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

''"'tn vi SVd ana river. IeemlnT. no.
bic record, compressed within the brief
space Of some half a century; alike
worthy and commemorative of the
'untelriied,' "the lion hearted De-
mncracy,' and tie genius and states
naislip of their illustrious and intie-
pa leaders; for in those days great
men thiouged the councils of the ma
ton. jefferson. the father of the DEM
ocr"tic party, thought and planned for
1t; Clay Numbered his eloquence and
lnvertlve in support aud defense uf it
Jackson dauntlessly strove. and wrest-
led tor it ). Polk faithfully reflected and
obey ed its impulses; and Benton, as
lis avenging spirit, hung me,eilesSly
upon the flanlS of its enemies, neither
giving nor asking quarter. Tlnly, in
those days the conflicts of statesmen
were the conflicts of giants, not for the
tinsel OF place nor the spells of office,
Int for the need of noble present.
hence. The age took its character
from these men, and, with their exit, it
closed in the full frnition of the first
Democratic programme.
Pansing to reflect ii moment upon
this programme, it will be seen that,
so far as it was simply domestic and
administrative in its character, it was
based upon aud limited by the Consti-
tuition. having for its particular object
the promotion of the social and po!i'i-
cal wel,-being oi the white man. 1t
assumed that the government belonged
to white men, and was TO be admins
tered in their interests. In practice, it
Injured tn the benefit of white men as IL
privileged aud dominant class. Still
it was -cminently succeasful, and
conducted the country with unprece-
dented rapidity to a climax of prosper
ity and power. Still, the Democratic
party might have maintained lis as
ccmlancy. hut for the lack of compe-
tent leader. It's first programme
closed in the second act of our national
history, a new programme became me-
cessary to engage its energies and am.
bition, That programme was want
| ing. The race of statesmen had been
succeeded by q race of trimming poll
tlclans, incapable to conceive or dis
creetly TO execute wise and far
reaching SYSTEM of policy. The ncces-
Si'y of progress us The condition tn par
~ discipline, success and prestige was
il truth unknown to their philosophy.
So. too, the lesson that discomfort, dis
sension and disaifrctiOn are the evil
| progeny of inactive parties rs well as
| idle camps. OF course, the part of
these preten,lerS was but q stereotype
and ehearsal of the iIimemorial REGARD
of their leaionary prototypes. Fo.
them not TO have been busy, bnstling
and meddling = declamatory, short
sighted and hlundering-prndigal ui
prom ses and piotestations of selt-sac-
rifising devotion, would lake been for
! them not to be themselves They were
all these. The story of their shifting
eXpedients and time serving devices is
written in the disappointment and dis
asters which pointed them. Superior
| ity WAS offensive, cantlor distasteful t.
! them, both to be treated Us crime
and punished by ostracsn from the
panty hence, ADLER neu than them.
selves. when not discreditel by them
were banished from its fold. Theirs
WAS the reign Of the demagogues. =
They ate Of the forbidden fruit, aut
entieed their followers to do likewise
! They uiisealed the fountain of bite
waters and strife, aud haired deluget
tie land. The slavery question wa.
opened b, the repeal of the Missour
compromise and the substitution of tlt
Kansas Nebraska act. Tins SLAYER.
and freedom. slave labor aud free lit
Dor were brnuglt face to face as Nor
tai cntnbatants. This was the gauntlr
nf battle which all the great Statesmen
then passed, and passing away ha,
warned against. Jefferson had dcple
Gated it with gloomy forebudines-
Clay had. sought to avert 1t by tryin!
, to lead the people of Kentucky to mi
lateeby example scheme of gradaa
emancipation. Alas, however, til
f Democratic parry was placed in a falls
position. It's pfotcsti'ions, as ii body
awaited nothing. IL WAS made respon
Sib!e for the removal of a legal barrie
ii the spread of slavery. Opportunit
. thns and now tempting, the opponent
of that party, melted and led by exile
from its ranks, caught the step Of pre-
grc>s lost by il, and pressing into thei
service the literature, aud in large pai
the schools and churches of the coui
try as auxiiiries, directed their ad
vance to the ultimatum of universe
q freedom.
The position of the Democratic part
was exposed TO many disadvantage
p 1t deprived them of the external syn
: patay always accorded by an enlight
:. ened age as the due of IL liberal party