The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1872-07-13
THE FORLORN- HOPE.

THE F0RLORN- HOPE.
Mr.. Emile Lasere, President Demo
cratic State Central Committee, has is
sued an address to the people of Loui-
siana "by order Democratic State Cen
tral Committee" in which he takes
strong ground in favor of the old order
of things, and against any movement
that might prejudice the integrity Of the
Democratic organization. He affrms
that "upon the arm of that party alone
depends the deliverance Of the people
both of the Union and of the State" that
"a spirit of perfect confidence and en-
thusiasm is returningt to the hearts Of all
true men," Democrats? p that the De-
mocratic party of Louisiana stands to-
day firm, strong, united"
After these startling propositions
which, it strikes us, might find fit paral-
lels only in the writings of Baron Mum
chausen-the address rehashes, in the
usual d. declaration of Independence style,
the burdens and grievances under which
the people labor, all which are true
enough, but have already been repeated
dd aGMseam in a less exaggerated and
more effective style by the city and
country press, and by all the committees
and political bodies that have preceded
this one during the last four or five years.
But the hight of absurdity is reached
when the venerable President gets off
these brave words:
Regard him as a traitor who speaks
to you of victory and security beneath
any other than the historic bannerOf the
Democratic PARTY"
1t would be folly to attempt any Sc
rious argument with the respectable old
gentleman who, as the spokesman of a
few other gentlemen, issues such an
empty pronunciamento to the people
of the.State of Louisiana
We speak advisedly when we say that
such sentiments will find no response in
the Democratic party, exceptamong that
small minority of impracticables, whose
counsels have, for all time, ceased to
control the affairs of any great party in
this country. The present members OF
the State Democratic Central Committee
do not represent the Democratic party
of the State-the convention that ap-
pointed them to their present position
has itself been repudiated, and the ticket
put forth has collapsed.
The same animus that dictated the
course of that convention, controlledthe
composition of the State Committee.
How then can Mr.. Lasere assume tc
speak for anybody excepthimself? His
address would have been entitled to a lit
tie more consideration nithad containeC
one single practical suggestion. HI
says that 'sour candidates are pure, able
and honest True enough, but Whe1
he winds up with the assurance tha
+" victory is certain, '''common sense PEG
pie naturally wish to know some Of thu
facts, figures and measures by which TIN
victory is to be Won. For instance h
does not attempt tx explain how the hia
tus caused by the deeiension of Mr.. Ju
mel and Mr.. Ogden is to be filed. VIII,
has the authority to substitute othe
names in theirsteadon the State ticket
Let some skillfulprofessor of politica
legerdemain explain us this riddle.
Calls for mass meetings signed by tn
J most substantial citizens have been pub
lished in all parts of ttihe State and il
) many parishes mass meetings lave al
ready been held, "for the purpose Q
ratifying the nomination of Horac
Greeley and b. Graft Brown, and tn
adoption of the Cincinnati Platform a
embodying principles best calculated t
$ rescue our oppressed and down-trodde
g country from the Tninous misrule Of tn
party now in power And all are inv
] ted, who favor the movement, withoU
9 regard to race. color Or previous cond
ton / poltics.
] Its strange-not strange either, bI
!, unreasonab1e-that some of the die-iT
I he-ditch Democracy, who have SO lo
complained of the bad condition Of
country, now there is an opportunity
] lettering its condition, will not get
: out Of their ditch andhe1p do it. "
ing goes right, unless it goes their
and that way is right even If it
to defeat oil something worse.
! no honesty except in their own pc
] kind Of politics, and they have ma
lied I'LL that and left none for an
else.
& The Custom House Guard
d assumes TO be the oFga1 ut the q
people Of this State, but q
. come out in d new rolethas
q ted itself the organ ofthe Kuk
d parish. When the KHilux 20
|, ored men and the JogRNAL Ices
8 them, this KukiH Citizens ECU