New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-10-11
THE DEMOCRATIC SHIP WATERLoeGED

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events Of the current week have tended to
resolve those doubts almost into certainty.
1t is conceded that one Of the prime
essentials Of a political party is an OBJ
ject to be accomplished, principle to be
wrought out, and to achieve which all
those favorable to its success are banded
together. under the management Of lead
ers, who, in their turn, are governed by
the wishes Of a majority Of the party.
Now while the Democratic politicians may
be credited with an object to be gained,
they are without principle to work for.
Their object, unhappily for unity, tends
to disorganize them and array brother
against brother, and friend against friend
The sole point toward which they are all
striving is the possession and control Of
the public Offices. In this pursuit there
are four or five well defined factions ar
rayed against each other as rivals. Either
has candidates more than enough for all the
offices, but neither has votes enough to get
them witha1t enlisting the aid of others.
And as neither faction is actuated BY any
desire to benefit anybody or anything but
themselves, they are split up into hostile
divisions, each expecting the others to
yield, but without being able to assign any
more sufficient reason for it than the vague
and unsatisfactory one Of the necessity Of
unity to defeat the Republicans. The Re-
formers, the Liberals and the Conserya-
tives are all divisions or fragments Of the
late Democratic party, and one is as much
entitled to the designation as either Of the
others. The two first mentioned have,
however, changed the name as a piece Of
strategy, in the shope Of attracting votes
from the Republican party. But in this
ruse they have not been successful. They
stand to-day before the people, confront
ing each other in menacing attitudes, in
all their original weakness. One party
boasts of its wealth and responsibility,
while the other two defantly point to their
muster rolls and challenge either Of their
rivals to attempt to get along without
their assistance
Until the election last week the regular
parish Democracy, headed by Archibald
president, supposed themselves
strong enough to maintain separate Or
ganization, and accordingly popular
election was ordered for the choice of |
delegates. But the Liberals appeared in
the field at the same time as separate
and polled an appalling vote.
When, therefore, the party claiming to be
he regular Democracy met in convention
n Turner Hall they found their chief
,ival at the Mechanics Institute, sent
here, too, BY thousands Of voters upon
whose support the Democracy is entirely
dependent for the success of it's nomi-
ices. This was very disheartening
md paralyzing fact to stare a convention
to represent the people in the
ace. It unnerved them for action and
actually stopped proceedings. For what
vas the use Of making nominations by
nen who did not represent majority of
he popular vote upon which the nomi-
lees will have to rely.
For the first time in the history Of the
in this city, then, regularly
hosen convention. assembled to transact
'arty business, is afraid to proceed with
he work before them. They find them
elves in a very embarrassing position. If
hey assert their prerogatives as delegates
+ their constituency, they ALLEVIATE voters
pom whose support they counted. If
hey bow to the dictation of boilers from
heir own ranks, they give up the vital
9atures of party organization, recognize
leir rivals as equals, and subside at once
ito the inferior position of factionists
ONE such views as these doubtless con
oiled the Turner Hall convention on
Fednesday night, when, instead Of pro-
eeding to make nominations, as many Of
le delegates declared they would, and as
le majority evidently wished to do, they
ljourned till to-day. This adjournment !.
as in itself d confession of weakness
i'd a recognition of the attitude of the
liberals, The only course that is now
# them is to disband and accept the
rms of fusion which were so arrogantly
jected by the parish committees in Sep
mber The great Democracy finds itself I
such a condition that it can not assume
e airs Of party any longer. It is com
lied to suspend its action in administer b
g its own affairs until others have been v
nsulted. First, the Liberals put in Il
'mand that the terms of division of the Y
fees demanded by them before they il
ade such a strong showing at the polls, h
others more stringent, shall be com I
led with. Then there are the Reform it
S to conciliate. For neither of these n
rites show the least inclination to sur e
nder their separate organization, each c,
idly proclaiming their preference that 81
e Republicans shall succeed rather than Il
at the Democratic boilers and traders h
all profit by their perfdy. 81
And the personnel of the regular Demo- d
atie convention is a subject Of invidious u
mment The delegates are not of the Il
CHEST type as to character. This fact is Il
Iy recognized by their political friends, 1
% have given the Turner's Hall gather y
: the equivocal soubriquet the Cab ?
!,