The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1870-02-09
A New Party.

There are many throughout the South who, with the
best intentions, doubt, are exercising themselves
upon the subject of new party, or rather new party
name. With all Difference to the opinion of these
men, and with proper appreciation of the motives
their action, we can but regard the move
nlent foolish in the extreme and fraught with yet
further disaster to the South by nsurng the failure of
any attempt to defeat the Radical party. We with
difficulty gained consent to enter the of
politics at ALL We more than half believed then, and
entirely believe now, that the best course for the South
people to have pursued would have been to submit
with quiet dignity to whatever of injury and insult their
ean.spirited conquerors chose to nfict A mas
terly inactivity proper role-opposing moth
ing, sanctioning nothing. As it is, efforts have
been than idle. While no material good has
suited have forfeited much of our sefrespect and
by combating have given our enemies excuse for
continued prosecutions Not only this but in the con-
test many of our own party have become disatfected,
corrupted by the hope of public
the treachery to their plant conscences by the plea
of necessity that resistance useless and that be-
hooved every to provide for his own household
though such action involved the contempt of his fell
low men and the forfeiture of his selfrespect. Had
there been effort part, the Radical party,
not requiring the aid of these renegades would have
been far from sharing with them the fruits of their
thieving And again: dignifed silence would have
strengthened at the North, in not giving our
enemies political capital wherewith to work upon the
wavering there; for poor opinion all gentlemen
must have of the Northern people, candor compes the
| cd Of
tered here and there among them.
But the day for inactivity has passed. We have al
ready soed our hands in the fray-we have forfeited
the role of hgh-soued martyrs. war to the bitter
end is being waged and there be but two parties
to the contest The question of name is of the least
possible Importance except that at the North the
mics of the Radical party arrayed undera organza
ton called Democratic What matters the motive
of their array? Be it from desire ofpower blind
partzan luminosity that has been existing for years and
rendered more bitter from every conflict; or be it
from honest desire to restore the Constitution as
was" or from sympathy with oppressed and out
ragged people, the result to US remains the same Their
enemies are our enemies Distrust our allies as we
may, we yet cannot hope to win the fight without
| them. What have we to do with the corruptions OF
the Democratic party? There is corruption in all par
ties, and will be so long human nature is as now.
We would say to these "new party" gentlemen that
the peril is too imminent the combat too desperate to
halt midway in the charge canvass the morals or
probe the motives of the squadrons charging with
the fealty or sanity of him who did so might well be
questioned.
We would say to these new party gentlemen that
the scheme is utterly vain and futile If such party
could by their numbers be potent for good surely
ly they could so reform the Southern wing of the Dem
ocrac party as to render it worthy of their association
with it. We say to them there is good time Of
manly strife for mans rights coming" Thirty-seyeu
sovereign States cannot die without struggle 1t is
impossible that the people of this country, Graded in
civilization and baptized into the liberty of the chill
dren of the living God long continue to bend the
reeborn heads before the feet of so base party
now driving the ship of State upon the shoals of
centralized despotsm. The avenging hour is on the
wng-the tramp of marching squadrons is already
borne upon the air, and the same which now
ures out with reluctance the length of the impiouE
sway of this accursed party will day pour his
decaying beams amid its ruins, and bring forth from
the land which it has overshadowed the promises of
brighter spring.
Shame upon that soldier of the army Of deliverance
who would skulk into the ranks of 'new party
| when the clash of arms shall come