Richland beacon. [volume] (Rayville, La.) 1869-1890, 1876-08-05
Ticket and Platform.

Convention was much happier than
was promised at several times during
the progress Of its proceedings 1t
would be untrue, nor is it polite, to
deny that II great deal of bitterness,
resent ment and rivalry was aroused
between the friends and opponents Of
Mr.. Wilt. for this is the most accu-
rate expression by which the senti-
ments Of the Convention can be con-
veyed. The only personal devotion
manifested in the Convention was on
the part Of the friends Of this gentle.
man, unless we may except the roman
tic and sentimental affection, rather
than political loyalty. of Gov. McEn-
ery's following. AT all events, it was
upon the devotion Of the city, and the
opposition of the country, to Mr..
Wiltz's nomination that the whole
action Of the Convention hinged.
This necessarily raised q very ugly
question, and the State, the people,
and the party are to be heartily con.
graduated upon the fortunate and
happy manner in which the imminent
and dangerous troubled was avoided.
This was done by the enthusiastic and
spontaneous nomination. Of Mr. Wilt
TO the second place on the ticket, and
the gentlemen who contributed TO this
exceedingly wise and felicilous act are
deserving all praise.
After the withdrawal of Gov. Nc
Emery and Mr.. Heron in favor Of
Gen. Nichols, and his nomination had
been, consequently. assured, Mr..
GauthreauA, who had attracted univer-
sal attention by his almost violent adj
vocacy of Mr. Wiltz's claims, seeing
the inevitable conclusion that must
be reached, with rare address moved
the nomination of Gen. Nichols bv
acclaim. This act had most happy
effect, and generously responded TO
by the friends of bis successful rival,
by the nomination Of Mr.. Wil,z for
Licutenan; Governor in manner so
hearty and enthusiastic that he could
not possibly have declined The amende
offered him for his defeat The for
tuitous circumstance supplemented to
the candidacy Of Gen. Nichols the full
strength of the party. We do not
doubt that Mr.. Wilt and his more
influential fIicnds would have given
the ticket their hearty support under
all circumstances, still, there is so
much personal magnetism and friend
ship in the influence that this gentle
man exercises that, without his name
on the ticket, it might he difficult to
arouse that enthusiasm in the city
that is now assured. For these reas-
ons, we have no hesitation in saving
that the ticket is the very strongest
that could have been named, and that
it carries with it every element of
strength the party has in the State.
So far as the nominations are con-
cerned, we can but indorse them, and
cordially approve the public sentiment
which pronounces the ticket the strong.
est that could possibly have been made.
But we regre. that we cannot consci-
entiously say as much for the plat
form. 1t occurs to US that this dOcu-
ment is altogether unsatisfactory
and vague and incomplete. The Dem
ocrats at st. Louis made a departure
in the matter of platform that we
hoped would commend itself to the
party all over the country 1t was
complete, explicit, practical and full
of vitality and definite assertion both
of facts and Of purposes. The Baton
Rouge platform is not at all the same
sort Of paper 1t has nothing what
ever to say of the many projects of
practical and material interest to our
people and State which are just now
imminent and in prospect. Not
word is said about the New Orleans
and Pacific road, the Hawaiian treaty,
or the Funding Act. The act sub
hitting :he five amendments to the
constitution is not even alluded to,
and no recommendation concerning
them is made to the voters. We
can't understand this avoidance of
matters Of immediate aud tangible
importance, nor do we a. all appre-
ciate or approve it.-M o. Bulletin.
We were expecting some action
would be taken by the Convention in
regard to the proposed amendments.
The third section of the proposed
amer dmcnts should be voted against.