Richland beacon. [volume] (Rayville, La.) 1869-1890, 1878-09-21
The Democratic Parish C0neen-
ton.

As we feared, the Democratic Parist Cen
venrion, which met in this place last Saturday |
was inharmonious and, as we warned our |
people, resulted in split in the party that |
may eliminate in the defeat of the party in
November, if The breach is not- healsd. We
did all we could, in our judgment, TO prevent
this division in our ranks, and we learn have
been denounced as a disorganizer for our
pains and solici,ule. Such is political graf
itude and wisdom. A clear conscience neh
er .ams or regards the false accusations of
prefer charges which cannot he sustained by
truth or reason and which they will never try
10 defend in sober earnest. Hence, We only
points, our record in viadication Of our,eif
against such charge, aud def any one to
show single sentence written by us which
expressed anything but desire for lie una
nimity and success of the party.
As private individual, we have our likes
and dislikes, and as much right to express
them as any one. As such, we had right to
Our personal preferences, and 10 express them;
tut in this instance we had and expressed no
such preferences so far az the candidates be-
fore the convention were concerned.
Viewing the matter from an impartial per-
sonal standpoint, and placing the good Of the
party and State far above all personal eonsid>
Grafton, we cannot ia all candor say that we
are satisfied with the action Of the eonven-
ton of lat Saturday because ii resulted in
the Reorganization of the Democratic party OF
this parish and division of its ranks into
two factions, composed on both sides Of the
best sren and best Democrats in the parish,
who suffered themselves to be controlled too
much by prejudice and passion to see clearly
thsiT patriotic duty.
We do not say it boastinsly. bu if there is
Il man in the parish who has any stronger
claims to disinterested devotion TO party and
State than the writer OF this article, the fact
is not known 70 us aud hence our chagrin
and modification at the dsintegraion and
threatened defeat of the party for whose sues
cess we have so loLg and zealously worked.
Believing that she delegates to the conven.
ton recognized our disinteresred motives, We
had hoped that our counsel would be needed
and that something would be done last Satur.
day 10 heal the breach add bring about una.
nfmity in the Democratic party OF Rich.and
parish but our hopes and expectations, like
the Dead Sea apple, turned to bitter ashes
upon the lips. AMI, in our zeal for the party
we have perhaps incurred the displeasure
and possibly the distrust, of both factions
If 50, we cannot help it. We have dom
ro,hing but what we considered our duty
and are willing to stand or fall by it. w
can patiently await the return of sound judg
nIent and calm reason so far as we are indi
vidually concerned; but we deeply deplor
the Imminent danger to which the party
exposed.
Having done all we could to ward of IN
danger, and failed in our effort, can any on
wonder that we give up in dspair, and Leaf
it to wiser heads, but not uuer Democrats, ,
heal the breach and, if possible, unite an
lead our scattered ranks to victory? W
promise all who have this end in view o,
hearty cooperation and support; but we ca,
not espouse the intere>, of one faction ar
assail and denounce the o.her until all pro
er efforts at reconciliation have failed, ar
we see clearly that one or the Other is actu
ted solely by personal motives, which we ca
not now believe Of either