The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1879-10-29
COMMUNICATION.
NORTH SIDE,
Oct. n, 1871


Editor Democrat:
AS we have kept ourselves aloof
from "cliques'' and "rings." we have
been unable to ascertain the reasons,
so.called, that the delegations from
the Parish of Avoyelles assigned for
withdrawing and refusing to go into
the District Convention; and, as it
has been very quietly limited that it
was owing to the fact that she had
been unjustIy treated by the other
Parishes in the District, We have
sought to stake i'm the situation,
and to that end, have set about in
forming ourselves as to the facts.
At the opening Of the canvass in
this District, as we are informed, the
Democratic Executive Committee of
Avoyelles Parish, called Mass
Meeting to elect niue delegates to re.
present that Parish in the judicial
Convention. The proceedings of that
meeting we never saw, but it is an
undisputed fact that the delegates
chosen were instructed to cast their
votes for Aristides Barbin, as the
choice of Ayoyelles, for Judge ofthe
10Th Judicial District, and the ma
ljority of these were instructed TO
control the delegation.
| There were three candidates an
nounced for the Judgship, and, we
believe, only two, for District At
torney. 1t was duly announced that
Mass Meeting would assemble in
the Town of Colfax, on September
9th to select three delegates from
the Parish of Grant to the Judicial
| Convention, to convene at Alexan-
|dria, on October 2Ist. The three
gentlemen who had announced them
selves as candidates for the Judge
ship, were on the ground, and as we
supposed, they were there to look at
ter their personal Interests. We are
not informed as to whether the three
delegates chosen at that meeting,
I were instructed or not. Nor is it
necessary to inquire. AS had al
: ready been done in the Parish OF
J Avoyelles, which was the first to
lead off in the canvass, no sane man
could question the right OF the peo-
|, pie to instruct, or not, rs they fell
!, disposed.
The delegates from Rapides Par
/, ish were instructed to cast their
3 votes for w. F. Blackman for Dis
trict Judge, aud for 3. G. Hunter as
! District Attorney. These are the
e facts, we believe, and precisely
;, where the unfairness, complained Of
s begins; we do not know hut we do
{ assert in the name of the Democrats
: of Rapides and Grant, that had the
twelve delegates Of those Parishes
acted otherwise than as they did
they would have failed of their duty
to their constituents, whose instru
ments they were, and whose dictates
d they were compelled to obey. If ws
j, assa:l the action of the representa-
tiyes of the people of these Parishes
we must assail the people them
selves, who sent them. For the sak'
; ofargument, we might urge that th'
J, spirit of fairness demanded a division
of the offices--but this does not oh
iterate the fact that the voice of thl
Convention was the voice of th,
: majority of the Democratic party
The one fundamental principle, un
derlying all others in the Democrat
ic faith, is: "The will Of the MAORI
ty must govern" and so far is thi
sentiment endorsed in all politics
organizations, that all admit an
concede it. Take from parties o
politics under Republican govern
ment, that vital principle, and you de
stroy the whole fabric. Personally
we have no interest in the candidac
5. of the gentlemen who have zee
+ placed upon the ticket, but we car
A. not permit to pass unrebuked prt
gramme and a policy which woul
or destroy any party when it refused I
We be controlled by minority. We'd
ID sire to see this matter presented fai
ly to the people Of Avoyelles Parisl
and to their verdict we shall loo
n. with confidence. The tried Dem
Gratis of that noble old Parish will |
called upon once more, to arrs
We themselves against the new enen
a. who is now maturing his plans, al
k who awaits only the opportune m
oe ment to set them in motion.
lis Here, on the North Side, we he
= no comnlaints. nor have we vet m