The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1876-07-05
Real Democratic Reform.

tanned invention with which our clever
contemporary, the Herald, day after
day exploits and foretells the things to
be done at St. Louis, as it did those at
Cincinnati. Mr., Conkling never re-
ceived thirty votes outside of the State
OF New York, and yet on each return
ing morning our inventive nciehhor
amused itself by demonstrating the Ger.
tainty of his nomination. Its predic-
tons then when compared with the re-
suit are no more an arraignment of it's
Intelligence and sagacity in foreshad.
owing the political future, than are its
assertions of to- day that the Dernocra.
cy at St. Louis will project plan of
battle for November which, in advance,
"surrehders Ohio, Indiana, and all the
Western states' letting them go to the
Republicans by default" This would
indeed put the Democratic party "be.
tween the devil and the deep sea-"
with chances in favor of the former
That the National Convention at St,
Couis will deliberately announce that
cit is idle for the Democracy to think
of recovering Ohio against Hayes" is
to US, and we believe to the Herald, an
impossible thought, for we are con-
WINGED that it is in the power of three
men-Thurman, Pendleton and Allen
to devise measures which will carry
disaster to Hayes 10 that State, as we'll
as to Wheeler in New York. The Her.
aid sees aud frankly admits that any
plan Of Democratic campaign which
abandons the West to Hayes, also in
the end surrenders to him the East,
even though all Democratic energies
be concentrated here. But that ia not
the worst of it. A cowardly and trea-
sOnable surrender of Ohio and the
West to Hayes, abandons the next
House of Representatives to revived
Grantism. The Democracy cannot
with one hand yield the Presidential
ticket in those teemiug States, and
make winning fight for the Congress
sioual and local tickets. And here we
touch the folly of a successful reform
movement on the part of the National
Democracy which is based solely on
the needs or capabilities or selfish pur-
poses of an isolated locality or State
In national election a reform issue
must be national to be effective. 1t il
only national reform sentiment which
will take deep hold of the masses of
the whole nation. The Convention at
st. Louis has to deal with national pol
itics, and not merely with local admin.
istration in New York or Ohio. Our
own idea of reform is that which began
in 1874, not only by the election of
Governor filden in this State, and
Governor CASTOR in Massachusetts, but
by the expulsion oil Republican power
from the national House of Represen-
tatives. That reform did not find its
inspiration or encouragement in the
candidacy Of any one eminent and pa
triotic Democrat, but in the convictions
aud purposes OF the people acting from
end to end ofthe republic, and without
previous concert, as if of one mind and
thought. If such convictions and pur-
poses endure till next November, the
defeat Of Hayes, who is but sham and
cover for Grantism, is assured, no mat
ter who are the candidates, provided
they fairly represent Democratic pas
sions and Democratic fidelity to honest
government, aud do not excite local
antagonisms.
The Democrtic party and it's nation
al candidates are to be judged next No
vember, not by any local tests and
standards, and not by mere personal
promises Of the future, but by what it
has done, or attempted, in Washing
ton during the present session. What
manner of man did the reforming De-
mocracy make its Speaker in the
Housed What sort of a Committee of
Ways and Means did it create, and
who was placed at the head thereof?
What is to be said of its Committee on
Appropriation, its individual members
its Chairman, aud it's efforts to reduce
taxation and promote economy7 Has
the Democratic House been vigilant
and faithful, on the whole, in exposing
to the country the real condition Of the
Executive Department. Has any Leg
islative job, of any kind or character,
been passed through that body, or by
Democrats even attempted to be pass
ed? What has the nation to say of the
exposure of Belknap, Robson, Blaine,
schenck and many others, and the vim
dication of Kerrf Has not the Demo-
cratic House made the idea of national
reform possibility, and defeated
Grant, Blaine, Conkling and Morton
at CINCINNATI What hopes of reform
could the nation have had but for this
Democratic House9 And, in oul opin-
ion, Democratic exposure have but
just begun. What Interpretation does