The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1873-04-23
The Connecticut Election,

when Voltaire, who had been all hi
y ne immoderately addicted to coffee
heard some one remarking. in his eigb
e sy-tii'rd year. that coffee was noxious
10 quietly murmured, ut has been ,
!ong time killing me-" The Democrat
: &c party OF Connecticut might make the
same reply to the owlish politicians
VINO have been so long insisting thai
the party must soon die of it's record
ana lts principles. Cards have been
ont for the last ten or twelve years in.
; eit,ng guests to assist at the Democrat.
&c funeral, but we suspect that those
VINO are most experienced in obsequies
have seldom seen quite So lively a
corpse. 1t is only the other day that
me political owls and goslins took m
the'r Prattle anew, and told us that the
Democratic party had had its day; that
lis name, fame and organization, must
presently be consigned to forgetfulness
and utter oblivion; and now it starts
up in Connecticut like young giant
refreshed.
What is the explanation of this en-.
during tenacity OF life, which has talsi
ned SO many predictions7 It would al
most seem as if the party bore charm
ca lie, or as if it shared the exceptions
promised to the first disciples: "they
shal! take up serpents, and if they
drink any deadly thing it shall not
nurt them" But really this victorious
survival of the party is no miracle, nor
even marvel. 1t results from the
tact that there is a large body of the
people who inherit from their parents
robust, independent character. and
who, being neither Office seekers nor
parasites, 10 not concern themselves
with politics except to express their
convictions. The fact that a general
without civil capacity is followed by
the shouts of q multitude, does not
change their opinion of his character.
The oppression of the South does not
seem to them any more just because a
strong party indorses it. They will
not sing the praises o. laying paper
money, having seen the advantages of
gold and silver. They cannot he con-
WINGED that a government which raises
four hundred millions year in taxes
is as good and economical as one that
used to raise only sixty millions. They
refuse to elorify great national debt
and consider it blessing. They see
no advantage in paying double prices
tor everything they eat, drink and
wear. Making slow gains in property
by hard labor and economy, they do
not believe that the colossal fortunes
suddenly gained by UPSTAIRS in and
ont of office are honestly acquired.
They have sufficient self-pnise and
steadiness of character to see things as
they are, in the light of common sense:
aud SO they are not tossed about by
every wind of political doctrine
1t is men of this sturdy make and
stable purpose that form the bulk of
the Democratic party. They have
been just as true, loyal and steady in
adverse as they ever were in prosper
Gus fortune, held from drifting on the
waves by the strong anchor of opin
ions which can be changed ONLY by
evidence. Whether they chance to be
in minority or a majority, you al.
ways know where to find them. When
moderate portion of the Republicans
get disgusted with their party and
come to this infexible Democratic pha.
anx, they make 1t a majority If they
happen to he sednced back again, the
Democratic Old Guard still stands i'm.
movable as rock, voting steadily on
N obedience to its convictions. Even
It's enemies must confess that there is
morally respectable in this
myitlding frmness of purpose, which
stands always by its colors without
any sign of tlincling.
This strength of purpose which is
OF the Democratic party
would perhaps have been more pro
tuctive of immediate political results
t the party had been smaller,
Throughout these long years of ad.
'erse fortune we have always been for
nidable enough, to put our enemies in
ear. and keep them united; whereas if :
ve had been bnt resolute handful in
tead of an i1Iflexible host, the Repub- t
leans would long ago have split, and c
We. holding the balance, could have G
xtorted concessions from. one side IA ,
he price Of making it victorious over
he other. But the Democratic party
too large, and made of two unyield.
ng stuff, to conquer in this way. At
ne very time it's enemies were talk. b
1g ahont its funeral, they stood in a
lch mortal fear that thew n,.1o ,n+or |