The People's vindicator. [volume] (Natchitoches, La.) 1874-1883, 1875-09-18
The Proposed Convention.

Nineteen cstimahlc gentlemen of
New Orlcaus, heretofore engaged, as
we infer, in professional or CONNER
ciAl pursuits, seem recently to have
been solcmn|y impressed with til"
conviction that the Democratic par
ty in this State has no leaders and
is without any organization. Where
upon, after mature deliberations,
doubtless they conclude to organize
at once, and are now seeking to at
tain that object by sending circular
letters through the country in which
all good and true men are urged TO
cooperate with them in calling for Il
convention Of the Democratic party,
pure and simple, to be held on the
I'D of November next at-shall we
say New Orleans +?
No leaders are specially indicated,
but "a waiting and impatient people"
may perhaps not unreasonably eli
terrain the pleasing hope that those
who have disccrncd tho danger and
first sounded the cali to arms will,
from their own body, furnish leaders,
true, at least, however untricd ; or if
that would be too great a sacrifice,
perhaps they have friends" posses.
sing all essential qualifications, who,
through their influence, might he ill.,
duccd to become "lcatlers."
Far be it from us to presume to in
tcrferc with their selection, yet We
cannot refrain from expressing the
opinion that the whole country would
he gratiticd it supreme command
were rendered to and accepted by
the long ACKNOWLEDGED chief Of the
simple, pardon us, we mean of the
pure and simple, ''iast ditch,' un-
compromising, unterriiel Democracy.
1t is scarcely necessary ito say that
VIC refer to tho distinguished men,
Der Of the House of Representatives
from New Orleans, the Hon. Edward
Booth-simplest among the simple
found, i jurist of the first waters, rs
all who have read his political let
tcrs and heard lis eloquent orations
must admit. Surely he combines in
himself each and every qualification
which should be passed by leader
who proposes to assume the role of
estate saver"
With their circular letter the ami
able nineteen, "appreciating the sn.
prcme necessity" for instructins their
less intelligent political brethren of
tho parishes, have kindly enclosed
general suggestions from preamble
and resolutions in which they
"whereas" the Democratic party ont
of existence and ''resOlved'' its i'm
mediate. reorganization through a
! convention to be held on 22d Novem-
Der, 1873.
Painful as it is to dissent from what
"must be obvious to every thinking
man," and the nineteen are all think
ing as we'll "a honorable men, VIC are
not prepared to admit that there is no
Democratic party in Louisiana. and
We believe that no organization can
he effected in the manner and ut tho
time proposed which will not prove
detrimental to the interests of the
conservative people of the State.
The organization which, at the last
election, demonstrated beyond all
doubt that the Republican party was
in the minority in the State, is still
in existence, and can demonstrate
that fact again in 1876, if eternal dis
scnsion can he avoided.
The organization Of the white peo-
pie of Louisiana in 1874 was no mere
temporary cxpedient, and was based
on q plane higher than can ever be
attained by mere political parties. 1t
was q combination of MI honest men
and good citizens, united for the sole
purpose of rcdeeming the State. The
causes which impelled them to SO
combine are operating now, and will
operate in 1876, and the organization
already perfected should be and will
he maintained until a respectable
government is established in Lonis-
lana. The Democratic party was not
disbanded in 1874, but it was dragged
out Of the last ditch, l,beralized and
strengthened by it's alliance, or
''fusion,' if that he the word, with all
elements and honest persons in the
State opposed to Radical usurpation
and misrule.
If success in 1876 be desired, and
we presume no shrinking man" pre-
fers defeat, that alliance or fusion
must he maintained. Concetling that
four. tifths of those who voted against
Radicalism in 1874 were and are Dem.
ocrats, it should also he conceded
that no conservative party can win
in 1876, without the assistance of the
remaining one-tiftl', and those who
assume to direct public opinion
should, it would seem, endcavor to
keep united as firmly, at least as
they were then, all who combined in
1874 to rid Louisiana Of the foul in
cuhns forced on her by Federal bay
Onets.
The movement for immediate re-or.
ganization-apparentiy initiated by
the nineteen signers-is really attrib.
utable, we believe, to other gentle
men OF New Orleans, more or less
prominent in political circles, whose
object is not so much to organize as
it is to control the Democratic party. !
The desire to lead is not unnatural
and constitutes no serious objection
to those by whom it is entertained
but the people arc not particularly
interested in the contest between
those who aspire to he leaders, and
compel such aspirants to take back
seats if their rivalry threatens any