The Opelousas courier., 1871-08-12
The Next Political Ga Ral paiSn

Before many months shall have elapsed the
people of Louisiana will bc on the eve ot onr "i
the most exciting political campaigns which
have ever been fought on her soil What prep
erations have been made for the fight! Wh u
war hus been determined upon 10y we'll organ
ized people the first thing to be donc is to select
competent man to plan the con'lalsh and
command the forces. No battle WAS ever won
by any nation whose forces were not combined
and directed by singe brain and L single Will.
Divided courscls have always ruined thr best "f
canses. Ii the enemy have at thcir head an
able leader. it becomes only the lnurc necessary
that he should he met by leader competent I"
grape with him. 1t is not every man who can
give confidence to an army. 1t Is not every
man who can bring out the resources OF the
people who are called upon t" sustain that army
I'm leader of meii, - combination ot MANY quail
tiles is required, but We intend now to ennmtr-
ate o,.ly some uf them 1t will be admitted that
the first requisite in general Of an army or ii
leader in q political calnpa gu Is honesty "i pnr-
Hose, fidelity to his followers. After that comes
the warlike spirit, energy. tlcVotedm~s skill
and experience. A political battle Was never
yet won by pursuing the policy Of dett.nsc The
policy OF aggressis'l, that Ii OF carrying the war
into the euemys country, is almost always sue
cessfu In politics may say not only "'ihost
always successful, but lnrarlah'v SO. he r's-
bian ls,iicy may succeed IL u ply nleal contest: :
bat tie instances arc rare indeed ~ il >h'f'H-l
political war being conducted according I" H'''n
u theory, Political battles arc not Won ny f"ri-
ing of the attacks of the enemy or by retrrhtin3
before him. III andacity be more than half TIC
hsttle when the weapons are powder and ban
and steel, it 10 more than three-fourths ot the
battle when the weapons are those of u moral
character. Powder and ball and steel ii" '-'t
always carry the day, but truth when w'rtt''
by 10 practsed hand cannot II" borne down. l''"
ts;sicy of aggression, of carrying the WIZ INT"
the cnemys country, also reveals the e:r'ny ;
weakness, which is never discovered by waiting
for his attack.
We ask again what preparations have the "t'-
lwue1sts Of rcpublicani>'n IN Louisiana, h..i' |"
defeat the combinations ui its rrcc"clols, cum
ming and perfectly unscrnpulo,ls leader, t'oF
Warmth fany have been made We arc ls
noreut Of them. While the Republican patty is
thoroughly organized and compact. their "rl'"-
nents are sliHunitesl and unorgHi ICED. every iii
being loft free ta gu where he rtcascs and ahi-
ate with whom l,e Tleases. And War,n"tl! l''s
not leen slow to take advantage of the state
of disiutcsration and weakness in which h.
found u.s. Satan always plies the .ctildrc'' "i
'nen with the arts of the se.ltcer. before he at
fempts to drive them into his service. 80 War
moth has sent his eniSsarirs into the Dfli'"-
cratic camp, and has distributed among some
weak ones share OF the gootl things ut his dis
ros;.l knowing that that in equivalent to an
abandonment of their principles, and, like his
prototyr he is credited with having taken good
security, in the shape of blank letters Of resi-.
nation, Or something equally binding that they