The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1871-09-20
Forward !!

campaign is to be one free from the
wire-pulling and control Of the polit-
ical demagogue. It will more resem-
BILE the irresistible popular uprising
which swept Harrison and Tyler into,
Office in 1870. This is particularly
true of the South, where mis-govern-
ment and oppression have carried
their abuses home to every mans
Preside, and where long forbearance
has reused the people to a sense of
wrong and indignity which, while it
will no longer brook control, bears
within itself an all-powerful enthusi-
asm. We need not step beyond the
limits of our own State to be satisfied
of this fact. Yesterdays Geographic
dispatch from the Northern portion
of Louisiana evinces too plainly that
the tactics of party machinery are
too slow for the people, who already
scent the battle, and are moving into
columns without captains.
Without any disposition to cavil,
or even to question the policy of the
great Democratic leaders, whose in
clination to nurse the smouldering
element until nearer the time of po-
litical strife may be founded upon the
best Judgment, we still think they
are strangely callous to one great
obvious truth the entire teachings of
history has substantiated, that is, the
necessity of being guided by circum-
stances instead of attempting to con-
troll them. There is in all communi-
ties subtle, inherent power which,
once reused to action, it is impossi-
BILE to either restrain or ignore, and
the best that judgment, allied with
intellect, can do is to guide it. 1t
rises like an exhalation in the dead
of night and sweeps over the land
like an angy hurricane in days OF
profound peace. All successful rul-
-ers and politicians have recognized
this eide in the affairs of men," 1t
has given birth to many an axiom in
: which the necessity of sleepless vigi-
lance has been declared. It has en-
dorsement in the history and often
the words of all who have risen tc
power, whether as heroes or as states.
men. We have seen it within the
past two years empty two European
thrones, the fugitives from which
still live to point its moral. Such g
tide is now rising in this country
popular movement in behalf of indi
vidual liberty. Its portentous signs
are everywhere visible, and the PEG
pie of Northern Louisiana in recog
nizing it and moving into line with
out waiting the action OF their lead
ers, are properly wiser than we are IL
the larger cities, where so much OF
c local character is constantly occurring
= to distract attention. It is useless
1 therefore, to- delay; we must eithe1
g lead or follow, and only they are full
1 ly up to the spirit of the times wht
recognize the campaign as fully open
ed.
The time has arrived for the tru'
: people of the State to assert them
e selves, to throw themselves into tn
g breach through which the plumber
e ers pour to sack our citadel. Al
: sensible men, white or black, full,
admit the impossibility of preserving
our State or city from bankruptc,,
i under another years rule similar t.
n the two or three we have just passe'
% through. We are now called upol
d to fight battle Of far more impo,
e lance than mere political supremacy
1t one in defence of our means, our in
t. dustries, our good name and GU
Is honor. Louisiana is to-day mer
50 sinkhole of venality and corruption
III where vice, sin and iniqaity are q
an open premium against all til
homely virtues. Now or never sh
- must be rescued or disenthrallet
J. Her traitorous foes are, thank Goo
N disheartened and disorganized; the
st can lay claim to no single redeemin
N virtue, and in the end must fail,
g our people are true to themselve
re their country and their God in tn
/ the day of sore emergency.
- The PRISONER THAT VALLANDIGHA
IS WAS DEFENnINa EscAPEs.-At midnigl
S. the fire bells rang an ALARM. and
l. was found that seven prisoners ha