The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1868-02-12

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gsuization Of the Democratic party of the
stote have directed US to set forth the
orounds for this movement, and the mo-
lives for asking your immediate, active and
JEALOUS cooperation.
The political struggles which have been
40 long corvulsing the country, are hurry
inc 10 crisis. From all quarters the din
# preparation is heard for the conflict
which is to decide, perhaps beyond rever.
al certainly for generations, the momen-
tons question, whether the rule of consti-
tntional law shall prevail or anarchy shall
tlumph-in the violent change of gov
eminent against the consent Of the gov
erned. ID ~ ia
For dreary period the passions engen-
dered by terrible civil war, were not per-
m;ssed to die out with its close. They
were wickedly fomented, and used to inau-
ourate measures, that, under the guise of
securing the fruits of victory to the na-
tion, were meant to alter the whole politi-
cal system of the country for the benefit of
o faction in power.
The cruel necessities of war unsettled
some Of the frmest pillars Of the structure
Of government. When peace came, ambi-
ton, and revenge, and baser greeds con-
spired to prevent the restoration of its old
forms of strength and beauty-even after
The dreaded element of weakness, in the
Southern theory Of its parts, had been
completely eliminated. The war of arms
was over but in its place has followed a
war of party, in the control OF the govern.
ment to plant themselves irremovably in
authority.
For two years their success was perfect
so long as their selfish legislation fell
only on the people Of the Southern States
the bitter memories of the war, and the
stern discipline of party sustained them
with the masses of the Northern voters
Even many to whose judgment their &C
tons were repngnant, shrunk from oppo-
sing the tide OF popular prejudice, and
we're silent when they could not approve,
and acquiescent because they dared not re-
sist. Encouraged by these successes, the
arrogance Of the leaders rose to presump-
fuous height, and course of legislation
ensued under which powerful reaction
has commenced.
The multitudes who make up parties are
slow to renouDce errors that have been
sanctioned to them by the teachings Of
leaders in whom they have confidence, and
that ere associated with political triumphs
over which they have exulted.
But the limit to which this indulgence
could be extended has plainly been found.
The frenzy Of faction has overtasked the
patience of the people. 1t has awakened
their judgment and alarmed their con-
sciences, to the enormity of the outrages
pespearated in their name, and of the fur
ther crimes that are meditated, and auda-
ciously proclaimed as new necessities for
The new strifes of party.
They have seen rising Of alarmed mil
lions in the South-dr aiding perversion,
TO their ruin, of Constitution which they
loved-put down with mighty armies, at
enormous cost; and the result of all their
sacrifices, to be, the rising up amidst them
selves Of a vast conspiracy to overthrow
the same Constitution, and to mutilate
and keep forever distracted the same Un-
ion for the preservation of which they had
so avishly poured out blood and treasure.
They have seen ten States, with sub
missive people striving to get within the
protecting folds Of the Constitution,
stricken from the rolls, for no other reason
than that they were anxious to support
that Constitution in all the senses in
which The war had decided against their
earlier convictions. Their places in Con-
gess they had seen made vacant, and the
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remaining members proceeding to thrust
out such among themselves, as were obsta-
Giles to the purposes of the majority; next
assailiug the executive department of the,
government, stripping it of every function
that could be reached by law, and many
that the Constitution should protect, only
to put the President out Of the path Of
their despotic will and now, assailing the
Supreme Court, and attempting to tbrot-
tie the judges, in order to stiae the utter
ance of the judgment Of condemnation,l
they know their acts would receive from
an independent judiciary.
1t would not be just to charge that it is
solely because these revolutionary acts
have begun to touch in their consequences
the material interests of the people Of the
represented States. bringing poverty and
distress on multitudes, that there is the
tremendous reaction against the authors
which every utteranee Of popular opinion
discloses. Nor is it fair to assert that
there is no motive impulse furnished by
the unmeasured wrongs and suferings
which the policy inaicts on the people of
the Southern States, the subjects of the
torture of q remorseless tyranny.
Every day shows the revengefal passions,
By miuistering to which, It's authors gained
the power they abuse to be dying away
A thousand manifestations amidst the
masses of the people show the better feel
lng to be spreading--that enough has been
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