The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-04-25
PRINCIPLES VS.. SPOILs.

marks: 'It is one of the worst political acct
dents If the parties are merely divided int
'ins' and outs" These are sound politica
truths which, at this juncture of our politica
affairs, should be In the mind OF every either
Of Louisiana, and especially of every true
Democrat.
| A very important campaign is approach
| ing. The State Central Committee is tt
assemble in a few days to call State conven.
ton and adopt such measures as may BIZ
deemed necessary for the party organization
| On what great principle and for what worthy
| and great object Ia that organization to he
| Accomplishment Is the party to be carried into
| another bitter and exciting canvass under the
| shapeless cloak Of REFORM" and with the
blatant and meaningless battle-cry of re.
trenchment, or are we to adopt platform Of
specific and solemn pledges, to which, when
thu next General Assembly meets, we can
rieidly hold those we may elect to it?
How utterly shallow and meaningless how
actually hypocritlcal and criminal, is politi-
cal campaign conducted on the general
pledge Of retrenchment and reform-words
which every political fraud and shyster can
below as loudly as the best and which every
renegade and corruptionist can evade when
once in office-has been shown by the failure
OF the late Legislature to accomplish any
thing of real benefit to the State. If the
Democratic party is to be rallied again, 1t
must be rallied upon specified line of policy
the purposes OF the canvass must be set forth,
and those purposes must be in strict har-
mony with Democratic principles. The rank
and file of the party will not be deceived by
a campaign of the "outs" against the ems"
nor by a campaign of the Gins" for a new
lease Of the spoils, to furnish which the peo-
pie are to be kept still longer under shame
full and expensive system of government and
at the mercy of a brood Of monopoles.
The Democracy Of this paper has been Of
late assailed in several quarters; and, remark
able as 1t may seem. because we have VEN
tured to assail so-called Democratic Legis-
lature on the ground that it failed to carry
out Democratic measures. In short our De-
mocracy has been questioned because we
have stood by the principles and tacit
pledges Of the party and endeavored to hold
the Legislature to them. We are prepared to
go before the party on this issue. Democracy
never has meant the capture and enjoyment
OF the "spoils." That was the moving and
abiding spirit and principle Of Radicalism
That party framed constitution under
created and all salaries and expenses immense
ly augmented; a constitution, In fact,
In the interest Of politicians, office
holders and ravenous tax-eaters generally,
and for the express purpose Of fleeing the
taxpayers for the benefit Of these pernicious
classes. Under this constitution q horde of
monopolies were chartered and now con-
stitute, perhaps, the greatest and most op-
pressive Of all the great and oppressive evils
under which the people suffer. This we I'M
derstand to be Radicalism; the Radicalism
against which we have all so long and per-
fought. We supposed therefore.
that opposition to these things; opposi-
ton to constitution which is at once the
badge of our shame and the instrument Of
our lmpoverishment and to all monopolies
constituted at least Louisiana Democracy.
But the late General Assembly did not take
q single resolute and stalwart step toward
the extinction of these monstrosities. That
body has adjourned and passed away forever;
and still the Ubiquitous constitution, with its
brood OF monopolies and rings Of 1868, is before
us, Expanded to the broad sunshine, exposed
like the SOW Of imperial augury, lying in the
mud with all the prodigies of her fertility
about her, evidences of her delicate amours."
The Democratic masses Of Louisiana de-
mand that this unseemly and disgusting spec
tacle shall be swept out Of sight; they
demand platform in the approaching cam
paign pledging the Legislature to call and pro-
vide for constitutional convention; because
it is the first and highest principle of the
Democratic party that governments are con-
stituted by and for the benefit of the governed,
and not by bands Of thieves and troops, and
not for the plumber of the people. They will
demand platform pledg1ng the Legislature
to the repeal Of the charter Of every monopoly
in the State, because monopolies are unrepub
lican in their nature, the creatures Of class or
corrupt legislation and times, and curse to
the public.
These two points cover the only issues in
this State between the Democratic party and
it's opponents, be they Radicals or Conserva-
tives. No man who refuses to stand on these
can venture to call himself Democrat, for
If he refuses to stand on them he is either
opposed to Democratic principles or has not
the pluck to maintain Democratic principles
when they can be OF the greatest service to
the State.
If any platform is framed which does not
embrace these measures, the campaign will
dwindle into mere scramble between rival
politicians for the spoils; and in such con-
test the people can have little or no interest.
We heard the shout Of retrenchment and re-
form in every valley and every hill through
out the State in 1876; we saw those mystic
words blazoned on every banner that fiuttered
at q barbecue or Haunted in a torchlight pro-
cession. Everywhere, in every meet
ing, we heard only Of retrenchment
and reform it was in and around us In the
air; and yet, at the expiration Of the Legisla
ture elected under their auspices, what re-
suits have we reaped? All those fair pro-