The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1870-10-05
Negative Traitors.

Negative Traitors.
A correspondent of the New Orleans Times eab
oratey writes himself down either an knaye
He harps upon the threadbare subject of the corrup
ton of political parties, instead of going to the root
of the evil and depreeatng the corruption of human
nature. He says he will not be bound by the acts oil
conventions-manipuated by unprincpled dema-
gogues he avers--but will vote against insult
! able man, whether he be Democrat or Radical. He,
moreover, assumes that honest men in the major
ity in New Orleans ard can elect whomsoever they
please independent of convention.
Now, did it never occur to this gentleman and
other equally sapient individuals who hold similar
views, that it would be much more judcious and an
infinitely simple plan for this " honest majority
to attend and give the nominating conventions
instead of holding back with folded until the So
called demagogues make the nominations and then
step forward boiling With virtuous indignation
against the corruption of parties" thus throwing
dscord and confusion into the ranks?
While utterly ntolerant of the arts of the
demagogue, and have respect for man who would
stoop to trckery to nomination an election,
are, if possible, intoerant Of those who re-
fuse to take part in politics and afterwards weaken
candidate. These men are but traitors in another
guise whatever their assumptions of superior honesty
and virtue. We venture to say there are thousands
| of just such men in New Oreans-merchants, mainly,
who would not close their doors, thereby losing the
opportunity of filling small bill, to attend any con-
ventioD no matter how vital the princp pies involved
And vet should such nominations be made as they
deem unfit" they raise their hands and eyes in holy
horror, and avow that they cannot support such
sneak as Jones for constable, or such villain as
Brown for coroner
But there are majority of "honest men in New
Orleans you know and they will only vote for an hon
est candidate whehe? this aois be found in the
Radical or Democratic party losing sight of the fact
that the expression honest Radical is paradox
contradiction of terms For we do not think that
we are too ntolerant much blinded by prejudice,
when we say that in our soul believe that any
Southern man. or any Northern protesting to have
the material interests of the South at heart who at
taches hmselfto the Radical party is either knaVe or
a fool The inference is inevitable; for no sane man
can believe that the principles of that party, even if
honestly carried out be other than injurious not
utterly ruinous to Southern prosperity. Does any
rational man doubt this proposition? And when to
this fundamental objection to the principles of the
party is added the untold, unwritten, and undreamed
of rascaity of the members thereof-every one of
whom at the South is idiot thief, and the Eng
lish language could not be tortured into mIder terms
that would properly express the idea-how supremely
absurd it is for adult white male, with the intellect
ua endowments of q calf, to weaken the Democratic
party now by captious objections to candidate or
another This is no time for the indulgence of petty
spite frivolous antipathies. If our candidates
Immaculate, they SO infinitely superior to their
opponents that comparison would be insult
and moreover, taken all in ALL the ticket is unob-
jeconable as any we have ever seen put forward by
any party.
But infinitely above all consideration OF the man rises
that of principles The man is but the tool, the in
srument with which purpose to pull down this po
itical fabric of venaty and corruption that towers
threateningy above US. Or, to use more appropri-
ate simile he is but the stick with which wish to
crush the head of this Radical viper What matters
to U.s. them whether the tool exactly suits u.s. the
weapon exactly fits hand, so it aceomplishes the
desired end? In heavens name let rise superior to
feelings of personal preference sentiments of per-
sonal dislike When this hydra, this many headed
monster, called Radcasm, shall have been crushed,
there will fitting time for the indulgence
of private malice or petty revenge.
-%1s----
HOME AGAIS.-Those of our citizens who have been
abroad business Or pursuit of health and pleasure
have been rapidly dropping into their old haunts,
most of them very materially improved and prepared
for the winters campaign Messrs. John Walters Tom
nd S.r, HolInp he cir oft
Minnesota, and the two first named were we'll pleased
with its bracng effects. Judge Egan and family and
Mr.. J ohm n. Howell and family essayed more eastern
routes the latter viewing the wonders of the Niagara
Falls, while Mr.. VIM. Thatcher and John Jacobs wan
dered about in Missouri aud Ohio. Mr.. Joe Smith and
Mr.. W. c. Perrin and family, true to their first love,
confined their perigrinations chiefly to Kentucky
Mr.. Thatcher, regret to say, not much i'm
proved by the trip and he may never again tell an
ecdote in that inimitabe style peculiar to hm-the
only man ever knew who did not SPOIL by laughing
at bis own Jokes But there is fun in the old man
yet"
" You may break, yeu may ruin the vase if you will
But the scent of the will hang round it STILL
This pleasure trip Of Uncle Johns, who comes
back with the dress and manner of young man. "re-
minds u.s." as medical friend would say of an Incl
dent that occurred many years ago, when he not
so perfectly fa5t in fashionable life he is.
He then his travels, and stopped at the old St.
Charles Hotel lady accompanying him. At dinner,
the waiter, presenting bill of fare, asked what he
would have. WE'LL anythng-he didn't know-what
do you want? he asked, turning to his companion.
She ordered sleeps head. Well, he would take
some too. Off rushed the polite waiter, and soon
turning dived the plate down before the guest. The
latter looked and became excited. See here" he |
says, told you to bring me some sleeps head and
you've brought me fish !"
1t is than foolish it is absolutely criminal for
men to fold their hands at such a crisis this, upon
the miserable pretext that they do not wish to be
81 mixed up in politics" This is the towards Or the
traitors plea for Sinking the fight when his country is
engaged in deadly struggle with enemy And what
an enemy is this combattng Oie whose sole
end and aim it is to enrich themselves with spoils
yrung alike from Southern labor and from Southern
capital 1t is the duty, and the interest well, of
very man to warn honest, though misguided freed