The Opelousas courier. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1852-1910, 1872-03-16
The Manifesto Of the Reform
Party.

The address of w. M. Randolph, charged with
the formation of committee for the Reform
party, does not invite criticism nor recommend
itself by any special merit. 1t is statement Of
the attitude and aims of the Reform party, but
presents no argument to convince the people that
the Democratic party is unwilling or unable to
redeem its oft repeated pledges that no effort
will be spared to rescue the State and city from
official corruption. As no principle Or political
theories are involved but the plain simple issue
is honest administration of our city and State
affairs, upon what ground would the Reform
party stands What appeals could it make to the
people. if the Democratic party should nominate
honest capable and respected men for State Off
GERS? Men whose hands are unstained by any
interest in the corrupt legislation of the past few
years and whom the people would enthusiast
cally support as standard bearersg In such a
contingency would the leaders of the Reform
party assume the responsibility of creating
dissension among our people and would they
expose themselves to the suspicion of attempt
ing to reform the Democratic party out of exis-
tence to subserve personal ends or to advance
the interests of Gov. Warmoth now supposed
to be our common enemy? Far be it from our
purpose to arraign the motives of the present
leaders of this Reform movement. We commend
their efforts in awakening from political somno-
lency the wealthy classes of our people. We ap-
plaud this newborn zeal to discharge the COM
| mon duties of citizenship. That the influence
of wealth and responsibility should at last be
felt in the direction and control of public affairs
We accept as good omen. But we caution pru-
dence and, above ALL moderation. The creation
and management of a new party are attended
with great difficulties and dangers, particularly
when this new party proposes to march on lines
parrllel with powerful party already in the
field, and when the process OF absorption is at
tempted. Unfounded criticism self-asserted su-
periority, and untried popularity, must not be
considered as outweighing the earnestness, the
power, the prestige of the Democratic party.
True to the traditions of their party Democrats
say that they will abide by the decision of their
~ hot afc;n he
claimed, it will be time enough to arraign the
course and policy of the party. What has been
done up to this time is to call convention to
whom viii be remitted the party in its integrity,
with its efficiency and its machinery. But that
time political sagacity will easily appreciate
the temper of the people, the difficulties Of the
situation and the true status of the Reform
party. If Governor WarmOth has secret friends
and supporters in the Reform party they will
have thrown off their disguise. If the leader.
ship of the Reform party, through ms-manage
ment and want of political skill is to lapse into
the outstretched hands ofhis sycophantic hench
but whose brains are working for his personal
advancement, the fact will be known. We
warn those respectable gentlemen that this is a
serious danger. The Democratic party will not
incur the slightest risk in that direction 1t has
proclaimed its determination to overthrow this
Infamous man it knows his mode of warfare,
it has watched the cunning of his secret snp
porters and it renders service to the Reform
party whose alliance it neither courts nor re
jects by giving them this timely warning. This
danger becomes the more apparent since tho
Governor has had himself interviewed" fol
what purpose the public do not clearly under
stand. Let the Reform party prepare itself t.
reject as an insult any overture made by the
Governor for he will make none to the Demo.
: cratic party or the Grant party: Let those who
guide the Reform party hold the reins with 9
firm grasp. Let them beware that from the
country their Convention is not flooded by dele
gates representing the pap" influence of Hi
whose abuse of the Democratic party is by NJ
means intended to promote the interests AMI
, success of the Reform party, and when the
time for political action comes, and the Reform
party shall have unexpectedly assumed thu
proportions of strength to entitle it to nego
tiate, it will have the moral power of being un
polluted by unfit political association.--Bee.