The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1871-12-13

its supremacy, and finished by the
sword What had been begun by pole
mics. Slavery fell here, sharing the
fate that had overtalien it in France
and England, and TINS history repeat
ed itself. Considering the disparity o.
the opposing forces, the result could
hardly have been otherwise, nor the
logical sequence of the adaptation of
the national constitution to the new
order of things.
The third act of the pnblic history
accomplished, what is the duty de-
volved by it upon the Democratic
party? Is it to ignore the Strpeudnus
fact, the voice of which still fills the
worla7 Is it to go backward to slave
ry? Is it To stand sullen and capti-
"usly atject9 Or is it 10 hasten for
ward TO the goal of freedom? To state
the question isto answer it. There is
but one rational course for us to pur-
sue !; that is, to actively and energeti-
cally give our influence and co-opera-
ton for The purpose of developing and
consolidating the new order of things
in harmony with the Constitution as it
is. This is the dictate of propriety and
patriotism. Any other course would
he as senselcss as criminal-must ag-
gravate the license of usurpati0n-the
evils of misrulc--must be as unjust to
the black man as unworthy of the white
man. No other course is at all tolera-
BILE or admissible.
This settled, the next question is.
what policy may be made most effec-
tual to this end by the Democracy !?
Should it be a dictatOrial and leading
one or il secondary and concilatory
one? Ills, us II practical question,
must be decided in the light of exist
ing circumstances. If our power as =;
party was nnhroken; if it was equal
to the new task devolved. I should an
hesitptinsly say apply it directly under
Democratic auspices to the perform
ance of it. l would, in that case, do
so, because then our trust would be in
ourselves, and we would be free TO
choose orr own Instruments and means.
But rs the case is Othcrwise-as we
are bnt Il minority party-onr course.
to I've etfcctual, must lie different. We
must try to accomplish hy the aid of
the Liberal Republicans what we wete
unable to effect 10y ourselves. We
must encourage and support the in
ci,ient revolt of the Liberal Republi-
cans. We should even co operate with
them in the election of an honest and
Capable man of their number to the
Presidency. and i'll the election of all
uf their candidates for office, from the
highest to the lowest, in all of the Re-
publican States and districts, asking
only in rctarn the reciprocal support by
them of the Democratic candidates in
the Democratic States and DISTRICTS
Thus would amicable and trnstful re-
lations be established between them
and us. Tins would union and
strength succeed to discord and weak
ness among the friends of good gov
eminent. Thus would the Executive
he restored to worthy liauds, supported
by Consiitution-abiling majority in
Congress. Thus would the reign OF
nepotism. imbecility and shameless
corruption be brought to an end. and
the death knell of imperialism and
lmpcrialists struck.
All! but it may be answered by
some honest but perhaps over-zealous
Democrat, that this would be an un.
worthy compromise of party pride am
consistency that it would prevent the
rally of the Democracy as a distinct
aud independent organization, with the
colorS flying aud drumhs beating npor
the field of political glatliation; that
it would preclude their appearance in
the political arena as the auspicatOrs
of their own canse and led on by theil
own selected chiefs Grant it. Yet,
reply that parties as public instrument
taliies are only legitimate when the,
are capable capable of maintainin.
the right and resisting the wrong
When they cease to he effectnal 10
that purpose, they cease to be useful
That, us shown by its successive anl
multiplied defeats, is unfortunately tn
present condition of the Democrats
party. Hence, it follows that what o
good its members cannot do collective
ly, as party, they, as individuals
should assist Others to do, They ma,
do this without abandoning their or
ganization or their principles. Nay
for all this, they may preserve thei
t organization to act independently fo
the public good in more favorabl
times. Providing for the present, tn
| future will probably provide for itsel
Sufficient unto the day is the ev
thereof. If we can save the coun,r
. by an act of party abnegation, the re
suit would be none the less hOnOvabl
to us or valuable and legitimate j
itself. Whatever the means to til