The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1877-05-18
THE NEW PARTY HUMBUG.

solid as granite mountain, andlt there
was d general election to-day, every
Southern State would go with the
Northern Democracy, If the route took
them TO the devil as we'll" The CORE
spondent Of the Cincinnati paper is in
the main correct, though the adhesion
Of the South to the Democratic party is
not SO blind and unreasoning as he igno-
rantly or maliciously intimates.
The issues upon which parties have
been for years divided have not mate
rally changed; and before there can be
q political revolution tho very bedrock
of existing parties must be shattered
and broken up by a great convulsion.
We have heard great deal OF balder-
dash about the new party in this seotion,
which is expected to be the outgrowth or
consequence of the Presidents South
ern policy; but we have not heard q
single intelligent reason advanced for
the organization OF any such party.
What is its purpose and mission2 What
weighty issue has sprung up to change
the political alinements In the South ?
The policy Of the national Democratic
party for ten years has been to restore
local self-government to the Southern
States: to cease all Federal and military
interference in Southern politics, and to
leave these States, like those Of the
North, under their own laws and
chosen rulers to develop their re-
sources, and generally to advance
their own material and social
interests. Upon the other hand,
for ten years, indeed for a quarter OF
century-but aggressively and with
armed force and violence for ten years
the Republican party has been engaged
In systematic and ceaseless effort to
subjugate, dishonor and devastate the
South. Throughout the three last Pres
idential campaigns this has been the
issue between the Democratic and Re-
publican parties; the former all the
time increasing it's strength and main
timing its broad, liberal and ennstitn-
tional theory, and the latter constantly
losing In strength, but increasing ana
inteasifying the malevolence and viru.
lence Of its policy of conquest. insult
and devastation, until in the last cleo
ton the liberal and enlightened prin-
ciples Of the Democracy received the
full and emphatic Endorsement of the
American people in the election of Gov.
Tilden. The Inauguration of Mr..
Hayes. the defeated candidate, was the
most audacious manifestation of the
utterly lawless and vindictive spirit
which for quarter OF century has
animated and characterized the Repub-
lican party, and showed that it had
then lost none Of its dangerous rancor.
Thus, up to the fourth of March there
was nothing In the politics OF the coun-
try or in the policy Of the government
to lead to the organization Of q new
or anti. Democratic party in the South.
But, we arc told, the policy of justice.
peace and Cancellation adopted by the
President ought in its nature to disrupt
the Democratic party, at least in South
Carolina and Louisiana, and lead u
large portion of the people Of those
States to join the Presidents party.
Those are shallow minded leaders
who entertain 50 low an opinion and
possess so imperfect a knowledge Of
of the people, as to expect any such
result. The policy adopted by the Pres
ident Is the policy for the institution
of which the Democratic party has
fought for ten years. and against which
the Republicans have as persistently
struggled. 1t Is the Democratic policy,
and its adoption by Mr.. Hayes is, If pos
sible, stronger evidence Of the fact that
the American people have repudiated
the narrow, cruel and vicious principles
OF the Republican party than was the
election Of Mr.. Tilden, for it shows that
the Democratic sentiment Of the coun-
try is so powerful that a President, in
augurated through fraud and violence
by its enemies. is forced to adopt its
policy.
What power or force then is at work
calculated to destroy, or even to dis
rupt the Democratic party In Louisiana
and the South? The Republican party
has not abandoned ito line. Blaine, Wen
dell Phillips, Ben Wade, Garfield and a
vast majority Of its leaders, stand as
unyieldingly by Its traditional prin-
ciples as they did in 1868. and they are
constantly vexing the ears Of the peo-
pie with their virulent and vindictive
utterances. The organization Of the
Republican party has been democrat
lied by the policy Of the Presi-
dent, it is true. But would it not
be the very extreme Of folly for any
portion of the Democrats Of the South
to organize a political movement to re-
inforce, reorganize and revitalize the
party OF hate. sectionalism and violence?
As citizens solicitous for our own well
fare and freedom, we could never do
fhi, A., xr,ntrll t,lo