The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1871-10-14
The Reformers and New Departnrists'


held in some parishes of this State.
We hear that posters have been
stuck up in some of the wards OF
this parish calling for similar
(ward) meetings. There is a re-
form party, also, of the Republican
persuasion, in the United States.
SO, i'll this respect, the two parties
stand equal. In fact all political
parties have always protested to be
in favor of reform. Mr.. Greeley is
in favor of reforming the office of
President, on the one term prin-
ciplc. All the outs are in favor
of reforming things SO that they
can Get in. But We notice that in
| those States where the Democratic
! party has taken "the New Depart
nrc." they do not hold reform meet
ingS, but Democratic meetings: and
they think the Democratic party
can institute reforms when it comes
into power. Taking "the New De
parture' is considered in those
States II sufficient guaranty to the
colOrcd voters that the amendments
to the constitution and the recon
struction laws will not be abolished
if the Democratic party should sue
coed; and that if this assurance,
and nominating colorcd men to
office, Oh tile Democratic ticket,
will not divide the cOlOrcd vote, it
is useless to resort to other cxpc-
dents. But in those States where
the Democratic party has not open
~ and avowedly taken "the New
Departure" they drop the good old
: word Democrat" and call on all
voters in favor Of reform to meet
for the purpose, &c. This reform
party is simply a dodge to get
around taking "the New Depar-
ture;" and it will fail to divide the
Republicans, for they too are in
favor Of reform. The question be-
fore the Democratic party is, wheth-
cr they will take "the New Depar-
ture" or not. That is, will the
Democratic party accept the amend
=, ments to the constitution, in good
faith, and not repeal them nor at
. tempt to repeal them, if it should
f come into power?
+ For more than ten years the
;. Democratic party at the North has
2 been in the minority. Many leaders
t of the party there believed that it
was kept in the minority since the
5 adoption Of the amendments to the
, constitution, on account of the par.
/ ty being pledged or having threat
!, ened to repeal them. Amy party
would rather be in the majority
: than to be in the right; for what
1 good can a party out of power dc
: itself or anybody else? So Mr.
D Vallandigham, one of the great
5 leaders of the party, and who was
. as extreme a Democrat as William
Y l.. Yancey ever was, had the De
mocracy of Ohio to adopt resolu
| tons accepting the amendments
i'll good faith. Since that time near,
=. ~ all the prominent Democratic
$ leaders at the North, and most OF
+ the States that have held Demo
t cratic conventions, have taken
this "New D%eparture.". 1t is true
{ that it was q complete back down
; from the previous stand the party
had taken. But popular sentiment
had changed, and the party had tc
t change or die. This departure was
f considered better than no depar
D ture at all, if it was stealing part o.
the Republican platform. The Re
publicans had succeeded, and it was
+ initiating the successful. tactics O.
@ the enemy. Napoleon told his sold
icrs to fire after the manner of thu
Prussians. after he was defeated a
Wcissenbourg. The Northern DE
d mocracy go in far winning, and the,
r. try to adopt a platform favorable tt
success. They 60 in for the same
# thing at the South; but the leader
O of the party, with whom winning
# means holding Office, have sqcl
conflicting elements to content
with, that it is difficult to adopt
- platform Of political principles tina
% will please the rank and file, tina
will keep the whites together ant
e obedient to their will, and gail
'e enough blacks to give them the ma
!, ,iority. There r a great man,
" incorrigible old gentlemen who
like the Abbeville Independent
o are Externally Democratic;" but
e unlike that paper, they are not i
= favor of Hon. A. II. Stephens 70