The Opelousas courier., 1874-07-25
COmvem afOmSs

| Conventions
We see by the Shreveport Times of July
18th, that Convention of the white people
of the State is called for Tuesday, the 1st of
September. at the town of Alexandria, Parish
of Rapides. Like the Times, we thin the
Convention should be held outside of New Or
leans for many reasons not necessary to men-
ton; but to people determined to free them
hseIves from the despotic condition of things
| under which they are suffering. the place of
holding Convention is of minor Importance,
compared to the necessity of union of hearts
and hands in any effort they may make to rid
| themselves of bad government.
The Times, Alexandria Democrat and Baton
Rouge Adsoeate all denounce the State Demo
cratic Committee for calling the Convention
at New Orleans, and the Bulletin, Of that city,
attempts to defend the action Of the Commit
! tee, by putting the responsibility of their &C
| tion III this respect upon the country members
| Our old friend. Col. Z. A. Hunter, one of the
Committee, is also out in letter defending
| their action, and gives what we consider un-
tenahIe reasons III Justification of his and their
course in this matter. We do not intend to
discuss them, however, for whether their &C
| tion has been wise or unwise, it has gone to
the country, and if the.eountry people are not
satisfied - which cannot be doubted - they
should seek a remedy for the evil, and not
fritter away precious time in quarreling about
it. Union of the white people in the coming
contest is absolutely necessary, and if can
he secured, every instinct Of honor, honesty
and self-preservation should conspiIe to eI-
feet such consummation. Can it be done
Many Democrats may not endorse in full the
action of the State Committee, but this alone
will not induce them to repudiate it's action,
and so boot and heels into another organ
ization. They naturally prefer their own
party, and will endure the mistakes of Com
mittees rather than leave the party. 1t is
idle to ask them to abandon it, and unwise to
vilify their Committee. The White League
has nothing to gain by abuse OF Democrats,
but much to lose by fostering dissension of
any kind whatever among the white .people,
whether it be about names or Conventions.
We think the evils complained of by the
country, In the action of the Committee, can
be easily remedied. In our opinion they are
not evils, but simply mistakes, and there are
but two-one, in making New Orleans the
place, and the other in not inviting delegations
from all other organizations opposed to Radi-
cal Republicanism. We are aware of the tech
nieal party objections that might be urged
against the latter, and will only suggest now
that whatever difficulties might be anticipa-
ted in extending such an invitation to others,
they could be more readily solved by the Con-
rar har h--a ,ia
To say the least of it, such Convention would
truly represent all the elements in opposition
to republicanism, and all being threatened by
the same common danger, the knowledge of
this fact would go far, very far, towards oar
monizing them. H. T~-..r.s H..
If the State Committee will change the
place of the meeting and extend their invita-
tion as above stated, We see no reason why
we cannot all come together on this basis.
The Democrats in New Orleans cannot and
ought not to despise the wishes Of the country
in this matter, however trivial they may deem
them, and if the Committee desire the &C.
operation of all good citizens, they should not
decline the assistance of other party organiza-
tions who may be willing to assist the Demo
cratic party in the coming campaign. The
tone of their address is good and indicates
healthy appreciation of the situation, and if
they win change the place to the country and
invite the White League and other white or
CARNATIONS to send delegations to their Con-
vention, We predict grand success next No
vember. -tz =E #.....~ .4.s IT,
This much for this Convention. The Con-
vention called at Alexandra will undoubtedly
be largely attended, and will surely represent
the wishes or the white people in the country.
1t will be filed with time-honored Democrats
and representative men from Western, North
Western and Northern Louisiana, whose voice
should be heard in the affairs of our State. 1t
is useless to disguise the fact that it will be
held, unless some prompt, patriotic and earn
est effort be- made by the Democratic State
Committee to allay the bad passions it has
aroused. We cannot afford to
quarrel in the face of the enemy, and where
ever the fault may lie, the remedy is in the
hands of'the State Committee of the Demo
cratic party.
The White League Parish Executive Com
mittee of st. Landry will take some action in
this matter soon, but they may await further
AS matters now stand, they
will doubtless send full delegation to the
Alexandria Convention.
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