The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-10-19
THE TICKET AND THE ADDRESS,

for the Legislature, and publishing an address
to the people. 1t means nothing to say tina
every body Is not satisfied with the work 0
the convention. No convention has ever ye
succeeded In nominating O. ticket so fair ant
perfect that 1t defied criticism and worked TIN
miracle Of giving universal satisfaction.
would be small and Insignificant criticism
therefore, of the present. or any other ticket, Il
say that 1t does not meet with everybody's ap
prevail. The trouble is, that the ticket haBre
ceived very cold reception, and Is generally
| regarded with q suspicion and distrust which
the candidates, II they hope to be elected
must take prompt steps to remove by the
fullest, most unreselwed and unequvocaI
declaration of their views and purposes.
Popular rumor has connected the names Of
three-fourths of thecandldates for the Legis.
ture and of some of the administrators with
the most oppressive and offensive OF the mon
opolies which bestride this city and NEEDLE
with and corrupt our politics and legislation
Whether this grave accusation be just or un-
just, true or false, Is a question we are not
discussing now. Indeed, we prefer to, and
SO far as 1t relates to some of the can
didates, do believe that the charge Is un-
founded, and that the impression which has
gone abroad Is grossly unjust. "a But the
charge has been made and the belief that II
is true Is very fixed and general In the public
mind. The return of Howard to the city just
previous to the primary elections; his liberal
disbursement of money amongst his retain
CTS; his activity in the wards and the fierce
fight made In at leasto one case in the convention
for pfh fri nd nh, +,
best Democrats and most estimable citizens
Of the State was defeated, all give plausbility
and force to the popular belief and warrant
the popular fears and discomfort: and, true or
false, the ticket can only be relieved of this
odious suspicion by O candid and prompt de-
claration Of principles by the candidates.
either in speeches to their constituents or in
letters or addresses through the public jour-
nails,
Even il this course were not rendered neces-
sary by the apprehensions of the people. It
would be proper In itself. Heretofore 1t has
been customary for the voters of a party to
know what views and principles their candi-
dates entertain; between the candidate and
his supporters there used to be- and should be
now the fullest confidence and understanding:
the candidate or the ot1ice-hoder is the rep
resentative Of the people, their servant and
agent, and the people should know his views
upon every question of public interest on
which he may be called to act. Or late. how
ever, we have been drifting away from this
great unwritten law; the candidate Is nomi-
mated by chicanery and trickery; he makes
no enuncIation OF his principles; the people
are agitated over mOnstrOus evils and bur-
thens, but the candidate makes no pro-
relative to them; he plrsues his
canvass as il the party belonged to him, Or as
If his individual election were of more inn
portance to the State than the eradication
Of tho evils in the government or the ad-
of the principles Of his party, |
II party journal attacks the candidate or the
official, or Urges him to utterance OF action,
t is denounced as disorganizer Or an open
anemy of the party. There should be O. new
departure In this matter and there will never
20 a better time than this to maheit. There Is |
discomfort 80 widespread that the success Of
It least portion OF the ticket is imperi!ed.
Iet us see If the establishment of full conf
lence between the candidates and voters will
# the party and defy defeat. Let every can
lidate come forward and tell the people just
What policy he proposes, II elected to follow
What principles he will be guided by; how
md when he will exert his influence and vote
o crush out the monopolies, reduce the ex-
,enses of city and State governments and
ring down the tax rate. For this purpose
he columns of the DEMOCRAT are freely at |
he disposal of every candidate on the ticket. |
{ any candidate wishes TO reach his constit- |
lehcy by writing let him send us his commu-
lication; if any one desires to put himself on
ecord on these great questions by addressing
lis people, we will have reporters in attend
nee to report his speech. These are all ques-
ions which affect the interest of this city;
hey concern its prosperity, its politics, It's
ociety and it's industries. Her public men,
therefore,, should have clearly defined views |
elative to them, and the voters should know
hose views.
It may be said that the address OF the con-
vention touches most Of these questions, and |
binds the candidates to carry out It's princi- |
lies. Not so, however; the address Is mean
ngless; it is empty and vapid, and utterly
ich In glittering generalities which may be |
gnored at will, and which seem to have been |
woven together merely to assuage the greedy
demand Of the people for q pronouncement |
against the evils under which we are laboring
Ind In favor of reform legislation. But we
ell the gentlemen who compose the ticket
hat the people will no longer mistake
THE chaffering swallow for the holy lark"
they are burthened with taxation; they have |
'een their hopes turned to ashes in their
legislative halls; they have seen measures of
'eform defeated and schemes detrimental to |
heir interest promoted by the interference of
and ringsters In public affairs
hey have seen men with only corrupt inter-
'sts to subserve influencing and controlling
elections and they now call upon every man
Who claims their suffrages for full, explicit |
md unequivocal declaration of his views and |
principles. Should the candidates of the |
Democratic ticket act upon the suggestion |
We have herein made, and made in their in |
re- nd in, hat