The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1872-07-20
What is Our Duty i'm this
Present Crisis.
Communicated to the Assumption Phone


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Communicated to the Assumption Pioneer
The political parties in cur State, and
out of it. are in turmoil and trouble,
clearly indicating the necessity for set
ting aside old opinions, and p~reiudices-
h~esitating what course to pursue to over
come the evils and decentralization left
as a legacy from the war-sO far as ma
tiOnal politics are concerned light is
gradually breaking upon us and the en-
dOrsement of the Cincinnati ticket by
the Convention to be held i'll a few days
at Baltimore, will be the first step to
lead us out OF the zimmerman darkness
with which we have beenf0r some years
surrounded.
The democratic party of our State has
held two conventions composed OF some
of it's best citizens, but unfortunately
they failed to adopt the course which
would lead us out OF the slough Of
despOnd-a majority Of the last onVen
ton was unwilling to receive assslstapce
from any party save the Retornlers,
| though a large minority was not only
willing but anxious to enlist recruits,
without reference to race, cOlOrm pre-
vious condition.
A State ticket was finally nominated,
unexceptionable as to. its personal, but
wanting in those elements of strength
necessary to secure its success The
effort to unite with the RefOrmers alled,
as did that too with the Liberal Rpub-
licans, so that the ticket cannot nlder
present circumstances rely on anySnp-
port from other parties.
Owing Othe very general belief thatthe
Democratic party is not strong en@gh
of itself to succeed, the ticket has fallen
still born, having failed to excite my
enthusiasm, and up to this time we hEe
not seen any acceptance of the barren
honor, on theparto Of the nominees: IAS
is certainly an anomaly Ill our political
history, and there must be good caUe
for such an unusual departure iron
custom. To a calm and unprejudice
observer, the cas- for this unusul
apathy is sufficiently patent, the nom
nees know full well, and so DO the masst
of voters, that the Democrats reQuil
{ the aid of all the elements opposed
: the Radicals to elect their ticket.
I I Are we so strong? Is our condition
favorable as to good government an
l honest officials, that we can afford
risk another four years of misrule, one
{ II taxation, and the corruption az
bare faced bribery which have tarnisht
the hithers to fair escutcheOn OF o.
:, State? Certainly not-hut there a
some individuals in Our midst (a1
many such were delegates at the la
Convention) who have WarmOth on t
e brain and can conceive Of no fusion Wi
the Liberal Republicans unless hisnan
should head the ticket. We have
evidence ESQ far as the interchange
+ views with the Conference COMMITTED
I to Justify any such position. His opp
Il nents deny thata fusion with the Llbel
n Republicans will add to the demOcr21
20 chances Of success, as they assert tn
Il the Governor has been shOrn OF !
power by the late detection OF his Il
n lowers. Admitting that he cannot co
4 troll the same number of votes since t
detection of his forces, yet he has
~ Governor a power almost OmnipOtent
our elections. -
BY law the authority to appoint Reg
trarsis his,and through them the numl
le of precincts and their locality are ti2
IN in each parish. The experience OF ed
5h voter will call to mind the results of
Re last election, brought about by the
I'd ercise of this power. By that aFran:
a. ment, most Of the colOred voters WI
lis offered great facilities in the regist
s. ton and voting, which were denied
o. the whites living at a distance from
centres of population. 1t is %unnecesst
d, to dwell longer on these facts, Il
e, were sufficiently impressed on the mil
ct of all, and this one Causehad more to
IL with radical success than all the OF
he causes combined. "
it Although there is a bare possibility
= success, were we certain Of a fair ell
n ton, yet the chances against us are
Ell great, and the interests of ON pOpulat
he too weighty to standOn mere puncti
ly Let us leave nothing to chance, but
en- fair and liberal understanding with
he opponents of Grant Radicals take
Up, first steps. to restore our beloved Stat
lat the control of its bona .fde citizens
Id are most inferred in maintaining
he character for honesty, and alleviat
ty those burdens Whichare g~Taduallycru
yn ing out cur life blood.
Of TO secure success let us unite "
the friends of fusion throughout
lat State, and send delegates tQthe Conv
d. ton to be held on the first MOnda,
to August, i'll New Orleans.
I'd,
The Morehouse Liberal party CONT
as ton, held on the 9th inst, adopted
r ~fo1laufup -..s,.-