The Opelousas courier. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1852-1910, 1873-02-22
Our Future Party Relations i'm
the South.
fFrom the N. o. Picayune1

y" 'ffo ldii"lC vi electiHse MT. CfeeieY
to the Presidency, are three. |. An
tagonlsm of old enemies, which could
not be sufficiently closed between the
Democrats and Liberal Republicans.
z. That clause in the Cincinnati plat
form which declares for Impartial suf-
frage and local >elf-government %" and
s. The money interests of the North,
terrified at that other clause of the Gin
clnnati platform, 1.-THE resumption OF
specie payments" Of these causes, the
first only, we think, operated at the
South. There was an immense repue-
nance to seem to abandon, or to veil,
the great principles upon which the
Domocratic party was built. This re-
pugnance shwod itself in absences'from
the polls. Sifted down toits elements,
Gen, Grant is reelected by Northern
hate and Northern money.
The question now devolves upon us :
what political organization shall we
now enter into to fight the future polit-
ical battles of the country? To ac-
Hquiesce in Radical despotism and Rad j.
cal rule, we suppose, of course, to be
impossible. That is to give up free gov
eminent, to give up liberty, and to sink
down into acquiescing political slave
ry. ,s~
Well; then, we are to be of party
which upholds the principles of free
government, detests despotism, and
will struggle on to recover our liberties.
What is its name !? We do not care, SO
long as it processes these characteris-
tics. The Demcratic party was once
such party. 1t became corrupted in
the North and fell. Whether it will
ever rise again in the North great
party of fixed principles and fixed poll
cy mot an organization for place and
poWer), remains to be seem In the
South the Demcratie party was. never
corrupted. From the days of Thomas
Jefferson, when it sprung into being,
to its last struggle to save the South
from Northern rule and absolutism, it
was true co the great principles of free
government which called it into being.
For sixty years it enabled the South,
in the policies of the United Satate, to
check and hold at bay the consoliaa-
tionists of the North, seeking to erect
national despotism OH the ruins OF the
constitution. We can see no reason
for this party at the South to change it's
name if il retains its principles.
The only reason that we have seen.
alleged why the Democratic party at
the South should change its name is,
that it has been joined in u common
effort to obtain seif-goVernment by a
portion of tile Radical party, called
Liberals. Ii the Liberals agree with
us in principles, why can they not en-
brace our name They are decidedly
the minority. They see how vast is
the poWcrof despotism based ON money.
But we hesitate not to say, that If they
viii agree with US IN principle, we care
very little about the name. We can
be one of a Liberal Democratic party
as easily as of a Democratic party.
But if the abandonment of the name is
the requirement of an abandonment of
the pficiples Of the Democratic party,
then we will never change it. 1t has
ruled the united States for more than
hall. o century with a success and glory
which has mover been surpassed by any
party free government has produced.
The South created it; the South sup
ported it throughout its whole career
usefulness and glory. It reflected the
genious of the South for wise statesman
ship and illnstrious rule; and If our
liberties are to be forever buried, let
them lie beneath the grand mansoleum
of the Democratic party. Ii they are
to live, however, they must live in the
principles Of the Democratic party,
whatever the name.
The talk of making party popular
by n name is absurd. We tried il, iii
d fusion or identity, with a portion of
the Republican party in the late Presi-
Dental election. At the North, at this
moment a .Liberl Republican il more.
abhored than q Democrat. He is look
ed upon as a sort of traitor At all
events the fusion is signalized in the
greatest defeat any party at the North
ever experienced at the polls. Its vote
is elnensely behind the vote of the Dem
ocratic party at the previous Presiden-.
tial election. Mr. Greeley i voice will
be heard no more on the political stage j;
aud tile Tribune will lie brought np by
Northern capitalist to support their
rule
It is quite impossible to have any
name truly representing Justice and
freedom acceptable to those who hate
and despise these attributes. A man
who ID free in spirit appreciates and
loves the principles of free government,
buta political slave naturally crouches
under q despotisnl. He clings to force,
because force il congeniaI with his
mean coWardice and base depravity.
The course of Congress il our
ease does not furnish any good reason
for hesitation or inaction upon thevpart
jof the legitimate State authorities in
tile discharge of their obvious duty.
That duty Is to stand BY the rights of
the people to republican government
the right TO beruled by the yoiee md
will dc the majority of the voters. No
man, especially he holds an Office IN
the legal government, can abandon
this position and sllirk this duty, with
honor. The shame OF snch inIidelity
OF imbecility will adhere to him through
his life. This obligation ought TO be
strengthened BY the expression of the
Judgment Of the committee of that high
political authority the United States
Senate, that the usurping Government
of Kellogg has oIcgal foundation what
ever, but II d false, and fraudulent one.
The strategy of tile enemy ii used to
wear out the patience ofour represent
satives. This strategy can only be-
made effsctaal by the weakness Or faith
lessness DE our representatives If such