, 1874-12-28

ella Of tho faithful. Thoro had been nothing
like political harmony, and worry 1ltto like orgaA-
izationt since Reconstruction. Tho generally
admitted fat1uro Of miserable attempt at fusion,
aB represented IN tho tichot OF McEnorY
and Pom, Ind dono littlo to improve tho aitna-
tion. Iloso was complete md uttor broahing-
up Of anything and everything lilto pnrty-tios.
fow would-bo representative individuals
cian1od to npcak for tho Lilora'p. Certain see-
tons Of tho Slate lad got into tito sonuiugly-
confirmed habit Of returning uo-callcd India
pcndente 1horo WIS recognized olonlont TINT
had passed. for Reformcrn. There remained n
yostige Of tho yoloran Democracy. 10 offoct Nh
organization OF all tho different clemcnta
wAs THE rnoDIEsf.
There woro othor iaauoe, too, that occaaioncd no
little trouble. Ccriatn parislcs on tho wostorn
frontier, for Instance, developed d strong
feeling IN favor Of seeding from tho
stato and annoxing themselves to Toxas.
Thoso WIS Eoncra1 fcolng of jealousy, too,
among tho polltcinna In tho country aa against
city supremacy. It showed ttsolf, OH tho start in
call for on independent Convention. 10 cap the
climax, quito strong organization had sprung
up in tile city, known as "rho Hives" Ita
members distinctly ronudated nil party nflllia-
tion. They wero repudiators, IN fact, iii both q
material nnu political Benso. Thoir platform
waa nothing nloro nor lcBB thnn ropudiation.
Ihay claimed membership Of aovoral thousand
voters. They represented, as understood, eoy-
oral millions Of rcal estatc. Thcfr peculiar tonets
wore known as far from unpopular throughout
tho Etato.
The Democrats, true to their nature, through
all their dofcatH bud aloao maintained anything
like Il party-orgaulza!iou. The Stato at largo
having bcou Democratic In tho past, too, the
country rrossl wero OF tho game olden school.
Botweon tho two, tho Democracy turned out
MASTERS or THE SITUATION.
There must necls be something like party-ma-
clincry through which to effect anything Of an
organization for tho future. THAI Of tho CAM
paisn OF 1879 had fal1on to pieces Of its own
weight. Tho various conflicting olcmonts max
ing up tho original fusion Ind no joint repre-.
Beutation in any slapn, snvo rs found In tho 20.
called Comn1lttne Of Soyouty. Tho Committeo
Of Soronty, limited In its dutes to tho proaecu-
lion Of tic claims Of hlcEnorY t. Go. before Con-
Ercsg. wcse recognized as havn: no further au-
thority. They had pnYcd tho way for 4 campaign.
They Ind laid Tho foundation for abundance Of
catnpngn-.naterinl for tho Northern Democracy,
They had put tho ball III motion that waH 10
give tho lo to tho previously incontroyortiblo
lAcks ub HIfuuEGu ~ oCuAtUC nllFLouf u u ECn-
orally pcaceablo md quiet condition Of affaira.
Yhero could no }onEor bo a elainl Of general
ncquioGccnco Oh tho part Of tito people in tho
existing Government Of tho Statc. Thoy waro
becoming ntrrod up to spirit OF reglstnnro quito
as dou1onssrativo at even tho moat rampant of
tho Northern Democracy could desire. Tho
Cominittco Of Seventy lad quito fulfilled thoir
duty in tho prcn,iHee. Thoy wero neither cu-
thorizod nor prepared to tako the initiative in a
movement lool.ing to the organization Of tho
The old-tin,e Democracy, oyor nn tho nlort,
tool advantage OF The eitnntio,.. Under tho aus
rccs OF q relic Of I. former Democratic Central
Committee, Il call was promulgated for Stnte
Convention. 1t brought forth, Us before stated,
Q call Tor
Az orPoa1rloH CONVENTION.
as emnnatMs from tho northern. mil wcstcyn
portlouA Of tho State. Originating in t'e jealous
foas Of tho country politicians, tsse izs,scs were
former more po!itio Democratic leaders III the
city. Tho cali ua promulgated fsom tho country
Ind for ono Of ito siEncrs no less q parsonage
than Mc1:nory hlnlEolf Tt wEu ut onco dccia-
ration Of independence anu conscious superiority
vn tho pA,t Of tho cou;'try oxtl le,ntHts.
1t was b!ow. opcn und direct, nj tho moro
conservative or leauinE rlnnsns Ct tho city
Democracy. It challenged Immediate act.o'i.
too, Oh tho part Of tho Liberal elements, az rep
anu energetic hand, or be ittoral1y oyorrieslen bY
tho rank and tlio. Detwocu tho Conservatives
an1 the Liboraaa, AZ consequence. movement
was forced on tho rart OF the Committee Of
Seventy, Tho Corn'nitteo Of Soyenty :n,ist
needs attempt tho somewhat dospotata font
Of riding tho elements 1t had been
chiefly instrumental in putting i'll
nation. It camo out in tho rolo Of n madator.
Tho Immediate result waa new and joint cali,
through tho machluerY Of Tic ao-calcd Demo-
CRITIC Central Committee, indorscd by tho Com
nllttee Of Seventy. for general or
"rEopLEs coHrEsT1oT."
The situation, in tho meantime, ustdo from
moro party-conniloration waa becoming alarm
ing enough. Tho process OF stirring I'm tAo
people for political effect was faAt rocucing its
legitimate fruits. peaceablu, mud quiet enough,
at tue close of tho Inst session Of ConSrcEa, toy
wero now scen everywhere turbulent and OK
cited.
Through lnrgo portion OF tho State, tho Or
gnnza,ions OF White Leagues had oDtninod
complete and a5go1ute control. Combining,
very naturally, tho vicious and lnwlcsH clements
Of, ut best, Homowhat lawlcss community, sucl,
clements. us was natural. faht gained The aHcend.
nucy. Their hatreds nlHt nniInuHiies wero kept
Mt fover-hcat by constant appeals to their pre1u-
liccs through Nh intonnely-5ittcr and partisan
prosg. Thoy were ~ constantly stirred to action
BY local mud generally unprincplod politicians of
tho old-tlnc Democratic Echo0f. Il waa 4 re-
enactment Of tho oponng Hconoa Of 1861. AL Of
tl,o lower clements were fast welded into coul-
pact mass in lilo lend Of tue samo old
FELL. sr1nlTs or nEnELL1oN.
An then, tho spirit Of partiaan hatred and law
lessno6s osorrodo ant crushed ont by it's very
intensity, md CONSEQUENT intimidation, all Of
opposition among tho better aud moro peace
ablY-disposod citizons
Through u large portion Of the State, mora
uarticulnrlv Tho northern and western PARISHES.
tho Stato officials had beon foEciLly driven from
their homes. ThoIo WAS, consequently. nothing
Of legal authority that could oiIor my iesrnint.
1t waa general lawlessne5s, with not little Of
outrage, md oson murder. It was 1tobol De-
F.+, ICIn