The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1871-12-02
4 National Conference-An Impor-
tant Suggestion.

says:
Our proposition is that Mr..
Belmont, the Chairman of the
National Democratic Executive
Committee, acting under the au-
thority and by the advice of this
body, shall, at the earliest posi-
BILE moment, issue a call for q Ma
tional Democratic Conference, or,
if the title should suit better, a
National Political Conference, to
be held not later than the 10Th Of
March, for the purpose of taking
into consideration, not merely tho
interests Of the Democratic party,
but for reviewing the political
condition and prospects of the
country, and taking steps for par
ty reorganization on new princi-
pies or policy adapted to the
times.
The body which we propose
might be, if the Democratic lead
ers please, in the nature of a pre-
liminary National Conference to
the Presidential Convention of
next July; but the call for it
should be SO drawn up as to give
it a far wider scope, and far great
er freedom, than the regular par
ty convention can possibly have.
This call should provide for full
representation from all the States
of the Union. It should not be
addressed exclusively to Demo-
Gratis, but to all parties who are
willing to take part in such q con-
ference. It should make provis-
ion for a thorough and FREQ dis
cussion of all issues of the times,
and should insure the fair consid-
Grafton of all practical PROPOSE
tons properly brought forward.
The Conference should be en-
powered to establish a basis for
party reorganization, to announce
principles for popular acceptance,
and to adopt measures for future
action. Ample time should be
provided for its deliberations and
proceedings; and we think that
its sessions should, in any event,
cover up at least the period of a
week.
After suggesting Cincinnati as
proper place, the Commercial
proceeds
1t is absurd to say that matters
can all be .fixed up at the Pres
idential Convention in July.
There is no discussions of princi-
pies possible at that Convention.
1t would not be allowed, and
there is no time for it. Besides,
it would then be too late to take
such action as we have proposed.
for the preliminary conference.
In fact, with the party demoral-
lied and disorganized as it now
is, up to the meeting of the
Presidential Convention, and with
the campaign beginning immedi-
ately after its adjournment, it's
platform and it's candidates would
be smashed in a way which would
make them tho laughing stock of
the whole country! Still farther,
the Presidential Convention will
be strictly. party body, admit
ting only Democratic delegates,
and excluding all those other ele-
ments which, according to our
project, should be invited to par
ticipate in the proceedings of the
National Conference. 1t is only
that any politician
should take these things into
account to see the absolute ne
cessity for the March Conference,
and to realize the folly which the
Democratic leaders will display
if they stand with folded hands
and imbecile stare till the time of
the July Convention.
We need not try to indicate
the results which the Conference
might produce, or attempt to
show how, by Il wise course OF
it might lay the founda-
ton for a new political power in
the country. But it is easy to
see that between the period of
its meeting in March, and tho as
sembling of the Presidential Con-
vention in July, the people would
have ample time to study the
principles it had established, and
there would be opportunity for
capitalization around. tho new
organization of all the clements
for which it had attraction.
We need not at this time at
tempt to Indicate the subjects
which tho March Conference
would necessarily discuss, or tho
platform of principles it should
present to the people for accep-