The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1875-09-22

CfuSduc I'll WulSu tliClL oioVoi oV'VSS
are struggling? The clarion notes
of victery in the East have been
echoed back by the Democracy of the
Pacific coast, and California to-day
stands redeemed by the Democratic
party from the fate of political thral-
dom. The overthrow of the Repub
lican party in the approaching Presi-
Dental campaign and the consequent
preservation of the constitutional
liberties of the country, constitute
the great energizing principles that
now undcrlie the efforts Of the De-
mocracy of all the States. The main
Issue of the battle is whether the
government shall be maintained UNI
! der the Constitution. Nor should
the people Of Louisiana lose sight of
the fact that it is peculiarly their
rights and their liberties Of which
the Democratic party have become
the champion in this struggle with
Radical power. Our degradation and
suffering have become the Democra-
cy's battle cry, and to what extent is
the Democratic party Of Louisiana
prepared to-day to give cheering
practical God-speed to those who are
now fighting her battle? We have
no Democratic party in Louisiana.
The late State Convention at Baton
Rouge was not a Democratic Conven-
ton. 1t was a general mass Conven-
j ton Of the people assembled under q
| joint call Of the Executive Commit
tees of the various political elements
in the State opposing Republican
!, rule in Louisiana.
i That Convention established an
i Executive State Central Committee
to conduct the campaign of 1874,
composed of intelligent and patriotic
J, citizens representing all the clements
of oppositlon to the Republican party.
This Committee is not therefore a
Democratic Central Committee. Nor
do those gentlemen in Rapides, who
in the Parish Convention fought
against the policy Of sending dele
gates to the Baton Rouge Convention
until they were convinced that the
call for Convention was not Dem
ocratic call, recognize this Committee
as a Democratic Central Committee.
It is consistent and proper, there
fore, to deny to the present State
4 Central Committee the power or dis
cretion to call Democratic State
I Convention. Hence, the Democratic
: element in Louisiana, which embra-
ces nineteen twentieths Of the white
, voters of the State cannot assemble
in Convention except through the
I spontaneous will Of the people. The
present State Central Committee may
however, and doubtless will, endorse
: by resolution the plan Of holding a
: Democratic State Convention on the
22nd of November. It is probable
; too tbatthe national Executive Com
mittee, may at an early day, publish
an address to the Democracy Of the
| several States, urging a speedy and
! thorough organization Of the party
in all the States.
But the immediate preliminary
question placed before the people by
this circular call is whether a Demo
cratic State Convention at the time
proposed by the circuler and by the
press i'll various portions of the State,
is necessary and proper. / submit
that such q Convention at such a
time is both necessary and proper
The Democratic party of Louisiana
should be promptly and thoroughly
organized. 1t should have an eff
cient State Central Committee au-
thorizcd to place itself in correspond
; ence with the National Executive
Committee. 1t should leave no effort
untried to bring into it's fold the &C
tive cooperation of every white voter
= in the State and as many colored vot-
ers as are not hopelessly imbittered
and suspicious against the white PEG
pie of Louisiana. The national Con
gress assemblies early in December
and the Democratic branch Of that
body should have the encouragement
Of knowing that the party in every
State in the Union is thoroughly or
ganizcd and equipped for the coming
contest; that in Louisiana, particu-
larly, whose people have, for years
been 50 pitilessly trodden upon and
degraded by the national government
the Democratic party has rallied its
strength and put on its war paint in
! earnest. The people of Louisiana