The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-09-04
A REPLY TO OLIVE BRANCH.
New ORLEANS; September 8, 18T

Editor Den1Ocrnt-When | read in your issue
of this date the article by Olive Branch con-
fess that the Johnsonian ponderosity of the
first paragraph prepared me- for obliteratlon;
but recovered my spirits when reached the
lame and mpotent conclusion" The tn Qnoqne
and stand back, am holier than thou" argu-
ment is an old and familiar dodge in news
paper controversies. I stated that the move
ment known as the Citizens Conservative
Association was calculated to create class an
tagonsm. whereupon "OIive Branch" fires at
me this tremendous IN qeto41te: The discussion
of movements materially interesting to q com
munity should be divested OF asperity, and be
debated with desire to prove essential truths
in the elucidaton Of principles, rather than to
excite antagonism on vague and unsubstantlal
theories or unfounded statements"
/ deprecated class antagonism; l still de;
precate IT, and shall continue to do SO with all
my ability. from whatever quarter it may come.
whether from Dennis kearney or q COnserVa-
tive; nor am [ conscious OF one single WORD or
sentiment expressed ob aa, py me Whloh mas tenoeo
II there be any such language in any article
which | have ever written, or IN any words
for them. I have therefore put forward no
vague and unsubsantial theories or unfounded
statements" for that or any other purpose.
l INDUCED in no asperity, but endeavored,
| made by the chairman of the Citizens
gnsd maphsr 81 Pha hovesr ss a
persons eSi sons must Judge who did me the
honor to read apife Gle and yo At the SANE
or not Olive Branch" has beer, consistent with
his own doctrine as 70 vague theories and I'M
founded statements.
Right here desire to state that will not con-
sent to occupy the false positl In which
Olive Branch endeavors to place me, as at
ticking the Ctzens zen oonseryatiy9 AssoGa Aane
attack, which I believe unjust, made. by its
chairman upon the Democratic party, Of which
list the names of gentlemen whom admire and
| love: men whose purity Of character and whose
devotion to the best interests of Louisiana, az g
known of all men,. men who have illus
trated by their valor in defense Of civil liberty
q glorious page in the history of the country
and the Stat, and whose ,names will be handed
down to posterity rs noble representatives OF
civic virtue. Nor do differ from them IN the
general principle, that good men of integrity
and capacity should be chosen to represent the
people [ differ with them as to the method by
which that OBJECT is to be attained.
olive Branch" says that alter a careful peru,
sal of my article he fails to find shadow OF
right for the assertion made by. me, that the
signers to the Citizens Conservative Asssocia-
ton address claim to represent the virtue
leans" I find In that address the following
language: Thus We have lost the influence
and Of Wose
being heard) to selfish political aspirants," etc
and in another portion Of he address it IS se
ience" etc Thus we have them emf mpbaticaly
claiming to represent the best citizensn whose
Intelligence" has been lost; and the inference
was fair that the influence and the experience,
Of the best citizens must s be beo yirtGous +
quote me fairly, he would have found that
admitted from my own knowledge Of them
that they did i represent virtue intelligence
ing, or to. my admltting. that they do possess
those qualities, I will withdraw both statements
as am disposed to be accommodating.
Oh ive Branch then descends from a discuss
personal sarcasm: The nearest possible ap
proach can, conceive for such a charge is thF
stress that these reformers lay upon conserv
atism.' which seems to be SO foreign an ele
ment in your CORRESPONDENTS political creed
etc. Iadmit that, 'consserVatism" is foreign Il
my political creed. for the reason that do no
} understand what it means in politics. Web
ster's unabridged defines it to be the dispOsi
tion and tendency to preserve what is estab
lished; opposition to change" If that be- tn,
meaning Of the word surely these gentlemen
have no right TO the tile. for the very thing TO
which they are contending is the subv rting o
that what is established' by the method Of as
certaining the will of the people. I recollect
was applied to the Democracy in deri9ion. bu
, we surrender 1t cheerfuIy to the Citizens, Con
seryative Association" as Bourboasm" ant
| conservatism" seem to be synonymous.
answer olive Branch as he in no part Of hi
article touches the points which made, or Tlt
} arguments which used to support them. Th
graVamen OF my statement was tnat the voice
Of the best citizens" had been heard in tn
selection Of city officials and that they had n.
right to complain OF the Democratic party
men of their own selection failed to promot
it's best interests, appealed TO the record il
proof Of NY SthtemenfS-tnd Until that i
: shown to be erroneousI VIII hare noting NOR