The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1873-06-14

from the Crescent City.

SN~ O1N9S~AAC SANS'J
To say that the American nation is
drifting into a condition of political
chaos would be cOmmOn place; there
Self-evident for assertion or denial =;
and such is the condition of affairs,
more especially in the Southern States,
and notably in our own, that it is diff
cult to forecast the future, should we not
attempt to look ever beyond the lapse
of II Or two years.
All political parties have at least two
factions, the ms and the Outs"-that
is professional Office holders in Office,
and professional or wOuld-be office
holders out of office, and beyond these
stand the people, who do not aspire to
political hOnors, but demand q Just and
impartial administration of public
affairs a demand that is never needed,
for all administrations have proven
themselves more or less corrupt. It is
simply a question of degree. Where a
nomination by any party in a State,
country, or town, equals an election,
officials are rarely found to be honest,
because partiZan influence, and not
honesty and capability, is requisite to
secure the nomination. When such
officials become SO Objectionable to the
LICtSoCS. as W ICAtA lLlClu W N4CLlIlIu U1IC1l
removal, there is always a class of pa
triOts who step to the front and offer to
administer the affairs of the community
in Il satisfactory manner, and under the
cover of "refOrm" endeavOr to raise
new parties Dr. make new combinations
that will result to their benefit, pecu-
niarily and otherwise. 1t was attemp-
ted in this State during the past cam
paign, and is about to be repeated.
Through a series of blunders that have
no equal in political annals, the "Re-
FORM or McEnery party have ruined
their cause i~rrGtrievably. Starting out
with the assurance of no hostility to
Gen. Grant, they marshaled under the
leadership of his most bitter enemy
their battle cry was honest government
and political death to carpet-baggers,
yet they followed the lead of one who,
according to their own showing, was
the most corrupt nan in the State and
nominated carpet-baggers to every i'm
pOrtant position. Northern people were
astOunded at such inconsistency, and
southern politicians smiled. Not con
tent with this, and while northern OPT,
MON was evenly balanced they attacked
lowed it up by the affairs at COlfaX and
st. Martinsville, thereby destroying
every vestigue of sympathy entertained
for them in the Republican party, vel
knowing that it was to the Republican
party alone they need look for aid. Any
movement looking to the formation Of
another Reform party at the present
will be looked upon with suspicion, anC
regarded as a dodge ofthe outs who are
endeavOring to get in, unless the ele.
ments moving in the matter shall come
to the surface occupying a ground q
undeniable independence and cOnsisten1
with the political tendencies Of the
country. To attain success the move
ment must have its origin with the PEG
pie and not with the politicians, an(
must carry on it's front assurances o
sincerity, justice and progress. A few
figure heads like those who by thei
mad cOunsels got up the 5th of Marcl
riot, and other disorders, will at1ict tn,
new party, political meningitis from
which it will never escape except to b
numbered among the things that were
Altogether, however, the movement is
healthy sign, and manifests the in
structiye struggle of the body polite t.
heal existing disorder.