The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1878-08-21
MUSHROOM POLITICS.


Eyer and anon the "honest voter"
rears UP on his hind legs and strikes
out for freedom from the restraints Of
party organizations These move.
ments may come II the guise Of anti
Masonry, Prohibition, Fourierism,
Grangerism or Communismj but the
fate which awaits each and every one
of them is uniformly the same. They
are captured by demagogues, and, at.
ter brief and inglofous career, burn
themselves out, while. the old parties
live on and preserve m unbroken
unity. No thinking man, however,
expects the Natiunalsts of to-day to
remember so recent lesson as that
which is taught by tie history of the
Granger movement. These men be.
gan war of determination against the
politicians, and then fell speedily and
irretrievably into the hands of the
very worst of them. The "Christian
statesman sprinkled few hay seeds
in their scant locks, and ploughed their
way at once into tlle leadership of the
new party. The National party of to-
day is born solely of to day Of the
''hard times" Foi the last four years
nearly everybody las suffered terribly,
but the workingmsn, who suffer most,
have NOT the patience and equanimity
of their more prudent and thrifty
brothers, and are lnable to apprehend
calmly the causes which have produced
the distress, or the present subtle indi-
cations of returning prosperity. They
feel keenly their own miseries, and are
maddened by the apparent indifferenee
of the more fortunate. Hence the rage
of the Communists and their threaten
ing war-cries. It is useless to tell
them that theysare about to be led into
a wild death-dance by political charla-
tans, who are unable to secure recogni-
ton in the field of legitimate politics;
and who, after listening carefully to
their cries, repeat them with the fervor
of street montebank. With the fol-
lowers, it matters not who is found
voicing the passions and prejudices Of
the hour, whomsoever be may be-a
Hibernian drayman or seller of beer
by the glass-if his lungs are leather
and his throat is brass, his lead will be
followed in proportion to the faithful
ness with which he echoes their pas
sions, and the prodigality Of his prom
Uses of wealth and leisure. He has on
" to say ''seize what wealth you can
find and be happy" to prove the de
vine appointment OF his leadership.
II the radical distinction between
the two great political parties could
be put into words, it would prove to be
something like this: The Democratic
party is the natural and traditiena(
champion of the people against the
evils ofnepotism, favoritism, and cor
rupt and grasping monopolies, which
have made their nests in the Radical
camp. 1t is, in every essential partic-
ular, and by natural prediction, the
friend of the poor man and the work
ingman; and there is not a legitimate
need or benefit of this class which it
has not been, and is now striving to
attain. However essential may be tile
course of the National party, all that
is genuine within it will sooner or la
ter assimilate with it's natural friend
and defcnder-tlle Democratic party,
Post.
TARDY REPENTANCE.-Itis q singu-
Far fact that Mr.. Foster, member of
COnDraas from 0bio pl,a .poe fbo G..A