The weekly Louisianian., 1874-03-28
TEE 4

A dominant party s2culdnot only
Ebe pronounced in its policy, but
caution in selecting its measures.
It's supremacy makes it responsible
for the legislation OF the country
and it cannot, therefore, afford to
be either rash or inconsiderate.
The minority party, without ability
to control the policy Of the country,
or give complexion to its laws, may
with immunity exercise less con-
sideration in the political action it
propose to take. Tho conduct Of
tie two great parties in America
upon the grave issues now pending
before the country,not only suggests,
but illustrates these remarks. The
Republican, with its majority re-
duced and its dominancy threatened
in the approaching election OF 1876,
is placed upon ito good behavior
The Democratic laact3-a disheart-
ened minority since 1850, and still
unable to control the legislation OF
the nation, is steadily increasing in
strength and influence, and as il
approaches a condition in which its
responsibility will become actual,
it assumes more gravity and dignity
in its movements, and is less bla-
tant and de%nunciatory in its tone
towards its opponents. A notable
quality of party actions, growing
out of the increased strength Of one
and the diminished force of the
other Of the great parties, is hest.
fancy en- all the great measures Of
the day. The questieas Of finance,
Of transportation, legislative con-
troll by Cangross over the chan.
nels OF internal commerce, and Of
the right Of the National Govern.
mcnt to interfere with the preroga-
tives of the several State Govern
ment, as involed in tie louisiana
and other recent cases, are all met,
by the respective parties, cautiously,
and each Lesitatcs to force a de-
finite solution of these questions.
This hesitancy and seeming indie
cision, SO noticeable, in part may
refer to the difficulty OF the prob
LENS to be solved. The multipli-
cation Of interests-tl,c extension of
territorial ares-tle increase of
population end the necessary COM
p]ications that grow out of the ra-
pid advance and Development Of a
great country, have introduced new
conditions, into the problem and a
solution That would have been sat-
isfactory ten years ago would be
in adequate now. It may be that
tho craftsmanship of the age feels
itself unequal to the task before it
or the political leaders-no longer
separated from the people they re-
present by IN intelligence that gave
them Immunity from criticism and
rebuke by their constituents-the
people gradually becoming not the
followers but the compeers and
equals Of their representatives, and
assuming the mastership a larger
and maturer intelligence gives-are
becoming timid in the presence Of a
opinion, that demands not
integrity but competency in
the administration of public affairs.
But q further reason for the in
that characterizes our party
is to be found in tho fact
that the settlement Of any one Of the
great questions before the country,
involves the establishment of q pre-
which may be inconvenient, if
not disastrous to the authors there
in the approaching contest of '76:
We may further affirm that neither
he Republican or Democratic party,
s so pure in its leadership OF strong
its later record,as to permit them
n 60 before the people, and with
ask and expect the
bestowment OF the popular
rust. They feel that the people
propose to protect themselves
monopolies, oppressive class
jobs and corrupt leaders,
nd have heartily, in the
and other movements