The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-10-05
A FEW WORDS TO THE PEOPLE.

Tn a blind confidence there is always dam
ger Eternal vigilance Is the price Of party
success II we may be allowed to paraphrase
the impassloned utterance OF Patrick Henry
There ID not now In the mind Of any man the
slightest apprehension Of disaster to the DEM
ocratic party anywhere in the State; still
there Is but one way Of insurlng the success
Of which we are all 80 confident, and
that Is by doing our duty as citizens and
seeing that all men who sympathise
with the party 10 theirs. There has been no
campaign whatever In this State and there is.
In consequence, no means OF ascertalning the
extent to which the different elements OF dis
Indignation, which we know are actively at
work have affected the morale and discipline
of the party. We believe that these agents
have done no material harm, but we have no
means Of knowing such to be the case. Ihis
very uncertainty and the chaotic condition OF
politics, necessarily resulting from our sad
experiences, only admonlsh us oil the more
TO renewed vigilance and more than usual
precaution.
| To the calalnities the epidemic has already
| inflicted upon the State we cannot afford to
| have added the further misfortune OF even
partial success Of the old enemies and plum
derers Of our people. The State, and particu-
larry this city, will have to husband all their
resources and will need the most sagactous,
| economical and honest administration OF
public affairs In order to recuperate from
the deadening effects upon all mate
rial enterprise of the fearful scourge
which has passed over us. Ii will not do to
have the beneflcent purposes, the wise and
economical methods inaugurated by the re-
| cent accession to power Of the Democratic
party. paralyzed or embarrassed by dis
nuted and uncertain authority. We have no
doubt that our people will do their whole
duty when the matter Is properly presented
to them. and for this reason we have VEN
tured to submit to them these considera-
lions. Let every man register, and thus
quietly qualify himself for the discharge OF
his duties as citizen. We know very well
that our old enemies are organized, and even
though they come to lis in as many disguises
Al Protells ever assumed, they cannot hide
their identity with the old set of vagabonds
and plunderers from whose whitening and
blighting grasp we have but just escaped
IF ont Of The absolute humiliation that had
overcome them-if out Of the utter hope
lessness to which they confessed at the
opening Of the campaign, they should
be able to organize even O. partial and local
success, by reason OF the troubles that have
hefallen us. 1t will be humliating confession
for the Democrats, the very best and bravess
Of our people, to say that they could not rise
superior to sorrow and calamity, and thai
the wretched creatures who compose the
Radical party have availed themselves o.
that fact and Of our weakness. Never vii
our people allow such q manifestation o.
nusl]lanimity to be recorded against them
There is now scarcely a month intervening
before the election. There are not many
more days in which to register. Large mum
bers Of our best people are absent from TIT
State. and q considerable number will moi
have returned before the registration closes
These facts make 1t all the more imperative
for every voter In the State to register, ant
exercise under any circumstances, no matter
how distressful, this right Of suffrage
No people In the whole world have
ever shown themselves more he
role In times OF danger and distres
than those Of Louisiana-none more capabl
e rising m equal to any calamity. hoWeve
bitter and trying. Their conduct during tn
existing epidemic has attracted the adlnira
, ton OF the world, and mo grander tribute
have ever been paid to any people than hay
been showered upon them by the other Chris
tian peoples of the earth. II was but tn
other day that we reprinted from grea
English journal most impassioned eulc
GUM Of these same people, OF their splendi
heroism and Incompatible devotion to dut
under any and all circumstances. howeve
terrible and trying, and In which we wet
spoken of as the pride and flower of the grea
q English race. Our people cannot afford t
shame this record by neglect of a great publ
duty, nor will they do SO. The emergency
y great, but they will prove equal to it.