The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1872-03-20
Is q New Party Necessary

|
ton SO complex in its character and in
volving such mighty interests-the in
terests of the whole State-was sub
mitted to a mass meeting of citizens OF
New Orleans and without any posi-
BILE, consultation with citizens of the
other Parishes of the State, was on the
spot considered and decided. A State
convention of the new party was called
to meet ut New Orleans to make State
nominations, and the Parishes were in
vited to send delegates.
Here is party called by local meet
ing to assemble in State convention to
make State nominations, when there is
no organization yet made, no commit
tees organized, no bond of union with
the other Parishes of the State. The
call being made for State convention,
the local meeting appoints State cen
trail committee with a president at its
head. The machine is put in motion {;
a third party is heralded, and not the
slightest consideration has been given
to the complex proposition of which
mention mas been made above.
The creation of third party, advo-
eating the very reforms which the Dem
ocratic party has been advocating so
strenuously heretofore, implies the ne
cessity of disbanding the latter
Hence the third party men ask the dis
solution of the Democratic party, and
they invite and expect the Democrats
to come in a body to them. "Will
they, will they"
The Reform party was prematurely
ushered into being as a regular State
party. The mass meeting Of New Or
leans should have simply advised the
citizens of all the other Parishes to
hold similar mass meetings for the pur.
pose Of having State convention of
citizens desiring reform. The dele
gates elected by mass meetings in the
various Parishes, upon meeting in
State convention, would then consider
,rAether a ne,o party aras necessary pro-
badly appoint committees Of confer
ence with the Democratic Convention,
and after consultation, determine the
whole matter.
ThelDemocratic State Central Com
mittee, in the meantime, could take no
action whatever in the premises, either
to disband the party or to offer OF ac-
cept fusion with third party. The
reason of this is plain. This Central
Committee has only delegated powers
and the most it could do was to call q
State Convention, which it did for the
18th of April next. When this Con.
vention meets, it will be time for the
Democracy to consider and discuss the
complex proposition, SO unfortunately
lost sight of by the New Orleans mass
meeting Of the Reform party.
This brings us to consider the stu.
alton. -. =.
/; There are now in the political fieli
the following organizations:
| 1. The National Republican party
whose committee presided over by U
S. Marshal Packard, is officially recog
nizedeat Washington by the Nationa
Republican Committee. 1t is undoubt
eddy the Grant Republican party o
Louisiana, and is composed mainly o
the bulk of colored voters.
2. The Warmoth Republican party
which is call things to all men," ant
which Yields the formidable powe
conferred by the Election, Registra
ton, Police and other laws of cOgnat.
+ origin. 81.
r 3. The Democratic party, which ha
been heretofore composed of all tn
conservative elements of the State
and whose numerical forces and CO
hesive organization are a tower o
strength.
4. Then comes the Reform part
, proposing to do exactly what has bee
specifically laid down in the pro
: gramme of the Democratic State Con
8 vention of 1870, and what has sine
been faithfully and energetically pro
D claimed and followed up by the Stat
e Central Committee. .s- ...,,
> Now, does the Reform party inten
: to wage war upon these three organi
cations? or does it want to fuse wit
n any one of themq I
At first, the idea was to fuse with n
y other political organization; but
II form distinct substantive party,
be composed of all conservative eli
y ments drawn out of the old parties.
Is What was the proportion to be draw
from the Warmoth Republican part.
y and what proportion from the Graz
10 Republican party9 Lat the Reforme
be candid and say that they did not e.
!, pect much from that quarter.
% Their expectations were that Il
D. bulk of the Democracy joining ther
Is the Democratic party would disbar
and the Reform party would simp
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