New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1875-10-23
THE DEMOCRATIC CONVENTION.

The struggle which has been going on
for several weeks between the Straight
out Democrats and the Conservatives has
resulted in something like drawn battle
for the present. The ultimate success
will, however, be on the side of the Con-
servatives, because the chief object of the
call will be anticipated by time, and
probably settled without the assistance of
State Convention of any party. This
| object was to effect a virtual annulment
of the Wheeler compromise and obtain
the recognition of the McEnery govern
ment by Congress before our Legislature
meets. The faction in the Democratic
party which favors this policy has been
fairly outvoted and compelled to be salts
fed with postponement of the conven-
y ton for six or seven weeks. In the mean
time Congress will meet and the Louisiana
delegation offered the option of taking
their seats by virtue of their present Gre
dentials, or waiting for the coveted recog-
milton and the manufacture of new set
by the regime which they hope to succeed
in setting up. With their present display
ofstrength, OR more properly, exposure of
weakness, we do not see how they will be
able to carry out any part of their revo.
lutionary programme. AIessrs. Mari,
VOORHEES,, Ellis, Booth and company are
in a hopeless minority of their own party.
They have mat antagonists who are wiser
and more influential than themselves, and
actually stand before the country as
baffied and defeated party managers.
For all ordinary purposes of party man
agement, the Republicans are entirely in
different about the time when the Demo-
Gratis meet in convention. They may come
together for consultation every week if
they think proper to do so, and we shall
not object But when the avowed object
is to unsettle the existing order of gov
eminent and revolutionize the State ad-
ministration, we have many objections to
urge. When the Wheeler compromise
was under discussion last fall, some of
the clear-headed members of the Repub-
lican party withheld their assent upon the
ground that they doubted whether the
Democrats would carry out their part of
the bargain in good faith, and the first
step taken after the return of the opposi-
ton members to the House went far to-
ward indicating the character for pru-
dence of those who were suspicious. Not
only were all the House officers swept
away instanter, but some six or eight Re-
publican members, who were fairly pro-
tected by the Terms of the compromise,
were evicted from their seats. The firm
attitude of the Republican Senate alone
prevented further similar removals.
TIE movement for Democratic con-
vention at this time is purely and simply
revival of that policy which last winter
drew from Mr.. Wheeler qualified protest
against breach of faith and set the other
members of the congressional committee
to writing cards interpreting their under
standing of the matter. The movement
was checked at the time, to be renewed
eight months later. 1t has again been tenn
porarily checked by a majority of the Dem
ocratic party, composed of men known as
Conservatives. Much of the moral infiu-
ence which it was expected the Democratic
convention would exert will be lost or i'm
paired by this postponement. The vote
will show that certain parties who have
been in the habit of meeting in secret
conclave and issuing rescripts and procla-
nations in the name of 1.-THE people" are
totally without authority to thus speak. A
majority of their own political party has
declared against them, and the Republic
ans are unit against their revolutionary
policy. FL" r-..a. .Y...
The party organs may put the best face
on the matter that they possibly can; but
the fact is now out that there is decided
split in the ranks of the anti-Republican
party. The extremists find themselves in
a minority, with an overwhelming major
ity of their late associates obstinately op-
posed to them. Either Messrs. Mari,
VOORHEES,, Booth and their associates must
now back squarely down or they will be
ruled out of the party. The split is on a
matter of policy, which is everything to
the Democracy. Were it one of prin-
ciple now it could be easily compromised,
as that commodity is not an essential in
gredient in Democratic councils. And
since the Conservative majority have
shown sufficient strength to control the
time Of the convention, it is reasonable to
infer that they will be able to dictate the
policy to be pursued by that body when
it assemblies.
DRIVING FROM POWER.