The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1870-03-16
The Press Convention.

A0S - VI ScAsS
This body met in New Orleans, and as we appre
hended, arrived at no definite result. The only points
agreed upon were, "the press would oppose all corrup'
ton and dishonesty in public officials and political par
ties" and that ii peoples convention should be called,
to assemble in New Orleans on the 23d of April, tol
the purpose of organizing a reform OF the abuses III
the representative and executive administration OF the
State Government. '
The evident object of the convention was to over
slaugh the Democratic party, by declaring the press in
dependent of existing parties. Upon this question
there was a tie vote, from which, as the Times remarks
it became very obvious that the convention bad failed
to accomplish what was regarded as its main political
object. Col. bennett, of the Planters Banner, was
particularly exercised on the subject of the coEserva-
tives of the State identif, ing themselves with 1.-THE
failures and corruptions Of the Democratic party"
We have no cause to change our opinion on tbs
subject. In the present condition of parties AID OF
the country, to be q Democrat is simply to be an enc
NV of the Radical party-it does not necessarily force
a man to be a rascal. Some of the prominently con-
servative gentlemen of the press seem to think that ii
they can drop the name Democrat, or induce others to
do so, they will become pure AS s~now-immaculate as
though they had been washed white in the blood oil
the Lamb. These gentleman either delude themselves
or are endeavoring to delude their readers. Men who
can be made corrupt by a party name have the ele-
ments of corruption in them per Sc. As We have be-
fore said, if these gentlemen who fear to soil their con-
sciences by association with the Democratic party are
potent to accomplish anything outside of that party,
they certainly are able to take control of and purify it.
Their votes in conventions will count for as much as
the votes of Democrats. The party does not belong
to the old party hacks, Of whom "the conservatives "
seem to have such holy horror. That miserable dis.
position to ~squabble over minor details has been the
curse and downfall of many o wise and patriotic meas.
ure in the worlds affairs, and will continue to be, so
long as human nature has its petty vanities, arrogant
assumptions of superior wisdom, and a constant desire
to 60 into the axe grinding business.
Our able contemporary, the New Orleans Times,
which claims to be the organ of the people-a claim,
by the way, that always smells viilainously of dema.
~gogism-has been foremost in this assault upon the
Democratic party. If common report be true, that
journal should first pluck the beam from its own eye,
SO that it might more clearly see how to remove the
notes from the eyes of its n~eighbors. The corruption
VI PoiHSo h"S WV Nv" u la PohHSo,
whereas corruption in human nature were a more ap-
~propriate term.
If the people of New Orleans and other portions of
the State wish all example of what may be accom-
plished by united, honest, and determined action in
politics, the election in this parish can furnish it. Here
there was no disgusting, heart-sckening struggle for
the spoils of office. Our people had a majority of col,
ored voters to contend against, or rather to conciliate
and bring over. The Radical party, their hated enc
my, was before them. There was no time nor inclina.
ton for charges of corruption in the Democratic
party" They were d unit upon the vital Importance
of defeating the enemy their swords were a thou
sand, their hearts were as one." The result was, that
in a parish where there were registered over two thou
sand colored voters, Grant received but one. And
this without the least attempt at ntimidation-fo that
charge is but one of the countless lies the radical party
has used as its stock in trade with regard to the South.
Is it not safe to assume that there are in this parish as
bitter enemies to the Democratic party-as organized
before the war-as New Orleans can boast? We think
so, certainly.
Suppose, instead of squabbling over Bill Jones' cleo
ton to the important position OF Ward Constable, or
John Browns defeat as street-sweep or public boot
black, there had been in New Orleans a dIslnterested
aud determined effort to defeat the Radical party, might
not the result possibly have been different?
"Ah, but that corrupt Democratic party, you know"
For ourself, we are for any party that is against the
Radical party, and would not give the snap of a finger
the name, whether it be Democrat, Wing, Conserv-
or what not. Nor would we give the snap Of a
finger for the judgment or honesty of any man or set
of men, who would permit so miserable a pretext as
The choice of names, to make them skulk this fight.