The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1872-10-30
To the Public.
RAPIDEs COLLEGIATE INSTITUTE,
October 22d. 1872.

RAp1DEs COLLEGIATE INSTITUTED
October 22d, 1872.
Editor Louisiana Democrat:
DEAR S1R:-I notice in your issue of
last Wednesday the proceedings OF the
Democratic party in Rapides, among
other nominations recommending my
name for the support of the people of
this Parish for the office of Pari h
Judge.
will you have the kindness to an
nounce in your columns the withdrawal
of my name for that position?
And in justice to myself permit me
briefly to explain my position in this
political contest. I am, sir, one Of the
few Democrats in this Parish who have
not forsaken their party. I am proud
Of being what in the language of the
day is called Bourbon" or "Last
Ditcher.''
I have been Democrat since the
Buchanan and Breckenridge campaign
of 1856 and will continue to be Demo-
crat as long as there remains any REM
nant of the party in this State-in other
words, intend to die hard in the last
ditch. While I claim for myself the
right to think thus and to act accord
ingly, am sufficiently liberal to grant
to every one else the free right to think
and believe as he may please. l am,
however, not prepared to admit the
right of any man or set ofmen, whether
they call themselves a political "party,"
"club,' or what not, to force me to
think and believe as they do, because,
perchance, there happens TO be great
many more Of them than there are of
those who think as do. I do not be-
long to, and have no part or parcel with
the movement known as the Liberal
movement in this State. stand where
l have always stood, square and flat
footed an Out-and-Out Democrat. How
ever, am forced to recognize the fact
that in Rapides, at present, it is very
questionable to be known by that
name. That the party habiliments that
at no very remote period-in fact, no
longer ago than in April last, sat very
handsomely upon some of the most
liberal of the Liberals in this Parish, as
we'll as upon myself, have since then
gone out Of fashion in Rapides-so much
so that it is called the old fogy fashion
when one is seen to wear them now
l propose to wear them still, Mr.. Edi-
tor; if for no other purpose than to pre-
serve the ancient fashion as matter Of
curiosity-as relic of the past, to show
some of my ultra fashionable friends
how they used to look before they turn
ed their coats.
But it may be, and is asked: tsWhy
not join this Liberal movement the
best men of the country belong to tit
is going to save the State?" l did not
join it, Mr.. Editor, because it origina-
ted with Governor Warmoth; because it
openly proposed to take up Governor
Warmoth if not for a leader, at least for
an ally-because he had the power to
make fraudulent count of the ballots,
and because he proposed to count the
Liberals in, whether they received a
majority of the votes or not; because
they supported Horace Greeley, and not
only supported him, but could and did
make a jubilee over his nomination, and
have been continually cheering for
Greeley and Brown. Now, sir, if 1 re-
member rightly, it was extremely FASH
ionable in Louisiana about the LIST of
last February to curse and damn Cover
nor WarmOth for the greatest scoundrel
aud the BLACKLIST hearted villain that
God had ever permitted to live. did
not believe all that was charged to him,
but / did believe then and do believe
now, that he was the author of all our
trouble, and joined in right heartily
with the fashionable, and cursed and
damned Warmoth too. Believing in
February as did about him, I was not
prepared to promise to help send him to
the United States Senate in August
Cursing him in February, l was not
quite ready to 90 wild over him and to
holler and hurrah for Warmoth on the
Goth Of September. And further,
have not been and am not prepared to
seek success by fraud. l have been
raised in school Of morality and be-
long to class of philosophers who do
not believe sthat good can not come
from evil" l am not prepared to pur-
chase success at the sacrifice Of my good
name and self respect, and am not ready
to accept Governor Warmoth's proffered
assistance. l might be able to vote for
Horace Greeley and may do so on the
4th Of next month, but can't help raise
flags in his honor nor hurrah for him.
10 have been a Liberal I conceive that
would have been required to do all these
things. I could not do them and did
not join their ranks. Understand, Mr..
Editor, that l am explaining MY posi-
tion-if any body else could do then
they had the undoubted right to do so,
so long as theg do not try to force their
opinions on me.
But to return to the subject upon
which started, suppose that the Dem
Ocratic nominations were made for the
purpose of preserving the organization
of the party, and being Democrat, I
am thankful to the gentlemen of that
party for the honor of the nomination,
and in contest between. Democracy
and Liberalism, I would willingly &C
cept the nomination and run through
the campaign even to certain defeat.
But l know the fact that there is no
such issue before the people, and that
the only effect of such contest now,
will be to strengthen the Radical party,
the true and legitimate opponents OF
both the Democrats and Liberals
There is no room for hesitation when
the choice must be made between the
two parties.
therefore respectfully decline to al
low my name to be voted for for the of.
flee of Parish Judge of this Parish.
have been so lengthy, Mr.. Editor, only
for the reason that have heretofore
held myself completely aloof from poll.
tics during this campaign and would moi
have now forced myself or my opinions
before the public, had not my name
been already placed before it by my
friends. l know that every man mus,
have his record, and since my name
was forced before the people I am an.
xious that my position should also bt
known. / have sought no political Of
flee and desire none. Some of my
friends who were delegates to the Libe
rn1 oc