The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1870-03-09
The Press C0Ryenti0n-The Thrust
at theIntegrity 0fthe Democratic
Party.

the Conservative papers OF the
State to meet in Convention fol
the purpose of devising the means
of opposing the ruinous Legislation
of the party now in power. The call
came Immediately On the heels OF
the ridiculous failure of the Lala.
yette Square Mass Meeting to ac-
complish any practical results. 1t
was confession on the part of the
New Orleans Editors of their own
incapacity to cope with the ques-
lions of the day, and considering
the persons to whom the call was
made, was somewhat Of dismoun.
ting of the high horse they have
been accustomed to ride. They
have hitherto acted on the princi.
pie that a country paper had nc
business with the politics of the
Gay, and have insisted that a coun-
try Editors mission is only to
chronicle the number of tist-fghts
That occur in given locality, the
number of pigs in a given litter OF
farmer Smiths SOW, and the mum
Der of rows in farmer Jones' corn
field. They have insisted on mon
opolising the privilege of dispen-
sing POLITICAL wisdom to the con
sentative masses and claim that
the peoples cry for information is
properly satisfied with their own
twaddle, their CHASTITY jokes and
their personal quarrels on the sub
ject of the superiority of each oft he
city papers over all the rest. Their
call is confession that the people
need something else. They call lus-
tily for help in their difficulties,
with what success we shall present
iy see.
The call had another and a sinis-
ter object, which could blind no
one who reflected on the source
whence itsemanated. There is no
Democratic paper in the city of
New Orleans. The New Orleans
press is run in the interest of tue
rings that have ever been hostile
to the success OF the Democratic
party and Of Democratic principles
Even the Democratic Bohemians
who infest New Orleans as they in
est every large city, when they
sravitate towards any newspaper
If whatever politics, soon learn to
Weld their facile pens in the inter
st Of their new master, with as
much dexterity as if they were de-
the great principles of the
Democratic party itself. New Or
cans has paper to represent al
nost every conceivable principle,
kept the principles of Democracy.
or instance, it has all ultra South
IN paper, owned by an attache of
ne Federal army and an ultra Re-
ublican paper edited by rebel
rator. The convention, then, as
as been avowed, was partly inten-
ed to supersede the Democratic
arty by combination of all the
ings that have opposed Democra-
J without being SO fortunate as to
ct their own noses into the Radi-
al crib. We shall soon see what
uccess this move met with among
he country Editors.
The call was utterly ignored by
he large majority of the country
apers, but of the few who resDon-
ed we are happy to know that
here were enough present to pre-
emit the accomplishment of the
imposes for which the Convention
as called. On some very impor-
ant questions the Convention was
lore silent than we could desire.
We should have liked better if
ome open sensible advice had been
lven the city Editors as to their
lture discussion of subjects of
'hich they have Acknowledged
heir lamentable ignorance. We
hould have liked if the Conven-
on had settled which of the stale
'kes that have been got off by
hem within the past six months
entitled to the palm for stupidity.
should have been decided also !
'hlch paper has the largest circu
ltion, as they all claim it, and
eem to think that the people take
nough interest in the matter to
'arrant an editorial on the subject
bout three times every week.
But if the Convention was silent
n thess interesting questions, it