The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1872-05-22
MIR. Greeley and the Democracy.

| We cannot see the wisdom of re-
quest, or rather piece of advice,
pressed upon us in several Democratic
quarters, relating to the course which
onsht to be pursued by our party press
IN tins odd and surprising conjecture.
The tenor of this we'll meant advice ia,
that we carefully abstain from either
endorsing or opposing Mr.. Greeley and
passively await the action of the Dem
ocratic National Convention. This re-.
quest Is even more strange and odd
than the nomination in whose interest
1t seems to be made. We of course do
not need to be informed, or even re-
minded, that no Democratic journal,
nor any individual Democrat, has au
shorty to commit or bind the party.
This was equally true in 1863, when
the friends of MI. Pendleton and of the
rival candidates freely canvassed and
compared their claims for months in
advance OF the Convention, seeking to
influence public opinion in favor of
their respective favorites. This has
been the habitual practice of our par
ty journals and active politicians at
the approach of every Presidential
campaign, and there is no good reason
why it should be abandoned now. 1t
is necessary means, indeed the only
means, of ascertaining and maturing
public opinion preparatory to tire de-
cisive action of the National Conven-
ton. 1t is an idea as novel as it is
absurd that the Democratic press will
be treading on forbidden ground if it
declares its sentiments respecting the
merits of particular candidates until
after the Convention shall have acted
and committed the party irretrievably.
The World stands firmly by the
time honored usages of the Democratic
party. 1t recognizes the binding au-
thority Of the National Convention.
But, up to the time when that BODY
has selected a ticket, the expression of
opinion by all our journals and every
member of the party must be untram-
melled, as it has always been under
like circumstances. How can the Con-
vention act intelligently if there is to
be no previous discussion The dele
gates are not the masters of the peo-
pie or their dictators, but their repre-
sentatives and servants. It is their
duty to respect the wishes and prefer
ences of their Democratic constituents;
but how can they pay this reasonable
Difference to the popular will, if it be
not freely expressed for the informa-
ton and guidance of the Convention Z
1t is spreposterous to ask Democratic
journals or the Democratic constitu-
encies to surrender that large liberty
of speech which they have always ex.
ercised previous to the meeting of their
National Conventions, and which is so
useful in developing and ripening the
public sentiment of the party.
Unrestrained discussion is more than
ever necessary if so extraordinary a |
step is meditated as the nomination by
the Democratic party of it's foremost
assai|ant in the political contentious of
the last thirty years. This may be a |
wise thing to do; but its wisdom should
be made apparent by convincing rea-
sons. So extraordinary a proposition
is self-condemned if it cannot bear dis
cussion. Why should Mr. Greeley, as
possible Democratic candidate, be, ex-
empted from this wholesome ordeal
and fair scrutiny any more than Mr..
Pendleton, Chief Justice Chase and
Governor Seymour were previous to-
the assembling of the Democratic Con.
vention in 1862 If Mr.. Greeley can
not stand the ordeal, if his supporters
dare not allow his claims to be freely
canvassed, then it is very clear that he
ought not to receive the Democratic
nomination. His Endorsement by the
Democratic party is an open question |
until our National Convention meets;
and all the Democrats are as free to
take one side of it as the other. To be
sure, the question will be closed and
we shall all be bound when the Con-
vention has acted; but until then, it
would be an unwarrantable and most
preposterous assumption to deny the
right of any Democrat to canvass the
merits and qualifications of any candi-
date with the same holiness and free
dom which have always been exercised
by Democratic citizens. If Mr.. Gree
ley is proper Democratic candidate,
let the party have frank statement of
the reasons why he ought to be nomi-
mated. If, on the other hand, the par
ty would stulify itself by indorsing a |
man who spent his whole life in de-
nouncing it, let it be saved from so
egregious blunder by timely warn
ings and remonstrance.
For our part, we shall discuss Mr..
Greeley's qualifications with just as
little reserve as we did those of Mr..
Pendleton and other candidates In '68.
If our views are erroneous, his friends
are as free to combat as we are to state
them. If the National Convention