The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1874-10-07
The DUTY OF THE HOUR.


engagements for the conduct of the
November election naturally pro-
yokes comment. 1t would be almost
unnatural if there were not diversity |
of opinion about the propriety of the
negotiation and the fitness Of the H.
nal plan adopted. T he minds OF
men in Louisiana to-day are absorb
ed by the contemplation of their late
political action, and their present pa
triotic duty. Every man, and we
would hardly exaggerate, if we said
every woman, thinks and talks of
nothing else than the public events
through which we have just passed,
and those through which we have to
pass. When hearts are so full, ton
CUES must give utterance.
Two courses were open to us after
the President had re-established his
Proconsul in his rickety vice regal
seat. We must participate in the
coming election or we must abstain
from it. There is no middle course.
1t has been decided that participa-
ton, and an active, Jealous and tho
rough participation in the election is
our true policy, and of the wisdom OF
that decision we have no shadow OF
a doubt. 1t is unjust as we'll as triv-
ial to enquire whether the Committee
had authority to speak for any party,
or to represent any organization in
their negotiations and correspon-
dence. If they had, then every one
one of us is bound by their action.-
If they had not, more honor to them,
because they had the courage and pa
triotism land it required both) to
step forward at time when mems
minds were unsettled and eager, an
xious hearts were painting for sage
counsel, and earnest spirits were
chatting at delays, and contrive and
perfect an approximation to a plan
by and under which, if we cannot OBJ
tain Justice, we shall have the means
of exposing how injustice is perpe-
trated.
What is the other alternative?-
| Abstention from the polls and abso-
lutte refusal or neglect of registra-
ton. What is the use of our going
to the polls to vote if our ballots are
to be as so many blanks, and the Re-
turning Board can and will count in
whomsoever it pleases? Adopting
for the moment the yankee mode OF
answering a question by asking an
other-what benefit or advantage,
present or remote, possible or con-
tingent, are we to derive from Austen
ton? Abstain from voting, and then
the shameless scoundrels who have
hitherto been usurpers will acquire
rightful title to such Offices as arc
filled at the coming election. The
six Congressman, who appear a t
Washington with credentials of their
elections, will for the first time in
several years have not only a primo
facie right to be seated, but will be in
fact entitled to their seats. To Our
plea that we did not register and vote
because we were afraid Of being
counted out, the answer will be from
friend and foe alike, you were not
afraid to incur the danger and all the
possible consequences Of an appeal tC
arms. In justice to yourselves and in
your own vindication you had no right
to decline an appeal to the ballot-box.
A n d every Radical Congressman,
thus elected by our criminal folly,
will be admitted without question to
his seat, and the whole State will
again swarm with local officers, whose
rights to their places will then be in
contestable. Abstention from t b e
polls at the coming election is delibe-
rate patricide.
These observations are not needed
here to stimulate our local communi-
ty. We are proud to chronicle the
fact that no, for one moment have we
thought in this Parish of adopting a
policy Of sullen inactivity, but indl-
cations are not wanting that sore OF
our friends in New Orleans advocate
that line Of conduct, and 1t is right
that we should all say frankly how
we fee! and what we think. And to
every man who is now arguing that
abstention Is wisdom, or manhood, or
skillful diplomacy, or whatever 1t
suits it's advocates to call it, we adj
dress one simple question. Did you
not assist in Or approve of the action
Of the Baton Rouge Convention,
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