The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1874-07-22
rHEATTITUDEoF THEPARlsHEs.

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The question for New Orleans pol
iticians to consider now, appears to
be something like this: Can we save
Louisiana without the cooperation
of the Parishes, or shall we concede
a little to them and their plainly ex-
pressed desires? 1t has come to
this. There is no room for doubt
that the city and the country are,
under existing circumstances, utterly
at variance with each other. And
the city must saddle it's scheme of
operations with the problem here set
forth.
We have watched the movements
of the Parishes very closely from the
first, and the result which has at last
revealed itself is only what might
have reasonably been expected
Had the name of the Democratic
party retained it's ancient magic and,
the influence of it's leaders kept it's
former strength; had it Been posi-
BILE to mass our armies by the Demo
cratic call, and lead them to battle
under the Democratic banner; the
White Leagues would never have
been formed. That organization, in
considerable here, perhaps, but stern
and powerful and resolute through
out the country, is the practical ex-
preston of the peoples discomfort
and distrust. 1t has sprang up from.
the ashes-not of the party, perhaps,
but of its follies and it's faiMres; it
demands another system Of control,
wiser theory Of action. And the
logic Of events has brought about
this question which, as we have al
already said, the politicians of New
Orleansimust now consider. ';ag
The Parishes demand a hearing in
the councils of Louisiana, and their
demand has so far assumed the fol-
lowing shape: g1 4IIG8.
r. 1--we want Convention to assem-
BILE outside Of New Orleans. =. =
2. We want that Convention to be
limited in numbers, SO that it's per-
sonnet may be select.
3.SWes want the country to enjoy.
an opportunity Of making itself
heard. X -
4. We want the name and the poll
cy Of the-white mans party for the
present campaign to be decided by
the Convention thus assembled.
In other words-let those words
seem harsh and ungrateful if need be
the Parishes are not willing to &C.
cept any platform in whose construc
ton they have had no part; they de-
clinerto adopt any leadership as to
which they have not been consulted;
they have lost confidence in the New
Orleans Democracy as now repre-
sented, and, to use a popular vulgar
ism, they want an entirely new deal
all around. Instead Of a Convention
called and controlled by the Democ-
racy, they ask for Convention
which shall decide whether the De
mocracy is to be an important or I'M
important adjunct Of the common
scheme. Instead Of going as re-
Ecruits to the Democratic Nucleus,
they purpose to meet 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 no forgone
conclusions, no cut and dried plans;
the campaign must take its rise un-
der their auspices, and the cause of
all the people go forth with the peo-
piles direct and legitimate benedic-
tion.
1t were the most objectionable fol-
ly to ignore all this. No one who
views the situation in a focus one
with larger than will hold his own
own ward club, can fail to recognize
the -imminence and the solemnity Of
the crisis. The Democratic address
has evoked no response beyond the
limits of the city. The utterance of
the country press and people plainly
indicate that it will not, cannot
evoke one. With one hundred thou
sand white voters protesting to cher
ish the same desire; with people
reduced to such straits Of poverty
and encouragement that material re-
liefhas doomed into a grim and aw-
full necessity; with hearts that beat
in solemn unison, and hands that ask
nothing but to be directly honestly