The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1870-06-15
The New Party Question.

severe very, upon this paper which it considers upon
the fence" We cannot say that we admire the tone
or spirit which has characterized the Democrats dis
cusson of the question-a question which, it seems
to us, should be approached calmly dispassionatey
and with eye solely to the momentous issues in
yolved, and not with fppant denunciation of those
who may not chance to be Of our way Of thinking.
We fear there is some clap trap INDUCED in by the
friends of this movement regards the old party
hacks " broken down politicians &c. This did well
enough in the ante belum times, though even then it
too often the stock in trade of demagogues, but is
now only fit to round off high sounding periods about
the rights Of the people, when writers are INDUCING in
gitteriDg generalities At least this is regards
North Louisiana. Where are these old party hacks "
and broken down politicians" who seem to disturb
| the sumbers of the peoples Party" men? Who
are they? Name them, that that they may be watched
and their vllainous Vaccinations counteraCed. We
know no such men. The only offce-seekers have
any knowledge of are those who occasionally ask a
crumb from the table of the rich manipulate
ing the affairs of this State This is, then, all leather
and prunela and the disciples of the school argue
from wrong stand point when they urge the impor-
lance Of party combinations simply to defeat the
selfish designs Of the party hacks" aud "broken
down politicians Deductions from false premises,
however ingeniousy drawn, must be defective, and
the assumption that all classes excepting, of course
carpetbaggers and scalawags are not honest and sin
cere in their desire to change the present order OF
things, is preeminently false premise. 1t then fol
lows, that to denounce men for not entering into the
views of the new party is than folly it is
| crime.
The only question is of policy. So far as the
freedmen concerned, party names or party meas
ures convey about lucid idea to their minds as
the question of transubstanation would to the mine
of an inbabitant of Dahomey With them, the person
using the argument is alone regarded. If they have
confidence in his honesty of purpose and friendlines
towards themselves they will be influenced by his rea
soning, however illogical; if the other hand, then
minds have been poisoned by Radical teachings and they
are dsrustul of the reasoners motives friendship
the voice of the charmer will fall upon needless
charm he never so wisely If this be not too low al
estimate of the freedmens capacity and are salts
fed it is not far the mass of them are concerned
what effect can a change of name have upon them
The new party men would expect to recruit from thu
conservative Radical element. Did the Convention
lately held in New Orleans receive any encouragement
from this class? If So the matter has been kept pro
foundly secret. 1t would, then, seem that there i
more danger to be apprehended from disorganzint
our own ranks than hope to be INDUCED of breaking
those of the enemy. We leave entirely out of thu
discussion those old-time enemies of the Democratic
party, who, at a time like this, when every materia
interest Of the South is at stake, would permit hei
petty partisan prejudices to come into play, for WI
have higher opinion of the intelligence of the coun
try than to suppose they more than one in tel
f thousand; and hold the most ignorant corn felt
negro intellectually that mans superior.
These are our honest convictions, and we shall ho
them until convinced by potent arguments thai
we have yet seen brought to bear by those who tavo
!, change Of name When that time comes, if com
it should, no dread of the charge of Inconsistent.
e shall deter US from changing" wise men sometime
change their opinions fools never" and if not wis
: man we shall endeavor to initiate one.
From the first inception of this movement we haV
been apprehensive that bitter feelings would be en-
. gendeIed-hat elimination and recriminaton wout
be INDUCED in by the press at time, too, when ever
9ptt3SEA af Hgeplng step like well disciplined
e army when advancing in solid column upon the foe
That appreheDsiors not illfounded is clearly
shown by the course of the Minden Democrat. Will
due Difference to its opinions, we regard this question
requiring much reflection and the most circum
spect action especially regards the discussion of
since it has been sprung upon the people of the State
That it initiated at ALL consider cause Of deeI
regret. 1t is doubtless from the lack of ability to grasI
tbo in ito bubo hot no
we confess as before said to doubts and misgvngs
to the proper policy to be pursued upon this, as upo1
all political questions which have arisen since the war
If this is being upon the fence" cannot deny the
soft impeachment though contemporary should no
so ungenerOusly twit with the charge. 1t is no
every one editor though he be- who can boast the
ability to grasp this subject with the force of an intel
lectual giant and strip it of all doubtsiuminating
with the rays of genius until it stands revealed papabe
the burning bush to the eyes of the leader of the
children of Israel when they wandered in the desert
in sad uncertainty of the date of their deliverance.
With all this, we give the Democrat credit for hon
esty of purpose and with its convictions it could do
5 otherwise than urge the formation of "Peoples
Party against the manner of its so doing however
we beg leave to protest. In conclusion, our cotempo
rary will pardon for characterizng its remarks about
J. plain perversion of facts :" extremity this class OF
editors are driven to for argument against the new
, party, &c, as simply twaddIe We acknowledge allie
glance to no party set of men. Our sole motive is
the defeat of the Radicals whose course know tc
be destructive the best interest of the States and
J. the South; and if, at any time manifest appear
l. ance of doubt to the best policy to be pursued
surely surely it from selfish or time serving con
siderations.
Having thus defined our position no assault upor
our motives shall in future provoke into a discus
sion with our anti Radical friends under whatsoever
name they may wish to be recognized.
d MECHANICS.-A gentleman not long since wrote
# communication to this paper advocating the purchase
by the City Council of ten lot for the purpose
n Of city park-what has since been done. In the
article he spoke of the pleasure it would be to
l. chants and of business after the labors of the
IS day to stroll through the grounds We have since
e been told that of our mechanics took umbrage
at this because mechanics were not mentioned in con
nechon with these pleasant recreaions. We can as
sure them that slight could possibly have been in
tended by the writer who is himself in some sort
mechanic 1t was merely lapse of memory or of the
in tnrninr