The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-11-04
WHICH Is THE DEMOCRATIC SIDE


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WHICH Is THE DEMOCRATIC SIDE ?
The organ Of the Citizens Association in
quires, with the air of one in search of in
formation, (which Is the Democratic side in
the municipal election?' The organ goes on
to insinuate that it is the side of the pentag-
onal fight occupied by the Citizens Associa-
ton. Now, this is cheek OF the monumental
order. Permit us to remind the "demniton
grind that the Democratic party is the SOL
itary political organization in the city with
which its constituency have never sought
utilization, with which they have never con-
suited, to which they have made no propO-
sitions, commercial or otherwise, and which
they have most carefully and solcitOusly
avoided and antagonized. But since the Citi-
zens' Association have set up this claim in
their organ let us examine the grounds upon
which it is based.
First, the half dozen or so projectors Of the
Citizens movement began their operations by
deliberately abandoning the Democratic
party. They have never attempted to par
ticipate in or to influence in any way its
councils. Everything they have done has
methods entirely unknown to that or any other
popular political organization. AS il to make
their divergence and antagonism all the more
emphatic and conspicuous, they dropped the
party name and retained only the "COnserva-
tive affix. "Conservatlve' what2 Rapub-
licans Nationals, Red Warriors or anything
else that was opposed to Democracy
Admirable idea! Thus they escaped that
odium, Of which we have SO long heard, which
is supposed to attach to the name OF Demo-
crat while they enlarged the commercial
feature OF the move by giving it boundless
scope for trade, and barter with "anybody,
Lord, anybody" Whenever they found an
Individual Or an association opposed to the
Dem ocrats all they would have to do would
be to inquire what are you" Radical, Red
Warrior or National, it mattered not which,
the reply was the same to all, well, that's
all right; We are the conservative of that;
come along and help us beat the Democratic
ticket This is the good, old Simon-pure
Democratic ''side," with a vengeance!
| But, says the organ, the Democratic ticket
was nominated by 8 ring, and not by the peo-
pie. VIII some kind friend step forward and
| tell us who nominated, or rather who ap-
pointed, for it was not nominated, the Citi-
sens Association ticket The Democratic
"ring" did go through the formality of a pri-
mary election, in which the bulk OF the Citi-
sens Associations supposed constituency
participated, and of convention. They at
| least complied with the forms Of procedure
traditional with the Democratic party, If they
did nothing more But the Citizens Associa-
ton did not venture to do even this. They
organized a ring as is a ring-a5 close COM
munion and select coterie as blue-blooded
aristocrat might select as his guests at q
family dinner-and then proceeded to work
In the most secret and silent ways, vouch-
safing the public no knowledge whatever Of
their proceedings.
II this association is not ring, what is it,
pray? A shrewd detective, who did not know
what sort of "begod nonsense" they were up
to, might mistake them for the directors Of a
savings bank on the ragged edge OF q col
lapse, devieing ways and means of mystic
riously and silently folding their tents and
jumping the town.
with the Citizens ticket successful" says
the organ, "the young man and the working
man will have at least chance-With the
Tammany ring, none." "Then no young
man can raise his head in politics in this city
without first turning to the chief of Tammany
and saying, BY your leave, sir ,"
| Well, now, we should like to see young
man raise his head" in the Citizens Associa-
| ton without first saying, "By your leave
One OF the young men went around the other
night, not with any intention of raising his
| head" but merely in professional way, to
| find out what these same Citizens were doing
| and he came very near being mobbed. When
| his presence was discovered, a squad OF po-
| lice was sent for and the Citizens, after the
manner of Dogberry and his friends, pro-
oeeded to discuss the charge upon which the
| @young man" should be turned over. Found
under suspicious circumstances" suggested
one, without the slightest suspicion Of irony
Breaking and entry said another innocent
| joker, clearly implying that there was but
one process by which an outsider could get
| into that ''ring," and that was by committing
burglary. Breaking and entry" Of a party!
"That's good-that's dayvillish good, hic!"
as Dundreary would say.
! Now, we calmly and soberly submit that
this is not the way that young men get into
the Democratic fold. The latch-string of
that house is always on the outside, and all
the Wayfarer In search of political brother
hood and hospitality has to do is to open the
door and walk in, and if he will but ''tote
level" and help make the fire and peel the
potatoes, he can be sure Of sitting at the
feast. But those dainty gentlemen who are
too nice to do this-to take part in the party
work, to attend the clubs and the primaries
register and vote-can only expect the re-
wards Of all strikers.
Equality, responsibility and prosperity
are nrOmiepd to all negroes who will vote the