The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1872-03-13
Shall We Have an Early Demo-
cratic Convention?

The so-called Liberal Republicans O
Missouri (as already noticed) hav
called National Convention to NEE
at Cincinnati on the 9th of May-al
most month earlier than the meetins
of the regular Philadelphia Conven
ton. 1t seems pretty clear-at leas
the contrary is by no means clear
that the movers of this Liberal Re
publican Convention MEAN to defca
Grants denomination if they can, b,
the nomination of some more accepta
bic Republican, whose nomination alst
by the regular Convention will be at
tempted to be forced.
But do the leaders in this movement
mean anything more? Do they NEAR
to carry Grants defeat to the polls
should he be renominatedr These are
important questions for the Democracy
to settle, before deciding to hinge the
calling of a Democratic National Con.
vcntion upon what shall be done a,
Cincinnati. And whether the Cincin.
natl Convention shall nominate n can
didate to be supported at the polls, OF
merely to drive Grant from the track,
and in case of failure in the latter to
haul off its own candidate, or not, it is
equally imperative upon the Demo
cratic National Committee to call a
Democratic Convention. and to do it
without delay. If action is delayed
until the determination of the Cincin-
natl Convention be definitely known,
whatever that determination may be,
there will result to the Democratic or
ganization irreparable decentralization,
which alone may give the election to
Grant There is no one thing so dis
printing as halting in uncertainty.
1t is we'll known to all men of even
the most ordinary political sagacity,
that political organizations relax after
each successive election, and are only
given renewed vigor, their unity in
creased and their discipline strengthen
ed, by having a regularly nominated
leadership. The calling of a conven-
ton is the first bugle-sound to mar
shall for battle; and a ticket in the
field is the order to forward march,
What has been here said is especially
true of political parties in the minority,
or ont of power.
IF tho National Democratic Commit
tee is paralyzcd, or some of it's men,
bers arc becoming treacherous, the
people and the press should them
selves take the reins, and call a con-
ventinn. Whether the So called liberal
Republican leaders are most intent-or
only intent-upon defeating Grants
denomination, and have no sympathy
in common with the Democracy, or
not, it is certain that the Democratic
party must furnish the great body of
voters to defeat Grants reelection as
President. And the earlier the Demo-
cratic National Convention is called,
the more effective for battle will its
organization be; and the more effec-
tive it's forces, in any emergency, the
more certainly its success, with the
candidate supported by it.
We do not insist that the candidate
to be supported by the Democracy
shall have been a lifelong Democrat.
We only insist that he shall be states
man of settled convictions, in harmony
with the true theory of the Govern
ment-a man of principle, of sterling
integrity ofcharacter, and of conspicu-
GUS honesty. Snch candidate, in
whatever ranks he may have done
battle longest, will receive the united
support of the Democracy and the
cheerful support of at least ten per
cent, of those who lave heretofore
voted the Republican ticket. 1t is not
enough to beat Grant; the country
wants statesman of broad views, and
an honest, economical administration
of the Government Minneapolis
Democrat.