The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-07-01
CAPT. w. W. FARMER.
HIS ADVICE TO THE DEMOCRACY
OF HIGHLAND TO REsCIND
ITS DCTHON.
tRichlaDd BeacOn.1

Notwithstanding we have repeatedly thrown
our columns open to the anti-cOnVentionists,
they continue to go outside of the State not
to give their reasons for OPPOSING the eonsti-
tutional convention, but to assaii those who
favor 1t. IhlS OF course, Is oil done for effect
to create kind Of sympathy, to which they
are welcome.
Capt. W. w. Farmer, Of Ouachita parish,
seems to have been very much mortified that
his Holstead letter failed to accomplish the
purpose for which he had reproduce 1t in the
Vicksburg Herald, of June Is, and then had
fifty copies OF that paper distributed about
our courthouse on that day-the day on
which mass meeting of the Democratic
voters Of Richland parish was held at Ray
vile. The object was clearly to influence the
said voters to abandon their advocacy of q
constitutional convention and to advocate the
proposed amendments; but his project failed,
and, as Is well known, our good people, to our
surprise and qualification too-we must adj
mit-indorsed the Beacon as the true exponent
of the public sentiment OF Rlchland parish.
This was too much for the captain to bear,
and he demonstrates with them through the
columns OF the Herald of last Wednesday, and
actually appeals to them to do so silly thing
as to rescind their action in this matter.
In trying to convince our people that they
have placed themselves in q very awkward
position Capt. Farmer publishes an editorial
which appeared in the Beacon, March 80, and
mis- onstrues nearly the whole article Give
it the meaning we intended, and we ret crate
IL. The whole matter was this, that we be-
ieved that the anti-cOnveHtiOnists, who
were in the minority, would attempt to get
control of the Democratic State Convention
for the purpose of pledging the party to the
ratification of the proposed amendments and
the defeat of the constitutional convention ;
AMI, il we have been rightly informed as to
the means used by the anti-conventionists
in Ouachita parish, our fears were well
founded.
We warned the majority to be on guard and
not allow their cherished desires and objects
defeated by trickery; and we warned the
minority I'VE still believe they are In the min
ority) that if they persisted in their designs,
they would ''fali, and that, too, perhaps, at
the expense of the deLtat of the party" that
they would fail to cary their point, but per-
haps divide the pa and cause its defeat
And we further said that If they, by unfair
means, tried to force their policy upon the
party, it would not be supported. But the
captain tries to make us say that we would
revolt against party discipline, even at the
expense of the defeat of the party. We did
not say 1t. We are in the Democratic party
never were In any Other-and do not propose
to be driven from it by those who oppose
Democratic principles and measures, or who
"wander off after strange gods" occasionally
Captain, it is hard for us to have to say
some things to good friends, but chose who
live In glass houses should not throw stones !"
and as you have forced the unpleasant duty
upon US, we will have to tell you q few plain
truths. The people of Richland parish-many
OF them, at Ieast-regard you as an astute
lawyer, an energetic, faithful and industrious
attorney, and are willing to trust you as
such; but they regard you also as political
failure and are not willing to trust you as
their political Moses. They have not forgot
ten that you led off in q Liberal Republican
movement, not many years since, which re-
suited In the disintegratiOn and defeat of the
party, while it Is still fresh in their memories
that, as the nominee of the party in 1876 for
Representative in Congress, your failure as q
politician brought defeat upon the party in
the Fifth Congressional District and sent q
carpet-bagger to represent us in Congress,
and that, too, after the Democracy had car
ried the district in the previous election with
Mr.. Spencer as its Standard-bearer-a cleo
ton in which the general result was not so
favorable to the Democracy as the last. I'm
der these circumstances, you need not be sur
prised If the Democracy of Richland decline
to act upon your advice.
You say that you remember that nearly one
thousand men in Richland voted for Gov.
Nichols. Aye! and they will again vote for
a simon-pure Democratic ticket whenever the
opportunity Is offered. They were buoyed up,
when they cast that vote, with the hope that
they were to enjoy as the fruits Of the victory
the relief for which they are still praying,
and which is still denied them. These same
Democrats are presumptuOuS enough to be-
lieve that they are competent to express their
own opinions and manage their own affairs
without your assistance They believe that,
being out-and-Out, Square-tOed Democrats,
they are capable of distinguishing between
the genuine and spurious article without the
adrine of counsel; and having planted them
selves upon the broad principles of the party,
they propose to eight it out on this line"
But YOU need entertain no fears Of their kick
in,.. cut of the traces or refusing to aulue py
the decision Of the state convention, If they
are allowed fair deal therein.
AS the Vicksburg Herald published Capt.
Farmers letter, will it be so kind as to copy
this reply thereto?