The New Orleans Democrat., 1876-07-11
BATON ROUGE.

field: the Radicals in Louisiana have
nominated their candidates, and the
prominent subject of interest to the
people Of this State now Is the Baton
Rouge Convention. There is deeper
and more general interest felt in the
probable action Of that body than has
been excited by any State convention
which has assembled within our borders
since the war. The fact that the State
is oppressed by the gravest burdens ;
that prompt and thorough change In
the administration, and radical re-
form in all the departments OF the gov
ernment are necessary, is SO patent that
even the Radicals are forced to admit it..
That the changes and reforms neces-
sary are to be accomplished by the
Democratic Conservative organization
is also evident, and that the candidates
of that party will be elected Is as GER
tain as an unaccomplished fact can be.
Thus. the future of Louisiana actually
depends upon the wisdom, patriotism
and harmony Of the Baton Rouge Con-
ventioD, and all eyes are fixed upon 1T,
all hopes are centred upon it.
Wetrust these facts will weigh heavily
with the delegates, and that when they
assemble they will SO deeply feel the
grave and solemn responsibility resting
upon them that they will discard all
personal preferences; all personal
schemes and aspirations; put down all
traders for nominations, all compro-
misers of principle, and with an eye
single to the good Of Louisiana select,
as candidates, the best, purest and
ablest citizens of the State.
We believe In the integrity OF the
people because we believe in republican
government. We are confident, there
fore, that the representatives Of the
people, realizing the grave RESPONSE
bility that rests upon them, will act
wisely; and, without attempting to in
nuence the convention in the interest OF
any candidate, we are prepared to ac-
cept the nominations as the best, under
all the circumstances, that can be made.
But while we advocate the nomination
OF no particular candidate, we cannot
refrain from expressing our belief In the
unwisdom Of any movement to inhu
ence the nomination Of any candidate
In any special interest. And we believe
this because we do not believe the vir
tue, wisdom and patriotism Of the State
or city are monopolized by the repre-
sentatives Of any special interests.
There are honest and patriotic men In
all classes Of society, from the humble
laborer on the streets to the wealthiest
merchants and bankers, and there are
bummers, roughs and rowdies among
some classes, and ring men, revenue
swindlers and traders and brokers in
legislation. ready to sell out the
State. in others. The influence or
any of these In our politics is detri-
mental to the public interests. 1t
is not the merchants, and bankers,
and lawyers, therefore, any more
than the mechanics and other
working men who should be repre-
sented in the Convention to select the
standard bearers Of the people. The
selection of delegates should be the
work OF the people-of all classes OF the
people-and the highest public duty In
this crisis requires that all classes OF the
people shall participate In it and en-
deavor to select unpledged and unpur-
ohasable men to represent them at
Baton Rouge.
The nominee for Governor must be a
man of sterling worth man who
thinks and acts for himself, and whose
temper is bold and resolute. If weak
man is put forward, or one whose
mind is not broad enough to grasp
the necessities of the situation, his pop
ularity and glory will be short-lived,
and he will be crushed by the magni-
tude Of his work and dishonored with
his people by his failure. If, upon the
other hand, "the man" has brain
enough to fathom the depths of our
troubles and discern their causes; if he
has the firmness to resist a multitude
Of counselors, henchmen and fiatterers,
and strike at those causes, as Gov Iilden
did In New York; il he has the political
and moral courage to hear the accla-
nations which will go up around him,
like songs of triumph, at his
Inauguration, changed soon thereafter
to the bitterest of denunciations from
one end of the State to the other; If
amid obloquy and abuse he has the
heroism to go on in wise and system
matte course OF reform, adopted after
deliberation, to be carried out to the
end at all hazards-if he is man who
has all these qualities-bitterly as he
will be denounced in the first months OF
his administration, he will finally re-
lieve the State Of its burthens, start it
again on the path Of progress. and en-
dear himself to the whole people.