New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-05-18
A PLOT FRUSTRATED.

There was no bargain and sale or other
unfairness that we have been able to dis
cover in the action of the late Democratic
State Convention in postponing nomina-
tons for short time. What the Demo-
cratic party could do last month it can do
in July with a great deal more force and
wisdom. All that is necessary is for it to
know Just what is best to be done, and
then to go forward to accomplish that
purpose. IF it had committed mistake
in April, the injury could not have been
corrected in July; as it committed none,
there is no mistake to reetify. Certainly
this is not thing to be complained of.
The party represents, or pretends that it
represents, the people; then what has it
to fret about, since the delegates that
represented the people in April will con-
tinue to represent them two months hence?
If the people change, as they have right
to do, and as it is the highest wisdom
sometimes to do, they will not be sub
iected to the double task Of undoing an
old work and doing a new one, but they
can go straight forward to accomplish the
purpose then on hand. We think the
counsel of Messrs. Fuqua, Heron, David
son.and Semmes was eminently wise and
patriotic, and just such as sensible men
would resolve upon in the present condi-
ton of affairs. The most ardent Demo-
crat can not say to-day that he would
combine with an outside influence which
proposed to give him and his friends the
victory in Louisiana; and yet if straight
ticket had been nominated last month, he
might be forced to lament that that very
fact cut him off from any hope of com
bination.
The fact of the matter was, the late State
convention was not called to make nomi-
nations, but was assembled merely as an
advisory meeting Of all the representative
men of the Democratic party. The people
had not been consulted as to their prefer
ences, and the danger that Mr.. Fuqua and
his friends felt was that a ticket might be
put forward that would be defeated by its
lack Of sympathy from certain quarters
where better and more discreet nomina-
lions would obtain that assistance which
would give it the victory. This danger
was real, and not imaginary. Certain ele-
ments in the convention were dangerously
affected with sentiments and designs that
the State holds no sympathy with and toll
Grafton for, and the success of these terma-
giants would certainly have resulted in Sc
rious disaster to the entire commonwealth.
The rule or ruin policy may do for the
desperate gamblers who bet high and lose
heavily, and then shoot themselves as
fools, but it will not do for sensible men
who put cork upon their shoes when they
enter a powder mill The Customhouse
faction is the great enemy of Louisiana,
and the effort to force the late Democratic
State Convention to make partisan and
untmely nominations found It's strongest
friends among the advocates of General |
Grant. Messrs. Fuqua, Heron and Da- |
wilson saw that this was the great danger
to their friends, and they urged delay in
order to give the Democracy an opportu- |
nifty to escape from the trap which General
Grants advocates were trying to push it |
into. And it viii be seen in the end that
they acted with consummate wisdom, and |
that they secured the State from great
disaster.