The New Orleans Democrat. (New Orleans, La.) 1875-1876, 1876-07-02
THE WARD ELECTIONS.

"A very general lhteTehL III Tue WuIu
club elections Friday was manifested,
and we trust that there will be no
contests except In cases where there
have been@very manifest instances Of
fraud. A great deal more Importance
has boon attached to these elections
than In the nature OF things they de-
serve. II Is affirmed that the election Of
ward club officers virtually determines
the character OF the delegates to the
State and parish conventions. This can
only DO true upon tho theory that the
presidents OF tie ward clubs
can appoint commissioners who
will stuff ballot-boxes or make false re-
turns In the interest Of particular tickets.
IL any such system has grown up In the
Democratic party Of this city, 1t Is high
time that Il be broken up. 1t Is to be
presumed that those who have been
elected to the ward club offices are
honest and honorable iiien men who,
III the discharge of their duties, will see
that every element In the party has a
full and true representation In the
election for delegates TO the State and
Parish Conventions. III they shall prove
untrue to this duty; II they shall use
the influence and authority OF their po-
sitions III the clubs to debar any man,
or any class OF men, or the friends Of
any candidate. from full and free ex-
preston OF their wishes in the selection
OF delegates, they will prove to be base
corruptionists, unworthy of the posi-
tious TO which they have been elected.
We trust that those persons who were
elected 10 the control OF the ward clubs
on Friday will fully realize the fact that
they have not been elected TO aid In the
preparation OF frauds upon the people,
and that their duty Is to see that every
man In the Democratic-Conser
party has full and free opportunity OF
expressing his preference for delegates
10 the.nominating conventions. IL they
fall In this duty and lend themselves to
special interests, or become the tools Of
special candidates, they will be naught
else than corruptionists, unworthy Of
the confidence or support Of the party.
The third party movement has been
utterly defeated, and the struggle for
the control OF the State Is now really In
the Democratic Conservative party. We
freely accept the results Of the Ward
club elections on Friday. But there are
very many who do not. In the interest,
therefore, OF harmony and justice
We call upon the Parish Com
mittee to provide that every ticket for
representatives In the conventions have
an equal representation among the COM
missioners to hold the election for dele
gates. Gentlemen who have been
elected 70 the control Of the clubs must
not tlatter themselves that they are to
declare the delegates to the parish con-
vention and to Baton Rouge. With
these matters they have nothing to do,
and Ii they are honest and fair men,
they can exercise no more authority in
determining who the delegates shall BIO
than the humblest citizen In the COM
munity.
The people demand representative
State and Parish Conventions, and they
are determined to have them. We be-
lieve they will have them. But IL there
are any Vaccinations to control the dele
gates In the interest OF cliques or fac
tions, the result will undoubtedly be q
division liz the party.
Let those, therefore, who have been
elected to the control of the clubs so
net as to insure every citizen Q voice In
the selection OF delegates, and the
Harmony and triumph Of the party in
Move nber will be insured.