The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1870-07-23

| - IA OpRO0ANAOA III OtSl L11NCOS
but proud to know that this oppo-
sition is, to all intents and pur-
poses, futile, and can be easily
tutored to a proper sense of it's
interest. Why change the name
OF Democracy, the only true de-
fender of American liberties? Its
principles would ever remain in
tact. Are we, at this late day, to
abridge all the great lexicOgra-
piers to suit the pitiful sophisms
and absurd predictions of a few
political miscreants +? Our gov
eminent is constitutionally de-
mocracy; it is the great represen-
tative of the principles we enter
tain, with the exception of a
few unconstitutional amendments
which huve tainted it with central
islns. Democracy the great farce
that shallow politicians would
have you believe it, is nothing
more nor less than the sovereign
power vested in the people, favor
ing a general diffusion of knowl-
edge, and wealth, thereby securing
an equal distribution of political
power. What wiser system of poll
tics, | ask, could any rational,
observation-disclosures man aspire
to. 1t is idle to talk of doing away
with democracy. It is the only CO.
operative constitutional party,
Northand South. Is is the only
party that is today making any
strides to progress.
The idea of self State govern
ment without cooperating with
the general government is based
upon sands as futile and arid as
the desert of Saharah. The State
of Louisiana would succeed just
as we'll turninging the Mississippi
river up stream, or attracting the
two poles together with mag
netiSm. r... ........ ..-
1t is true democracy favored
Mr.. Johnson's plan of reconstruc-
ton, which was undoubtedly, at
the time, the proper course for all
lovers Of good government to pur-
sue. Democracy opposed the 14th
amendment upon grounds worthy
the consideration of all devotees
of constitutional liberty. Admit
ting that democracy had ac-
guessed in the radical plan of
reconstruction, the effect would
not have been altered one jot nor
little. But since those obnoxious
measures have been thrustupon us,
democracy adapts itself to the
exigencies OF the times, accepts
those measures as matter of ne
cessity, with strong hopes eff a flu
ture progress in the in the intel
Iect of our country.
It is remarkable that democra-
cy is more hopeful of complete
success now than at any epoch in
history, since its attempted over
throw in '76. All civilized gov.
ernments are drifting into democ-
racy. The English government,
so much admired and envied by
all Europeans and Americans, is
gradually settling itself into the
pure waters of democracy. 1t has
been the natural course of all gov
ernments, time immemorial. The
noble and intelligent Greeks, the
brave and patriotic Spartans,
powerful and classic Rome, the
devout and abused Israelite were
all, in time, democratic, and de-
cayed with the downfall of de-
mocracy.
Democracy is undoubtedly the
parent of our liberties. AS an
evidence of this, we only have to
look back through the vista of
time, in that yelled gulf ofthe past,
when democracy, that glorious
democracy, the, great archive of
American liberties, reigned SUI
preme. When property was most
sacred, industry most sure of its
reward, the authority of the law
most omnipotent, intelligence and
wealth most generally diffused,
society. in its general description,
: most peaceable, orderly and
moral. ,--. e. e...t 81 Fl. ..s
Talk of democracy being dead,
} when its vitality is beyond dis.
: pute; survived the tender period Of
/ it's infancy out lived the prophe-
cies Of it's downfall, fostered its
principles into maturity, borne the
/ nation triumphantly through a
) period of domestic difficulty and
external danger, and may vel
claim from the nation it has saved
. and honored the yotivebenedictior
of este pe,petaG.
q LET rs have a SDiFited canvass