Rapides gazette. (Alexandria, La.) 1869-187?, 1873-07-19
From the Natchit0ches Times.

We are not a. political prophet nor the
son of a prophet; but there are some things
in the future so plainly developed by the
lights of the present that We are inclined
to accept them as already accomplished
and incontrovertiblef facts.
Our first assumption is that the Unifica-
ton party, recently organized in New Or
leans, is failure. Such a mOnstrosity,
"sent into this breathing world scarce half
made up, and that SO lamcly and unfash-
ionably," can survive but short time. 1t
is repudiated by the blacks because it of
fers more than they demand, and by the
whites because it comedies more than they
are willing to yield. 1t can accomplish no
good to the State-for it lacks, among 9th
er qualifications, the element of success
having not even the sayory smell OF the
loaves and fishes.
Next, we assume that neither the Demo-
cratic party nor any of its. Oh-shoots Will
do to rely on as means ofplacing the 20
litical control of the State in the hands of
it's better class Of citizens. We are too
weak in numbers and TOO much divided in
our political opinions to accomplish any
thing in future campaigns. We speak of
success only, giving credit to the mass of
those who belong to the Democratic, Lib
eral and Reform parties for a sincere desire
to restore an honest and economical gov
eminent. But there can be no redemption
withOutsuccess and those good intentions,
which we place to the credit of the three
parties above named, might as well be sold
out wholesale to the boss contractor for
completing the paving of certain locality
as to fight in the ranks of minority.
Third-Guided by the platforas Of al
parties since 1870, we assume that the great
mass of the white people, heretofore array
ed against the Republican party, accept
the cardinal principles of that party, and
are willing to enter its ranks if only es-
ton of political principles are involved
This is certainly trre of the whole of the
Reform party and all of those Liberals who
were sincerely such in the late campaign
What, then, has been the great barrier
to their entering the Republican party
Not its political tenets, as we have seen
Not party prejudice, for their new politi.
cal alliance is too fresh to bind them to il
by such tie. They are simply opposed to
corruption, and have kept aloof from the
Republican party because it had become SC
thoroughly corrupt that it was just re.
proach to join its ranks. Thievery and
official dishonesty were the rule, and in
tegrity the exception; and it was palpa.
BILE absurdity for any single individual to
identify himself with such a party with
the hope of controlling OF. in any manner
directing it towards conservatism. 1t was
the personifcation of rsscality-rampant
triumphant and invincible:,
Recently, however, there is somewhat
better tendency developed, but not YET
very clearly defined. Corruption may sim
ply be dormant, to spring into activity a.
soon as the present pressure is removed
This suspicion is honestly entertained, ant
the Republican party to place it on higher
grounds, and to purge it of its corruptions
can attract the support of sufficient
strength from the conservative side t.
guarantee its purity in the future.
How and by whom can this result be &C
complishedi How can the better citizens
of the State be united in single part,
ior the overthrow of official corruption ant