The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1878-04-26
THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY ISCAPABL1
fif 4faA OF A WRONG. -.

thing is certain and admits Of no doubt,
which is that the Democratic party
will be arraigned In the next campaign,
by the Radicals, for the short. comings
OF its legislature. The matter may be
arranged, the question predetermined,
or some other settlement made to tide
over differences Of opinion among DEM
ocrats, but it Is certain that the Repub-
licans will press 1t upon the stump and
through their newspapers that the
Democratic members of the legislature
failed to do their duty and to redeem
the pledges made by their party. It Is
we'll to think Of this dilemma nOsO.
The journals of the legislature are open
to the Radicals, and the complaints OF
the people published from time to time
have no doubt been carefully fled
away. Members OF the legislature can
not expect to avoid q discussion of
their acts and votes. If not a single
Democrat in the State should arise in
the next campaign to doubt the wisdom
Of the course of the legislature, the
record of that body, its pledges and
acts, will be brought up for investiga-
ton and for judgment. This thing can
not be avoided finally, and why not
meet it now fairly and squarely, and
among Democrats alone?
We have said, for one, that the legis-
lature has failed in its duty, and we
have seen no reason to change our
opinion. We said so early in the ses-
sion. We said so when the Press was
selected to 'treform" with, by fixing
printing rates at starvation prices, and
ended with refusal to reduce the per
diem and mileage of legislators. We
urged the General Assembly, immedi-
ately after it came into power, in 1877,
to pass q few necessary statutes, among
them an Election law, call u constitu-
tional convention, and adjourn. At
the late regular session the TELEGRAPH
spoke up for short session, and again
in favor of a call for constitutional
convention. In short, we have persist
emily adhered to the Democratic faith
and urged strict conformity Herewith
upon the Democrats of the legislature.
Now, either the TELEGRAPH or the
Democrats of the legislature have been
wrong. 1t will be admitted, we sup.
pose, that the TELEGRAPH was not
wrong when it aided the election of
Democrats to the legislature. Will it
be admitted that what we then advo-
Gated we have continued to advocate
and do advocate now?
But granting that we are in error
that the "policy" has changed-that
we do not " know it al, what Is the
result of the Democratic triumph of
1876? There is a practical view of this
question-not in the ephemeral, foolish
sense of getting Office, nor in II change
of flags, but as to the real redemption
of Louisiana. We have said over and
often that Louisiana is not redeemed,
and it is not. For all real practical
purposes, Il Radical government would
be AS dangerous to-day as five years
ago. In the late legislature we find
that Warmoth, Hahn, Leonard, Stamps
and n few others were very nearly as
much masters of legislation as the
Democrats we put in power. There is
n palpnble absurdity, or grave culpa-
bility in such a result. Certainly, the
people never intended that such fruit
should ripen from their exertions.
The question is, Will the Democratic
party make an endorsement of the
an issue in the next CAM
paign? Or,will it defend what is right
in its agents, and condemn what is
wrong? This matter is worth some |
serious thought, especially with MEM
bers of the party who are on the record |
and expect to take an active part in
canVassing the State next Fall. We
modestly suggest some of the per-
piex'ties of the situation, with a
view OF having the. difficulties decreased
when the hard work of the campaign
shall come on. 1t is quite clear to us,
however, that the members of the
legislature should be allowed to take
care of themselves, and this thew have
shown they are capable of doing.
ARKANSAS AND l.OJ1ISIAN.