The New Orleans Democrat. (New Orleans, La.) 1875-1876, 1876-06-04
THE BATON ROUGE CONVENTION.
IMPORTANCE or HARMONY IN THE
P1RTY-ISSUEs INTOLTED.
Candidates Must he the Embodiment Of
the Platform.


the Platform.
Editor DemOcrut-The time is rapidly
approaching when the Democratic-C Con
sentative party OF Louisiana will noml-
nate delegates to attend the State Con
vention to be holden at Baton Rouge On
the oath of July proximo.
This convention, when assembled,
will be one Of no ordinary character it
will have the selection OF candidates for
the various State offices to whom, il
elected, will be entrusted the interests
Of our people for four years. Upon It's
prudent action and choice OF proper
leaders will depend the harmony OF the
party and the success OF the Democratic
State ticket. Efforts are being made TO
disintegrate the party whose existence
is coevaI with the government, ana at
time when union is absolutely essential
to the Inauguration OF good government
in Louisiana. A few ambitious men,
aiming to control the politics OF the
State, are hoping to achieve success
under the nomenclature OF q nfW party
organization. Conceding the right Of
every man to aspire to public station,
official preferment is nevertheless u gift
Of the people and not right when any
individual can demand. The 1ntrl8ueS
and com binatiOns Of mere place hunters
are dangers VI be ttFCi 'tt "a % PD'''tO o"i
organization would achieve enduring
success.
Ir IL uufur tJcuatriy true mat too fire.
dusntlY in conventions cliques are
formed to further individual interests,
under the conviction that q nomination
is virtually an election, and thus q party
is made to assume a responsibility that
often threatens its success.
This evil is attributable to the fact
tFT.,f s.gl -
the masses Of the community in the
local primary assem- blages, and by rea-
son Of this general apathy and uncon-
Germ, delegates, seeking the position
simply because the belief is entertained
by them that thereby they are afforded
the opportunity. of securing pecuniary
compensation or place, are chosen by q
mere fraction Of the party.
Selections of this character have
thrown suspicion upon political con
ventions, and been made the occasion
Of Independent nominations. BY iden-
tifying themselves with the central
ward clubs and causing their influence
and strength to be excrted in the pri-
mary assembIages, it is within the
power Of the people to remedy such
evils; and the barter in votes, so often
shamclessIy practiced, will be effect
ually prevented. In the campaign upon
which we are entering, the Democratic
Conservative party should suffer no di-
vision. Our people demand relief from
the heavy burdens which for eight long
wears they have been compelled to
bear. Rctrenchment and reform
must not only be promised, but
conscientiously and faithfully car
ried into execution. Taxation must
be reduced and the expenditures
Of the State government confined to
the legitimate purposes for which the
government was instituted. Our candi-
dates must be above reproach, and pos
sess the confidence and respect Of the
people. Political platforms are too fire.
quently deiusive, made to the ear to be
broken to the hope" Our candidates
must be the embodiment OF our plat
form, known and read of all men :"
rather than their professions for the
future, must challenge the faith and
evoke the enthusiasm Of the people.
In view Of the magnitude Of the inter
ests involved, / feel assured that gentle
men will be selected by the Baton
Rouge Convention, as the standard
bearers Of the Democratic party, in
whom LOuisianians can implicitly con-
fide and around whom they can rally
with enthusiasm and pride, confident
that, under the inspiration Of such
leadership, victory, good government
and consequent prosperity will be as
sured From this time onward let the
motto of our party be: A ticket com
posed Of men capable and honest; a
union Of effort; the redemption Of the
State from official corruption and mis-
rule. CITIZEN.