty of the
citizen is TO be regained. If they desire to
cooperate effectively, now, and hereafter, in
this momentous work, they must ally them
selves, both in fact and in name, with the
Democracy Of she country.
1t is, therefore, with reason, that the State
Central Committee call on the anti-radicals of
Louisiana to organize under the name of the
great Democratic party of the United States.
There is not much time to devote to argu-
ment; because We have but little time for
work The suggestion made by the committee
for all the anti-radcals of the State to organize
at once, is eminently proper, and We hope
that it will be acted on without delay