The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1877-05-10
Party Lines.

| a oCuVOs VI HOitttClAuS uhS kTOWu
up in this country within the last
twenty years, affecting to represent
the spirit of progress which is pop.
luarly believed to mark, in q pecu
liar way, the last two decades of the
worlds history. No greater mis-
take has ever been made than to
suppose that the weakening, or
even the entire wiping out of party
lines in progress, or represents it in
any appreciable degree. When en-.
tire party organizations were made
responsible for the private as we'll
as public purity of their leaders and
standard bearers-and this was the
case under the old whig and demo
cratic regime-such conduct as Bel.
knap's, Boss Shepherds and others
Of the modern school of political
progress was unknown. Now, the
last sixteen years of republican
power has developed an amount of
public official corruption sufficient
to sink the party forever, if only the
old standard Of political morality
was in vogue. The republicans have
been able to carry these heavy loads
of black crimes, and throw them
down at will simply because it has
no history to care for, other than it's
crime record. 1t has no party lines
to stick to, no standard of character
to force its men up to when they
aspire to place and power. Hence,
we find General Grant entering pub
lie life penniless adventurer, and
after twelve or fifteen years retiring
with property scattered over a dozen
OF the states, and fine horses and
fine establishments everywhere.
A net calculation of his gross hon
est receipts for salary and neat cal
culation of his gross expenditures
will disclose the fact that the one
account will very nearly balance
the other, or, if any difference ex.
lists, it would, Notwithstanding the
increase of salary one hundred per
cent. during his administration,
leave the advantage to expenditure.
How then did he accumulate the
handsome fortune he possesses to-
dayS Where did the honest money
come 'front.' No reply can be made
to the question which would be sat.
lsfactory to any considerable mum
Der OF people in this country. The
inference then, is, alas /! too plain.
And yet General Grant serves out
his two terms, retires from public
life, and his successor is chosen
from the same party, thus showing
that the people do not, as of old,
charge up against the party the
deilnquencies of its leaders. All
this dangerous laxity is clearly
charseable to the gradual weaken
ing OF party lines. The soft wings,
soft democrats, and flag ends of 9th.
er political parties have stepped in
and divide the burden of this shame
with the republicans.
Imagine General jackson, Thorn
as Jefferson, James Monroe, George
Washington, Franklin Pierce or
any of the earlier democratic presi.
dents growing rich on the salary of
eight years service in presidential
harness, and yet Grant not only did
grow rich himself but his relatives
OF every degree and favorites of all
classes were provided with oppor.
tunltles, which none of them have
neglected. 1t is said of General
Grant that he was prior to the war
q democrat as his father before him
was. If SO, here is another strong
of the danger of weak
ening the party lines.
No, after all these "reminiscences
and reflections We are brought back
to the conclusion inevitably that no
true political reform can obtain so
long as party organizations refuse
responsibility for the acts of its Judi
vidnal parts. And this cannot be
unless the lines are so drawn az to |
exclude from the party councils |
hose who come only to betray.
These are old-fashioned political
IDEAS, but while they obtained in
aational affairs, the country was
spared the new fashioned disgrace
'f seeing its servants lifted from
poverty to wealth by the pickings
md steaIings Of official position
Dallas 1eras) Herald.
1t Is owing to the fact that the
lOus0 ia Dom0cro< +no4