The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1872-07-24

Ism and cries Of "Grceley, Greeley.n1 t
While these events were passing the II
Democrats and Republicans whom we
held their Conventions in all +,
the States. The Liberal Republican
the example Of Missouri, the
Cincinnati Convention, its platform and
its candidate, with their letters Of ac-
ceptance, were all before the C0nyen-
tons, which were very largely attended
by their ablest men; and the paramount
question before these Conventions were
Shall we accept this invitation to Coop
crate with the Liberal Republicans? p
tGreat applausc.l Shall we adopt their
platform? Loud cries of Yes, yes;
and some cries Of Never Shall we
nominate the same candidates? Cries /
of Yes, yes.] And shall we elect them? ,
[ Yes, yes, yes, and loud cheering.l Or
shall we refuse to cooperate No, mol !
and nominate other candidates, No, no:
Greeley, Greeley.l and strive to elect
them over both tickets already in the |
field?
Gentlemen, these are the questions
YOU are to decide now and here; that
you will decide them wisely | cannot
doubt, nor can any one doubt who looks
over this body of men, representing as
they do 100000 of citizens, and who
feel, as every one here must feel, the
high and patriotic purpose which in
spires you.
Gentlemen, what means this great
and rising movement which we every
where see? What means this proposed
reunion of 100000 of Democratic re-
representatives., with million, it may be,
of Liberal Republicans? What means
this union on 4 common platform, and
this proposed union on the same candi-
date? \ union so sudden, so compact,
so earnest, as to surprise its friends and
to confound its enemies, which comes
as the wind comes, which, to borrow a
figure, Overwhelms the ordinary cur
rents of public opinion, as the great
storms always run counter to the sur
face currents. What means all this?
There are some things, gentlemen, it
does not mean. 1t means no abandon
ment of what is true, of what is Just, of
what is good in human government. 1t
means no union of the dead upon dead
issues, but union of the living upon
the living issues of the present. 1t
means no union for the spells Of Office,
but it means a union of men with the
same facts upon the great and para
mount issue OF the hour-a frank, man
", honest, able and equal union of men
who have the sagacity to see and the
moral courage to accept the situation
rCries of good, good, and loud cheers.
1t means the union of men who have
the sagacity to see what is past and t.
deal with the issues of the present ant
for the future--to do their duty to theiI
!, country, their God, and their fellow
men. The issue of to-day is not the re
peal of the Missouri Compromise, no
the question of slavery in the Terrific
ries, upon which alone the Republican
party was organized in 1856. 1t is no
, upon that which followed when the lie
compton constitution for Arkansas di
, vided the Democratic party in twain
and elected Abraham Lincoln to th
Presidency in 1860. 1t is not the ques
= ton Of secession, nor the war to pu
+ down the rebellion, nor the abolition c
slavery in the States by military .orde
, or by constitutional amendment, upo
4 which Mr. Lincoln was reelected /
c 1854; nor yet is it the question Of recoT
4 struction, or of the Fourteenth or OF tn
! Fifteenth amendments; nor the que:
: ton of negro suffrage; nor of the estaE
J. lishment by Federal power Of universe
II negro suffrage as condition precedel
Y 10 the States of the South having an
rights, OF any existence, even, as STATE
# of the Union. It is none of these que
II tons that is now in issuc-all the
d have been issues in the past-Sreat
! Sues, sufficient in themselves to crea
and dissolve political parties (becau
TO ideas are stronger than men or parties
&c but they are all past issues; they ha
NJ been fought out and fought to the ei
,o in the forum or in the field, and they a
O. no more in issue to-day than the Me2
,o can war or the war of the rebellion,
&c [Applause.l We could not reopen the
if we would; they falsely represent o
N purpose who say that we would reop
ed them if we could. Loud cheering
III This great union, therefore, means
al step backward. (Cheers.) Forward
st the word, Qoud cheering) and first
&C. all, it means to-day for all the 9th
&C. States of the South what it has alrea
in done in Missouri. (Cheers.) lnste
M of prescription, test oaths, suspense
he of habeas corpus and military desl
,le tism, it means personal freedom to
he individual and republican goyernme
en- for all. loud applause.) Instead
Re- negro supremacy, upheld by proser
ok ton and the bayonet, it means eq'
re rights to all men, white as well as bla'
Re- cloud applause.) Instead Of THEW
all governments organized to plumber 6,
nd jugated States, it means the dominion
ere intelligence and integrity once mo
ms Instead of strife, hate and robbery
NV means justice, liberty, peace, loya
of and good will, and, gentlemen, for