The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1875-10-26
a SHORT OANPAIGN.

1 like short, vigorous campaigns. They are
less expensive to the party, do not usurp SC
much industrial time, and are far more likely
to be interesting and enlist the attention of ths
public than long and dragging one.
So remarked Gov. Thos. A. Hendricks il
the course of conversation respecting the
prospects of the Democratic party next year
This is the conviction of many other men ex
perienced in political campaigning. Yet il
now seems probable that the canvass OF 1915
will open earlier than usual, on account O.
the necessity of holding the Democratic ma
tional convention at an early day, in order
that an understanding may be had on the cur
rency question.
1t may happen that the result of the cleo.
ton in Pennsylvania week hence, taken in
connection with the debates in Congress upon
financial questions, which are likely to take
up large proportion Of the session, will
define pretty claaA the position On which
the party will beable to agree respecting the
resumption of specie payments. In that case
an early convention will not be necessary.
In behalf of the journalists, we should regret
an opening of the contest any time before the
LIST of August.
1t is drear time for them when obliged
to discuss one monotous range of topics, re-
peating the same arguments from day
to day for months, in answer to all new
forms in which fallacies may be modelled by
the ingenuity of opponents All the Petty
animosities, all the personal abuse, all the
mean hostilities, and all the despicable trick
cry of rival rartisans are brought to our no.
tice. We are obliged every day to note some
new display of illiberal spleen and spiteful
rough denunciations, to hear persons
of no more than average ability
and character extravagantly eulogized by
some and covered with billingsgate by Others
to see the best known facts tortured into false
and deceptive shapes, and to hear the most
diverse conclusions derived from the same
admitted statements. We see the worst
phases of the characters of politicians dis
played in their most unpleasant aspects, and
the exhibition must be endured through
the whole dismal campaign.
We should not so much regret the journal
lists necessary agency in an important politi-
cal canvass if the information derived by the
people was in reasonable proportion to the
extent of the efforts made. But it is
observable that the voters of the Republic,
after all the expenditure Of time and words,
come forth from the noise and hubbub of a
presidential campaign but little happier and
no wiser than when they first tossed their hats
aloft in honor of their newly nominated can
didates. The government changes hands, the
people are only little enlightened as to their
duty as self-governing men, or as to the NUM-
ments by which their rights are fortified, or as
to the value Of political liberty and the means
Of making it a perpetual possession.
The campaign that ough to instruct the un-
derstanding, store the memory with valuable
facts, enliven the patriotism, stimulate the tai
ents and arouse noble emulation, too often
fails in all these ends, while diverting atten-
ton from industry, encouraging incidence,
and fostering personal enmity. The shorter
all such campaigns are the better it will be for
the business and morals Of the country.