The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1878-05-17
THE DEMOcRATIC POLICY.

ton which is to assemble at Baton
Rouge on the LIST Monday In August
next, its deliberations, plans and pur-
poses are not shaped to accomplish the
final redemption of this State from bad
rule. We can see piainly-or believe
we can-that the future of the good
people of the State, either for good or
nj, depends upon the action of that
Convention. A temporizing, halfway
policy-a pandering to Republican
usages, laws and influences leave
the people no better Off than they are
at this time-suspended between the
hope of redemption and the fear of
Radicalism returned to power. A Wig
orous, manly, ringing platform will
restore confidence and revive the hope
of a commonwealth restored to honest
rule which cannot be disturbed. There
is need of more manliness-more soul
in the policy of the Democratic party
of Louisiana. Tt has been wandering
and fooling around, and 1t has grown
feeble from the exertion to find some
other path than the one which lay
straight before it. In the search for
new paths and devious routes to the ac-
complishment of the purposes for which
the Democratic party in this State was
organized we have taken no part.
There is Il way to redeem this State
and preserve its institutions sacred for
posterity. We are not so bigoted as to
kQliavQ fhQk thu "a or1~v e., SC,
the only safe one, but we do claim that
the State Convention must adhere to
the principles and teachiags of the
Democratic party. 1t is our firm be-
lief that no adequate remedy for the
evils arising from Radical misrule and |
no certain preventive of return of the !
malady, has, as yet, been provided. II
is claimed that the placing of State
government and a legislature in power |
elected by Democrats has accomplished
the objects and purposes for which the
Democracy has so valiantly struggled
ever since the civil war ended. This
is not true. There is just as much dan
ger of Radicalism now as there has ever
been, except that rulers have changed.
Politicians may palaver as much as
they choose, but Louisianians are in
just as great danger to-day as ever of a
permanent overthrow of their rights
and liberties. The State is not saved.
We hope the Democratic State Con-
vention will consider the doubtful con-
dition in which our institutions, our
rights, property and future stand.
There is a spirit of dissatisfaction
abroad. We know it. There is an
element, also, which is content to be
any and all things with all men. And
there is another element which may
be classed as Independent and to which
the Radicals are looking for assistance.
How to reconcile these elements is the
question. It must be done, otherwise
this State will relapse into Radicalism
and barbarism. 1t can be done. The
old platform and principles of the par
ty, the "rebel yelp' OF 1876, and the
proclamation of a bold, determined
and downright campaign will call to-
gether the host which swept this State |
two years ago in favor of retrenchment |
ana reform. Such declaration will
arouse enthusiasm and revive hone;
while a timid, hating, coquettish
policy will inevitably result in stray
Cling, desertion and probable defeat.
We urge the people, in selecting their
delegates to Baton Rouge, to send no
man there who will not advocate a
bold uncompromising warfare upon
Nadicalism and bad government. And
we should say that the greatest obsta-
Gle to return to good government
is the Infamous Constitution of 1865.
ltshould be trampled out of existence
burned as waste paper. There is no
redemption while that vile instrument
survives as the organic law of the
land. 1t is a lie from the besinnin.
and should be wiped out.
There has been variableness IN +,.
policy of the Democratic partv-o
wandering after strange gods. that 10
reprehensible, because unmanlv. ins;n.
cere and false. If the TELEGRAp,. can
speak for that psrty-and we have a