The New Orleans daily Democrat., 1878-08-09
NEw oRLEANs, AUGUST g. ~
THE EXPELLED MEMBERS.

sTthe prssmDt action Of MIR. y. ID. HOUSTON Ill
.s,rafarrino charges against the four delegates
10 the Baton Rouge Convention, VINO had
mlaeed themselves in the hands OF Mr. Mc-
a4rath to be sold by him to such candidates
Ill would pay the highest price for their votes,
ss deserving Of unmeasured commendatioh'
SSill Ii was only an exposure OF q vile system
r9 barter and trade which it is @ well known
fact prevails to o greater or less extent IN
New 5Orleans politics difficult OF proof, it IS
frue vet still well known to exist. Even III
our parish conventions nearly every nomlna-
aaon Ia carried by system of trading scarcely
aeggs pernicious to society than that for en-
vaping In which the four bummers OF the
zenith ward were expelled from the State con-
gention.
The true theory of g. convention Is, that the
delegates are elected or appointed 10 repre-
sent the views and wishes of the great body
OF their constituents. This is the theory.
THE practice Is entirely different. In practlce,
the body Of the people have very litteG TO say
The ward leaders and their friends, who are
tslspirants for office, fix up the delegates in
their own interests, and then elect them by
Eullyism ballot-box etutfing and other fraud
aaIent methods Rats and bummers, mixed
4 I'm with few square men who manage to get
I'M. constitute the convention, and when that
body meets it represents nobody on Gods
earth but hungry candidates for office; and
these Immediately begin q system OF swap
4 Ding or trading off the offices without the
least regard for the public SERVICE the
wishes OF the people or the honesty or capac1-
ty OF the aspirants. These parish 7oonVen-
dior1s are not unfrequently disgraceft1l exhibi-
lions humilating to all men who have the
honor of the Democratic party and the public
interests truly at heart. Hence there isa grow
dng feeling of revolt amongst the right think
. sng neople against this disgraceful and perni-
cious system Of politics. and we doubtSif it will
be quietly submitted to again It behooves
/, those therefore who have control Of the
Democratic party machinery In New Orleans
n 10 take the proper steps to have assembled at
the proper time truly representative parish
eonvention-one which will not be under the
control OF few aspirants to office, or Which
will vote at the dictation of the combinations.
We protest that rats and bummers shall
not be drummed up by the ward leaders to
1. make nominations for the Democratic
party. BY rats and bummers we
mean fellows who regard ballot box stuff
lng. bullying at the polls, buying up or sell
ang delegates, or selling their own dirty
selves as politics, and who make living by
such politics. OF working men, poor mer
who earn their bread by the sweat OF thell
brows. we and others who understand hu
man nature, have no fear. 1t is not homes
uoverty, nay nor even honest Ignorance tina
we protest against; honest men, be they poo
or rich, working men or merchants, are al
the same to us. It is not the honest men o
the country whose influence in politics is tx
Ra feared or whose control in public affairs il
no be dreaded. The real danger to our in
ferest is the intrusion into politics OF rascals
frauds and corruptioRists, whether they bt
bummers such as the delegates from tn
tenth ward, who were expelled from the Batol
Rouge convention for selling themselve
through broker, or men like those who stol
I the presidency and now I'LL the highest Fed
aral Office.
Let the managers of the Democratic part
i'm this city consider this admonition we'll 10
I'VE assure them we speak the sentiment @S
vast majority OF the people Of New Orleans
and that majority is ready to organize for tf
purpose of giving force and effect to thei
sentiments. Thepeople saved the party in 1s7
Let the managers understand that the pGl
nose of the people in 1878 is to reform it.