The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-10-24
THE PIOAYUNE's RING"

Under the pretense Of discussing the True
Question" the Iicayune yesterday replied, or
affected to reply, to the DEMOCRATS stric-
lures of the day before. TIL Pic, following
Its favorite policy of lodging tho question,
tries to evade the Issue by claiming that It
has always supported the Democratic party,
and always Intends to, and that It's only pur-
pose is to combat what 1t calls the "ring" Id
local politics. II Is not necessary to follow
the M through Its lodges and shifts and
fuses- One quotation will DO:
We have. given In our adhesion to the State
ticket nominated at Baton Rouge. In the pend
ing pnrochial contest 1t Is not our purpose to
advocate any n~nti-Democratic movement. All
our efforts. 50 tar az that matter is concerned.
are to secure the defeat OF what we undeIs stand
to be u ring combination.
Now, what we want Is for the Picauune to
explain itself. What does 1t mean by "a
ring continuation This has grown into a
can't phrase. 1t has been taken up and passed
around until men and papers use it with all
the force Of authority. Yet W. do not know,
to this day, what Is meant by 1t. Does the
Picaynse intend toimply that there Is a ring
combination TO secure the parish offices?
That there Is a combination to exclude the
people from q voice In the nominations? We
want the Ptcayuae to speak plainly. We know
and assert that the party organization
has invited and encouraged the opposition
In every possible way. Those who by O ma
jority of the votes have been put In charge OF
the party affairs have solicited the participa-
ton and counsel of the minority. They have
gone so for as to invite them to propose the
rules under which the party shall act, and
have adopted the plans submitted to them in
accordance with that invitation. Night be-
fore last they nominated and elected as first
vice president OF the Parish Committee and
chairman of the Parish Executive Committee
the most prominent man tn the opposition. In
every instance and on all occasions, the re-
representatives. OF what the "Indep endent"
press are pleased to call ''the machine have
given way to the .'outs," lave adopted their
suggestions and conceded their dem
Not only this, but they have invited, nay,
solicited, their propositions with a view to
harmonizing all interests and uniting all ef-
forts. We challenge the Picdyune to show q
case In which q reasonable request has been
refused, or an Intelligent suggestion ignored.
Speaking for the much abused machine"
we call for any complaint against the fair
ness, justice or good feeling Of the party Or
ganization as 1t stands.
What, then, does the Picdy'ne mean BY d
ring combination?" If the Picayune Is ami
mated by the pure and lofty motives 1t affects
to experience, let it come forward with spe-
clic charges! 1t complains Of a ring-what
Is that ring and who are It's members We
been hearing, now, for a long time OF
the ring" and the "machine;" let the Plea
y,ae come down to particulars and persons!
II there is o ring here, We are anxious to at
1t, but, as we are not In the habit Of
i%ndulging In vague occupations and indefinite
Islander, we call for particulars. Where and
what Is this ring Of which the Picayuae Is
talking We defy the Picayume to In
dictate 1t, either as to Its personnel or it's
methods, and we anxiously await q reply.
Meanwhile we will mention that we under
stand quite we'll the game of the Radicals.
We know that their idea Is to harp upon the
ideal Ring" to persuade the people that it
Is their interest to antagonize this imaginary
and thus to SOW dissension In
the ranks OF the conservative citizens. We
perfectly that in playing up to this
game by talking of the "riDg'' and keeping it
before the people as q raw-head and bloody
bones, the Pc is giving aid and comfort
70 the Custom-House and stabbing the
from behind an ambush. But We
DO not propose to let the Radicals and
their allies work this line at their ease, We
call upon the Pcayane to state In specific
terms what it means by the "~ring"-whom it