The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1874-07-31

Wa had been tranquility and hope
fi,,lv, p,irsuipf. the study Of Louisiana
POLITICS. IN connection with National
politics, feeling, as we progressed, that
at last, the doctors were satisfied with
experiments and changes, and, THAT
with,evfdent symptoms of reaction
throughout the whole system, the
patient would be permitted to have a
moment-iust one trial-for 'heaithioi
restand quiet, and easy circulation OF
the vital fluid, when the smooth cur
rent Of our hopeful apticipations was
disturbed with having placed before
the poor patient the everything pre-
acrinsion. Cite her a Ne,0 Pts''ty po'0der.
The, 1ast time this potion was admins
tered, we fonflly hoped never to see or
hear of its like again. But, doomed as
we are it seems, to.be confronted with
repetitions of the advice, we must needs
acceut the fate, and struggle with it.
In our study of politics of this State
one grand leading feature has caught
and held our thoughts-Genuine reform
in the State 'is impossible without unity
of action. among reformers, and will be
temporary, if inaugurated, unless sup
rortefl bva similar reform in the politics
of the Union. o.s-t.a er ;e'
proposition so clear as this needs
no elaboration; It is seif-supporting.
More than this, conceding- who will
not2-that. without reformation in
national politics, q reformation in our
State government will leave us still the
mere dependents Of the dominant party
in national affairs, Congress, or the Pres
ident, having under our lately central
lied form of government the power to
annul whatever the people may direct,
does not the feature we have caught
hold upon, in analyziug the situation
in this State, cover the whole aspect OF
the case, focus and surroundings? We
believe it does.
There Is in politics, as in almost
everything else, a central point, base
of supplies, which no skillful leader or
general will disregard. In the matter
of the redemption of Louisiana from
barbarous lnisrlIe, We are absolutely
driven to the conclusion that perma-
nenti relief, the only relief desirable,
must come from the outside. To justify
fy this opinion, it is not necessary to
recount the incidents of the disasters of
1868 and 1872, when a good govern
ment was chosen at the ballot-box, both
victories perishing like Dead Sea apples
on the lips, because of the lack OF
National support. We won, and we
lost. While almost within our grasp,
the fruit Of victory was rudely snatched
from our hands, and we were thrust
into dwelling subserviency, because
the dominant party willed 1t and
because we could not maintain ourselves
by resistance. ...
It is a thankless task for us to say it
tho task of one, who, against all his
efforts, is forced to say it-that 80 long
as centralized political party controls
the General Government, Home Rule
at the South is nothing but the creature
of forbearance. The legions of Grant
still distrust the South. Never would
they have enfranchised the negro, or
sustained the INFAMOUS uISF4le over tlS
the negro has inaugurated and sustained,
but for their unreasoning and unreason-
able hatred Of Southern men. Will
these legions now give up the struggle,
themselves being the sponsors?
What are we to do-the people of
Louisiana? Our enemies have again
and again taught us the lesson that in
unity there is strength. While we
have been frittering away our time and
strength in new movements and de-
Elections, all the while with bat a sim
gle object in view, our enemy has been
united. He has pursued steadily a
fixed purpose-he has had a central
point, a base of supplies, a purpose to
which he has marched with unwavering
tread. He has won, and we have lost
primarily, because he was united, and
secondarily, because the greater ally
finally sustained him.
In this way we have reached the
conclusion that the true line of duty