The New Orleans Democrat., 1876-04-29
THE I,EOPLE,S PARTY.

Democratic party as an illiberal. reac-
tionary. impracticable and proscriptive
party, and proposes the organization OF
a PEOPLES party (which shall absorb
the Democratic and all other Conserva-
tive parties, and draw to its support
large number of white and black Repub-
licans." We have read Mr.. Leonard's 8
letter with great care. He has been our
long time friend. He has been an un-
firing worker i'm the cause of Louisiana,
and has devoted much time. and given
much money to the long struggle
against Radicalism. There is no
man in the State more entitled
to a fair and unprejudiced hearing and
Judgment at the hands Of his fellow-citi-
zens than Mr.. Leonard, and there Is no
man in the State who Is more disposed
TO believe him honest and right, or
whom it can more deeply grieve to pro-
nounce judgment Of condemnation
against him than the editor Of this
paper. For months past, however, it
has seemed to us that this gentleman,
honored and trusted by the people OF
| Northwest Louisiana, has been drifting
| in q dangerous direction. and his letter
to the Shreveport Times, reproduced
here In the Republican and Times. reads
! like q final declaration Of revolt against
the Democratic Conservative party.
Mr. Leonard does not attempt to con
ceal the fact that Louisiana is In de-
plorable condition. nor even to deny that
| N ~ II
with the origin of our troubles. He
even admits that the Returning Board
acted harshiy and, in measure, unjust
ly. He attributes, however. the most
| of our sorrows and wrongs to our own
Imperfect comprehension of the situa-
ton and tho inherent defects in the
methods we have heretofore adopted. y
and gives us a miniature edition of one
of Morton's lectures on the impropriety
and folly Of violence and intimidation.
The central idea of Mr.. Ieonard's the
ory il. that the sum and substance Of all
that is folly and wiclSedness in the coun-
try is the Democratic party. Dissolve
the Democratic party, disgrace its
trusted leaders. who for ten years,
through good and bad repute, have
stood out against the plum
derers Of louisiana tear down
its banners on which are blazoned
tho principles Of the constitution +,
stigmatize every man who calls himself
O Democrat as an impracticable,
a reactionist, o proscriptionst, dis
band the trained legions which, through
years Of defeat have never faltered in
the fight for the redemption of the State.
and who have rallied to their standards
mt every bugle call break up, on the
eve OF the campaign. the only organiza-
ton in the State which stands for the
true interests Of Louisiana against War
moth. and Kellogg. and Packard, and
their robber bands. says Mr.. Leonard,
and then form Il mongrel party. com
posed Of Radical and Independent bum
mers. negroes, oftice-seekers and weak
kneed Democrats, and the State will be
saved. This is Mr. Leonard's plan, in
brief. We hardly think it is acceptable.
We have looked in vain in this singu-
lar letter for the statement Of somc
reason why we should cut adrft from
the Democratic Conservative party, and
for some platform Of principles upon
which the new party is to be organized.
We are told. it is true, that the Demo
cratic party is reactionary. impractica-
BILE, iliberal and proscrptive." But we
think we have heard something like
this before: we think we have heard
the same thing from Morton, Blaine and
Logan, and from Warmoth, and Kel-
logg. and Packard, and all the
smaller rascals who follow in the
trains OF these greater ones, and the
charge has lost its force. The
only platform we are offered by the new
party is, that the best men shall be
nominated. is there anything novel or
tangible in this proposition? Nothing.
1t is the veriest twaddle. Every party
and faction af1irms its purpose to nomi-
nate the best men. The Radical part y
proms "a this, and it nominated War
moth, and Wickliffe, and Clinton. and
Lowell. and all the other thieves and
bummers who have made this State
tutlI IIty. "A nv blpBpSts
to dissolve great party, whose princi
pies are rooted in the constitution, and
whole policy touches the popular heart
and to substitute for it a mongrel or
ganization proclaiming no platform but
the nomination of the best men, is un
wise and philosophical might al
most say, ridiculous. A party thus or
ganized out Of the bummers OF all the
others would be in politics what Jack
Falstaffs S ragamuffins were in the camp
and field But waving this fact, what
sincerity is there in Mr.. Leonard S pro
position to nominate the best men? He
is willing that the National Republican
party shall carry the election. and that
the Radical party shall elect its State
ticket. and many Of the parish officers
Now. we submit, that honest Louis
ianians, with the history Of the past