The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-08-18
CITIZENS CONSERVATIVE Ass0GIA
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Elsewhere the readers Of the DEMOCRAT
this morning will find an address to the peo-
pie of New Orleans, signed by vast number
Of the most eminent substantial and respect
ed citizens in this community. It has been
many years since q paper concerning politics
has been presented by such an array Of clti. ,
aens and those who fail to note the earnest
ness and Importance OF the movement will
commit very great mistakes.
It is especially incumbent upon The nfan-
ayers Of the Democratic party to give this
address prayerful consideration. It Is d
shameful fact, too palpable and notorious to
be concealed If we desired to conceal It, that
our primary elections and meetings, from
which spring our conventions and the candi-
dates who, Us Democrats, we ara called upon
to support, have become dissgustingly cor
,1.pt. Indeed, many of the ward politicians
do not hesitate to say INCREASINGLY that
sever ything issFair in politics" and to talk Of
ballot-box stRffing, bribirtg delegates and
cheating and bulldozing in the interest OF
some candidate for Office or president OF a
ward club, IS matter Of course. Hence, to
o great extent, the Democratic party in New
Orleans has fallen under the control
Of corrupt politicians and bummers; and
the candidates who are put up under it's
name and sanction are not representative
men, but the successful wirepullers who have
tricked other men out of the nominations.
The last parish convention was q miserable
farce; O disgrace to the Democratic party and
to the city. The spirit Of revolt against the
open trading there was SO strong that only
the overwhelming necessity Of carrying the
State against the Radicals kept it down,
There are indications that we are to have
parish convention no better than the last, In
which the nominations will be dickered and
traded away without the least respect for the
wishes of the people, or the honesty and quail
fications Of the candidates.
It is to prevent this calamity to The city and
the Democratic party that the Citizens Con-
servative Association has been organized. In
the vast array Of names signed to tho address
Of that body, it Is impossible to find that Of
one man who is not interested In the good
government and welfare of the city, and 1t Is
next to impossible to point out the name of
one who is not a Democrat and who has
not either zealously worked for and
literally contributed to the success OF the
Democratic party. This address, then, must
command the respectful attention of all
Democrats who regard Democracy as some
thing higher than mere system Of nominal
tions and elections.
The object OF the gentlemen who have
signed this address is not to break up,
weaken or defeat the Democratic party,
II that were their purpose, we should
be among the first to denounce the move
ment as factious and dangerous to the State.
In the present condition Of the country we
believe that the triumph of the Demo-
cratic party Is Of paramount Importance,
and no local interest of New Orleans, how
ever great could influence us to commend any
movement designed or calculated to weaken
the strength of that party. We understand
that the purpose Of the Citizens Conservative
Association is to mobilize, as 1t were, the in
huence of the business men Of the city with a
view of forcing the nomination of representa-
tive men by the Democratic party. The as
ISOLATION Is not q party, nor indeed, strictly
speaking, political body. The class Of men
it represents long since, discouraged by the
corruption and bullyism practiced in the
primaries and ward clubs, abandoned politics,
and they have had little or no representation
in public affairs.
The object aimed at Is a patriotic one, and
one which, II we understand 1t, every good
Democrat can and ought to support. 1t is to
reform the management of our party politics
and insure the nomination by the Democracy
OF men worthy of public honors, and creditable
to the city and party. From this standpoint
and to this end we shall sustain these gentle
men. That far we think our Democracy COM
pels us to sustain them.
This earnest movement on the part of
80 large body of influential citizens Is in
itself an evidence that great and unbearable
evils have crept into and fastened upon our
party. They should be cut out and exter-
minated, and there can never be a better time
in which to do it. We admonsh the managers
of the party, therefore, to give due considera-
ton to tie views Of 111ef1 Wit Id deep in
terest in the welfare OF the city and State,
and who have none In office-holding. If our
primaries, instead of being manipulated in
the interest Of candidates, are conducted with
a reasonable regard for the rights of the
people, a convention Of respectable and repre-
sentative men will be assembled. satisfac-
tory ticket will be presented to the people, and
the Democratic party harmonzed and united
will sweep the city and State.
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THE GRAND JURY REPORT.