The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1870-10-01
A FINAL WORD.

We look back over the drcary two
years struggle maintained by us as
the. accredited representative of the
Democracy and the people Of this dis
trict, in the double capacity as their
agent at Washington and theircounsel-
Tor at home, and bringing to mind each
important event, find nothing so graft
flying personally as the conclusion Of
our labors, unless it be the confidence
shown in imposing those labors upon
US. 1t was IA struggle maintained
against great odds, against interest,
against the advice of friends and ridi-
cule of foes,-costing us, from a con-
seriousness of our own weakness, great
anxiety lest we should utterly fail, and
subjecting US to humiliations and re-
bluffs, and worse still to the envious
opposition of men prone to believe that
the highway to preferment lies over
the necks even of those who are made
the representatives of their own griev-
ances and violated rights. Like the
weary soldier just in from Il tedious
review, we hear the command, rest!
with genuine delight, and withdraw to
our sanctum, invoking the blessings of
liberty upon the people who have hon
ored us and immunity and forbearance
for ourself.
The full and impartial official report
given elsewhere of the nominating
Convention, leaves US but little to say
in parting with our trust, except in
explanation of Mr.. McCranie's course
relative to the nomination. The posi-
ton he maintained was simply, that
the Democracy of this distaict was
committed to a policy in choosing can
didates for Congress-, which required
only the Constitutional tests of age,
residence and the taking of an oath to
to support the Constitution of the
United States. This was the position
deliberately taken by the Bastrop Con-
vention which nominated him. In the
contest through which he passed, he
saw nothing whatever which would
lead him to say to the party that it had
taken position, in 1868, from which
it should retreat. The address of the
National Democratic Committee con-
tanned such advice, but it came from
men who were unacquainted with the
facts in Mr.. McCranie's case and who
had given the contest, (Mr. Kerr, ex-
cepted, but little or no attention. The
State Central Committee, with the
memorable cases of St. Martin, Hunt
Ryan and Bailey, who were all believed
to be eligible, and yet were rejected, be
foreit, echoed this advice. Mr.. McCrl-
ME knew the issue in the 5th district to
be the validity or invalidity of the cleo
ton of 1868, and it became his duty,
as the agent of the people, to declare
that fact to them. He saw the matter
of ineligibility was practically ignored,
when urged to exclude him percmpto-
rily, and his rejection based upon the
alleged turbulence, violence and law
lessness of his constituents. He be-
lieved that the Democratic party owed
it to itself, even at the cost of second
rejection of its candidate, to return the
same candidate to the House, basing
such action upon the unjust aspersions
made by that body upon their integrity
and honor as law-abiding citizens. He
could not, therefore, as some suggested,
advise the people to send IL new man
on account of eligibility, without vio-
lating his conscience and disregarding
the record.
Believing, therefore, that his own
return to Congress became II matter of
Importance, as vindicatimg the peaceable
and legal acts Of a majority ot'the uote''s
oftAe district, Mr.. McCranie could not
deny the party the use Of his name or
the continuation of his efforts, although,
as he repeatedly declared to his friends,
neither his private interests nor his in
clinations would be subserved by such
a course. In fact, he made no effort
with the delegates to secure the nomi-
nation, leaving them to judge, free
from personal influences, what was the
proper course to be pursued. That
this course has been taken with good
intentions, we do not doubt, and we
sincerely trust the revision Of the par
ty policy may be in every respect sue
cess. We shall endeavor, at least, so
far as we are able to make it success
full: but while this revision was in
hand, the Convention, following, as it
did, the counsel of the National Com
mittee, should have gone further; for,
Al.