The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1872-08-24
CANCELLATION.

feeling mark the political wars which at
stated intervals Gonvulse a Republican
government, and each party vies with
the other in the quantity and flthiness
of the dirt thrown.
1t should be the boast of the Liberal
party that in breaking through all tram
melting presidents, it has also cast aside
the meanest and most demoralizing fea-
lures of the usual political warfare. The
vital principle of Liberalism (as we I'M
derstand it) is Tolerance. When men
moved by patriotism, Or ever the II
of a great common danger, bury all
old animosities or sectional prejudices,
it is to be presumed that their words and
actions will be ruled by certain dignity
caught from the mOmentOus issue which
lies before them.
We recognize the good faith of the
Democratic organization, however we
may deplore its wrongheadedness. 1t is
not composed of men who have striven
ON u spoils, prosperous, ~insolent Office
seekers and Office holders. On the con-
trary, they are our brothers in misfor-
tune-men who have suffered and groan-
ed with us underthemisrule of the Gov
eminent. Men who with us have been
robbed and protested against the rob-
berry, who love their country and deplore
it's misfOrtunes. Men, intact, with whom
we have fought shoulder to shoulder in
many q well contested field, and with
whom we have kept step until we found
they carried too much weight for the
race. Neither, should Ne fail, will they
triumph. However, theymight strength
en- ourhandsi in the coming conflict, alone
they are powerless. In fine, we should
look upon them as a band of misguided
friends who held aloof from the only
plank of safety, and wherever entreaty
and Cancellation can be used they should
not be disregarded. II the Democratic
party has shown itself unwilling tomake
certain sacrifices for the public good, it
is because they cannot bepersuaded that
the sacrifice of these cherished Demo-
cratic legends is essential to the regen-
Grafton Of Louisiana. There is such a
thing as cO1Or-blindness, and party
blindness does not yield to it in a mons
trously perverted vision which sees moth
ing as it really exists.
But we do not propose reviewing the
old ground to-day. We set out with the
intention of advocating the principle of
Cancellation in thepresent struggle, and
no words can be too strong to set forth
it's necessity. .
1t is only a weak cause that needs
~bolstering by abuse of its opponents.
Apart from the vital gravity of the pres
emit struggle, on the issue of which de-
ponds our sectional life or death, we
think Liberalism should make no use of
the old filthy weapons of personal or
| party vituperation. IF a damning fact
has to be told, let it be done temperately
and truthfully. If a man is to be at
tackled, there is no necessity for foul
language or perverted testimony. Gus
tom sanctions thismode of political war
fare, but custom is antagonistic to Lib
eral principles. Their business is to
overpass the old worn uts, and torecog-
nize fully the Fright of every man to think
and act for himself, if these thoughts
and actions are based upon honest con,
victions. If our Democratic friends
choose to weaken our only chance of re-
lief, we have no right to call them hard
names, however plain to us the issue Of
their obstinaey may be. The breach be.
tween us will never be bridged by abuse
and we must hope for concert of action
where the hopes, the interests and the
suffierings of the two parties are identi
cal. We are notfoolish enougito strive
after an impossible Utopia, where al
discords are to be united in harmony
but we do believe that men who, .fol
the salvation of their country have
agreed to bury strong politicalan and socia
preiudices, can at least restrain the in
temperate expression of evil passions
when it initiates against the object they
have in view. :.