The Opelousas courier., 1874-07-25
The Attitude of the Parishes.

The question for New Orleans politicians tt
consider now appears to be something like
this Can we save Louisiana without the co
operation of the parishes, or shall we concedt
little to them and their plainly expressed
desires! 1t has COME to this. There is NJ
room for doubt that the city and the country
are, under existing circumstances, utterly al
variance with each other. And the city 1nust
| saddle its scheme OF operations with the pro
blem here set forth.
| We have watched the movements Of the par
| ishes very closely from the first, aud the re
suit which has at last revealed itself is only
what might have reasonably been expected
Had the name OF the Democratic party retain
ed its ancient magic and the influence OF its
! leaders kept its former strength; had it been
possible TO mass our armies by the Democratic
call, and lead them to battle under the Demo
cratic banner, the White Leagues would never
have been formed. That organization. incon-
siderable here, PERHAPS, bpt stern and pow. +
iUl and rcSolute throughout the country, is
the practical expression Of the peoples .:s-
content and distrust. 1t has sprung up from
the ashes-not OF the party, perhaps, bat ut
its tol!les and its failures it demands another
system Of control, q wiser theory Ct action
And the logic Of events has brought about
this question which, as We have already said
the politicians Of New Orleans must now con-
! slider.
The parishes demand hearing in the coun-
els Of Louisiana, aud their demand has SO fur
assumed the following shape:
!. We want Convention TO assemble out
side of New Orleans.
,. We want that Convention to be limited
! in numbers, SO that its PersonneLEay he select.
3. We want the country to enjoy an oppor-
tunitv of making itself heard.
!. We want the name and the policy of the
white mans party 1or the present campaign
to be decided By the Convention thus Assem-
bied.
In other vords--lct those words seem harsh
and ungrateful If need be-the parishes are
not wiling to accept any platform IL whose
construction they have lad uofart; they &C.
cline TO adopt any leadership as 20 which they
have not been consulted they have lost con
1ldence in the New Orleans Democracy as now
represented, and, to use d popular vul garisnl,
they want an entirely new deal all around.
Instead OF Convention called and controlled
by the Democracy, they ask for u Convention
which shall decide whether the Democracy is
to be an important or unimportant adjunct OF
the common scheme. Instead OF going as re-
cruits to the Democratic nucleus, they purpose
to mecct as independent equals the recruits Of
other armies, and in council with them confer
the name and shape the policy OF the conflict.
There must be 10 IoregOne conclusions, no cut
aud dried plans; the campaign must ta1e its
rise under their auspices, and the cause OF all
the people go forth with the peoples direct
and legitimate benediction.
1t were the most unpardonabie folly to
ignore all this. No one who views the sltua-
ton III a focus one whit larger than will hold
his own ward club, can f;ail to recognize the
imminencc and the solemnity of the crisis.
The Democratic address has evoked no res
ponse beyond the limits of the city. The ut
terances OF the country press and people
plainly indicate that it will not. cannot evoke
one. With one hundred thousand white voters
processing to cherish the same desire gewith d
people reduced to such straits of poverty and
discOurag cement that material relief has loom
ed into grim and awful necessity; with
hearts that beat in solemn unison, and hands
that ask nothing but to be directed honestly
and loyalty; with the supreme lE0nent of our
destiny arrived, and the perfection of our ruin
awaiting us beyond, we find ourselves DIS
membered and 6isscyered-voi1 of that iden-
titT of purpose and concentration of endeavor
without which no benefit can be attained, no
step toward the light achieved. As matters
stand, there is Il widening breach between
those who should be shoulder to shoulder in
the line. Something blinds Us, something tiinls
the truth, and folly breaks our efforts into
traitless parallels. We are bowling briskly
along that well-wOrn road which passes
through the domain of dissension, and has
its inevitable terminus in defeat. We have
travelled it before; we recognize its ancient
and familiar landmarks; and the foretaste
OF the end salutes US as we go.