The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1872-08-31
Who is to Blame


--
From the ThibodeauX Sentinel, August PAL
Some three months ago the Democrat
ic Party he'd q State Convention in the
Opera House in New Orleans, which
made a vain effort to form a union with
the Reform Party.
That convention contained many of
the ablest and pTrest men in the State,
and it was publicly asserted by the
speakers on that occasion, that, unless
all the elements of opposition to Gluntism
could be united, the Radical Party would
carry the State. Strange as it may APP
pear, after the effort to form a onnec
ton with the Reform Party failed, that
convention actually nominated a
straight out Democratic Ticketfor State
Officers. The result is we'll known.
The nomination fell upon the ears of
the people without producing any more
effect than a leaf falling from a decay
ing tree in Autumn.
Democratic nominees, although good
and reliable men, did not suit the vO-
tiers of Louisiana. The people felt in
their hearts, that the Democratic Party
was poWerless, that it was utterly I'M
able to carry the election and insane to
imagine any other result under it's Ban
ner than disastrous defeat. What did
the Democratic Central Committee
and leaders do2 Did they accept the
+ situation and prepare to unite with
the young and rapidly growing Liberal
Party in redeeming the State from
the clutches of Grants imperial sway 2
Did they evince enough patriotism to
place the interests Of the State above
that of their party9 Oh, no! that was
not Louisiana Democracy, neither was
it Louisiana Reform as understood by
the Reform Party which had not a soil
tary man in its ranks, who was not q
Democrat formerly.
Failing, as every circumstance goes
to show, i'll forming a union with the
Kellogg Party, the sO-called RefOrmers
went over to their ancient friends, and
Democracy with all the fervOr that an
anxious mamma would exhibit at the re-
turn Of a Vagrant and worthless son.
Then without any authority from the
people, without inviting the country
members Of the Central Committee,
without notifying any one or any body,
sixteen men, members of the Cen
trail Committee Of the Reform and De-
mOcratiC Party, met in some obscure
room in New Orleans and proceeded to
form, what they f%acctiOusly called a
United State Ticket, and in direct
violation of one of their resolutions in
convention nominated an Electoral
Ticket.
Then commenced as pretty a system
of Democratic tactics as has been wit
messed in 30 years. The Picayune
opened out is batteries, and branded
every man who would not swallow their
ticket as being a defender and supper
ter Of WarmOth, the Democratic Cen
trail Committee proclaimed every man,
who had nerve to think for himself a
Traitor, and the Bee, denounced every
| ness to choose his W policy as having
been subsidized by Warmoth. In every
edition of the Democratic organs Won
could hear the crack of the Democratic
whip, and the pompOus yell Of the driv-
Ell as was the custom in the days of
yNre.
But the people would not drive-the
lash ceased to have its terrOrS-the
commands of the leaders were laughed
at and Democracy finding itself unable
to ruIe, gracefully fell back to its uner-
ring policy-tO ruin.
The interests of the masses, the pros
perity of the State, the happiness Of the
people were nothing so long as DemOc-
racy could not rule, but everything
must go to ruin.
This Party neve intended to unite
with any other party to prevent the
success of the Kellogg ticket.
When the Convention on the 9Th of
August met, they drove Judge Beattie
and other native born sons of Louisiana
from the stand by the hoOtings and in
suits of their miniOns, and the princi-
pal organ of that Party, stated in one of
its leaders, the next morning, that pub
lie speakers who are ho0ted from the
stage must yield in " mild submission
A union with the Liberal Party could
have been made in "a hours if they had
desired it.
Asking the three principal offices and
the adoption Of their Platform which
does not mention Greeley and Brown
was not making any propositions to-
wards reconciliation, di1ly dallying for
a whole week, hoping to wear out the
patience Of the country delegates was
another one of their tactics which COM
pletely failed. The Elections in this
State are probably lost to Greeley and
Brown, and the Kellogg ticket may be
the winning one. The Democratic Par
ty can have all the honor Of such re-
suits.