The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1878-03-22
THE WORK AHEAD.

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while, take counsel of the people and
individually make up their minds
what is best to be done to secure vic
tory for the Democracy in November.
A Democratic State Convention will,
of course, be called to determine upon
platform of principles and to nomi-
nate a candidate for State Treasurer,
but much, in the way of a send-off,
will depend upon the action of the
State Central Committee.
AS one who has taken some small
part in what of success or failure has
characterized the history of the Demo-
cratic party In this State since the war
and as one who will reasonably be ex-
pected to bear share OF the labors of
the approaching campaign, we may be
excused for offering some suggestions
pertinent to the task which the State
Central Committee has in hand.
And first, 1t must be recognized as a
fact that the people are not satisfied
with the achievements of the present
Democratic administration. Possibly
they have expected too much, but Ger.
tainly not more than was promised.
The conspicuous feature in the failure
is the lack of reform. What offices
have been abolished i? What.relief has
been afforded the distressed taxpayer?
In what does our State government, as
it now exists, differ from that under
Radical rule, except that there are
Sr ~<H
bring us back to the promises made in
1876 by our party through its organs
and its public speakers. Foremost
among these promises was one to re-
deem Louisiana, once and for all, from
Radical misrule. This promise has
not been fulfilled. Every attempt
made to abrogate the Constitution of
1868, which is the source of all our
troubles and still threatens tho State
with woes unnumbered, has been met
by Democratic legislature with re-
buke. Painful as has been the progress
of the Democracy to power, nothing in
the tiresome march is SO much to be
lamented as the failure to complete tho
victory of 1876 and to assure the State
of a permanent government in the in
terests of intelligence and virtue.
For these failures the people are not
responsible. They have never COM
promised their unalterable opposition
to RaGlicalism, and even now only ask
to be led to an open assault upon the
strongholds of the enemy. The State
Central Committee should recognize
this fact. We must come back to first
principles-draw the line of distinction
between n Democrat and Republican,
as it was, and not as it now is. In this
way, and this only, can an issue be
raised upon which the State may be
carried by the Democrats in November.
1t will not do to begin a canvass
with apologies and explanations. II
members of the legislature have fallen
short of their pledges, let them as in
dividuals account for their short COM
fngs. fla Democratic administration
let those who are directly responsible
he the sufferers. The platform Of the
party has not changed, nor have the
people fallen short in their hopes and
expectations. They are resolute, and
determined to accomplish the work of
thorough reform, and they will enter
the next campaign with this determi-
nation.
What is needed now is a bold, ag-
gressive canpaign-something to
arouse the people and to restore conf
dence. No tame plan of battle will
answer. Enthusiasm cannot be arous-
ed to winning pitch by reference to
the present attitude of political parties.
but we must go back to the place of he.
ginning and demand fultlllment IF
the vows then made.
In an unguarded moment we NAV
have said something anent Gen
Anderson, or ex-Gov Wells, ON the
hypothesis that one or the other, O,
both, Were guilty of forgery in altering
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