The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-09-23
OUR POLITICAL DUTIES.

We regret that Mr.. Acklen thought proper
to write the letter which was printed in thu
DEMOCRAT yesterday morning. If he did NO
desire to obey the invitation of the State Cen
trail Committee to return to his district, per
haps it would have been better to have declined
than to make an open issue with that body
In his letter Mr.. Acklen says:
Has there been a meeting called or q
speech made? On the contrary are not oul
people in tears and mourning for the dying
and dead? Am to insult their sorrow and
deTide their grief by proposing political gath
erings, while every household has the sick tC
care for and its neWly-buried dead to mourn
The representative Of the Third District
must pardon us If we express the opinion
that there Is no force In this eloquent protest
There is an epidemic amongst us, it is true
there are many sick; there are countless new
made graves; in many households there is
sorrow and lamentation. But are we SO weak
and degenerate people that in the midst OF a
temporary calamity we are SO stricken with
terror that we are forgetful or rather neglect
full of the highest and most important inter-
ests that can concern free people? Have
We 30 little of fortitude that, in our
transports of grief for the dead, we
We trust not. Those who are organizing the
Democratic party, and who are working for
its success in November have been at no time
unmindful of the mournful duties they owe
the sick and dying. The work of the COM
mittee room has not interfered with the more
sacred but not more important duties of the
chamber Of sickness and death. In attending
to the highest civil interests OF the State
they have neither ''insulted the sorrow nor de-
rided the grief Of those of our people who are
in tears. No political gatherings have been
called In parishes where the epidemic pre-
walls, but the vigllant labors of those to whom
the people have intrusted the political issues
that SO vitality concern the interests Of the
living, become duty which cannot be disre-
garded by those who have assumed the trust
In week or two the epidemic will be over;
few thousand Of our fellow beings will be
sleeping the sleep that knows no waking
But there will be eight hundred thousand of
us left to feel for long years the ruInous re-
suits of the RELOCATION of Louisiana
to Radical rule, or to enjoy the pros
perity which it is hoped and be-
lieved will follow few years more of
Democratic policy. What Is to be thought of
US then, If giving ourselves over now to woe
and lamentations, we sit with folded hands
and staring eyes in the midst of our dying and
dead, while buster men plot and accomplish
our defeat and the ruin Of Louisiana?
Mr.. Acklen is mistaken here and we are
certain he will readily perceive it, His dis
trict needs his energy, ability and unceasing
work for the next six weeks He may have no
opponent for Congress, but in nearly every
parish Of his district there will be Radicals
and Nationals running against Democrats for
the Legislature, and the election Of a Demo-
cratic Legislature is Of more local and imme-
date Importance than the election Of Con-
gressmen
We write with no Ill will toward the Repre-
sentative of the Third District. On the con-
trary, he has, and will have throughout his
canvass, our cordial and unceasing support.
We have felt constrained, however, to take is
sue with him on this point, because other
men might be lead to believe that it is proper
Tor them at this time to neglect their political