Rapides gazette. (Alexandria, La.) 1869-187?, 1872-10-26
The Fusion Middle.

The extraordinary condition into
which the political fusion of the Dem
ocratic and Liberal parties have drift
ed reveals theiI utter unreliability as
genuine reformers. 1t has never been
denied by the Republican party that
there were many political abuses to
correct. Humanity has never reached
a state of perfection which discarded
error and practiced only good. Both
in society aud government such things
viii inevitably exists. Recognizing,
therefore, the necessity for reform,
the Republican organizations are
uniting ali their energies to effect it /;
not, however, in a mad struggle for
Office, where the spoils are held up as
the sole object to be fought for, but
by selecting intelligent, capable and
honest men to administer the trusts of
the people. They put behind them
the old partisan adage that "to the
victor belongs the spoils.n Instead,
they recognize as binding the grave
duty incumbent upon every member
of society to so distribute his political
influence that the greatest good will
result to the community. This is
evinced in the deliberations of the
convention and the entire absence oil
anything like strife or struggle fol
Office.
How favorably this course con
trasts with rival organizations it is
not necessary to cay. BY their acts
shall you Judge them. When the
Liberal movement was started fem
braci;rg as it did portion of all politi
cal parties). it was supposed to bt
genuinely reformatory ill its object
and met at once the favorable con
sideration of the people. All men
not thoroughly bad, like good govern
ment. 1t is human nature to prefe
good to evil, when good is presented
abstractly and its benefits are APP
preciable. The hope, therefore, O
riddinG the government, both Stat,
and national, of political abuses, lift
ed the Liberal movement from al
Insignificant beginning at once into
national party. But the old .leaven o
unrighteousness crept in. The in
dorsement of it at Baltimore CAV
control of it to the Democratic in
stincts and ambition. In all the State
where there was any considerable
Democratic vote, it sunk to a mer
medium for obtaining office. In thi
States it was eminently so. Unde
cover of reform the Democrats an
propriated everything. The Stat
ticket, by a trick of thimble rig a
disgraceful as audacious, passed ur
der their control. Cheated and dis
mayed. the Liberals were compelle
to acqniesce in the robbery. The
thought, however, to get even on til
parochial ticket, and adopted simila
tactics to those which had prove
successful with the Democrats. Blu
they lacked the nerve to carry
through. Brow-beaten and ridiculet
they were glad to accept few crumb
thrown them by their audacious all,
while the VOLTS share was conrplacen
ly appropriated again. But even til
little given was a mere subeerfug
The Democrats determined to have
back again, and at once raised th
cry of dissatisfaction and in the nam
of the public, falsely assumed, d.
manded flat these concessions be su
rendered as . nullity.
Such is the political situatio
among the Democratic Liberals.
properly appreciated, it will destro
public confidence in them, and teac
q lesson which the Republican part
is demonstrating, that it alone has
view the true interests and prosperit
Of the people, ~ o. Republicaa. :