The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-02-14
THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY AND THE
CONVENTION.

rights and interests OF the collective BODY O
the people are the same. The power OF tn
Legislature to grant exclusive privileges o.
to barter away the franchises of the State Is re
, stricted or denied, while, under salutary pro
visions. capital and industry find ampleprotec
tior In their legitimate operations. consti
tutlonal convention, therefore. should not rep
resent any particular class of the community
however intelligent that class. or however
large Its interests. It should represent the
collective wisdom and integrity of the people
Hence, any movement Of any class Of the
community to control the election of del
egates. 80 as to secure special representa-.
ton In the coming convention, must be re-
garded as dangerous mistake which NAV
result In public calamity; and the assump.
ton Of any set OF citizens, however patriotic
intelligent or respected that they embody all
the virtue wisdom and wealth of the CITY
or State, will naturally meet with PROMPT
and vigorous opposition. "My observation. .
said Mr.. Burke, In one of his greatest
speeches, "has furnished me with nothing
that Is to be found In any habits OF life or
education which tends wholly to disaualfy
men for the functions of government, but
that by which the power of exercising those
functions Is very frequently obtained: I
mean spirit and habits of low cabal and
intrigue" But this spirit and these habits
are not confined to any class of society; they
are found amongst men In every rank OF
He They are found amongst merchants
ana lawyers engaged In politics not less
often than amongst the ward politicians .
and hence the only criterion OF mans fit
ness for election TO public place Is the mea-
sure of his intelligence and integrity. There
are, In this State. many gentlemen of wealth.
social standing and ability; there are even
men OF distinguished reputation, who we could
not support for the convention under any cir
cumstanees, and there are men In the hum
blest stations who earn their bread by the
sweat Of their brow who, we believe, In such
body would faithfully and well serve the
commonwealth. Show us a man who has a
patriotic purpose to serve the State, who Ia
intelligent and honest, and be he merchant
lawyer, capitalist or working man, we should
say elect him; show us the wealthiest capital
LIST, or the greatest merchant, or the most dis
tinguished lawyer In New Orleans, and IL he
have personal or class interest to advance.
we should say, defeat him.
But the question arises, how are we to So
lect men who represent the intelligence and
patriotism Of the Slater Certainly not by
organizing class parties. Certainly not
through combinations Of men who may as
sumo to be the best judges OF who are such
representatives, and who may select such
candidates as they prefer and insist on i'm
posing them arbitrarily upon the mass OF
the voters. The representatives we require
can only be obtained through the action
Of the people. The people collectively are
wiser and better judges of who should
represent them, than are any particular
class of the people. This Ia the funda-
mental principle of free suffrage. and 1t is
the foundation stone of true Democracy. We
know that where there Is multitude of can
didates for position the voters are likely to
split into multitude OF factions, and that In |
such a case no expression of the will OF ma
jority of the people can be obtained. But
party organization and discipline have been |
brought into play, and, when honestly man.
aged, concentrate the support OF the people |
upon those candidates who represent the |
largest elements of the several parties.
We know that of late years this has been
called machine politics; but we believe that |
men who wish to accomplish practical ends |
and to advance sound principles must run
with the machine. Sometimes 1t may fall
nto the hands Of bad and INSCRIPTIONS men.
who will run it in personal and dishonest
interest. But that is no reason why 1t
should be destroyed, and the vessel,
relghted with our hopes, left powerless
% drift and be driven in every direction
~ the winds and waves Of faction II dis
lonest men, as Is alleged, sometimes obtain
control OF the machinery of great party, it
8 when better men neglect their duties to the
state and permit men without brains or in
egrity to manage political affairs. If the
vii becomes fragrant, the true remedy Is for
men who see the wrong, and who suffer from
I, to step forward, discharge their duty as
itizens OF free government, and by their
ctivity, influence and votes vote down the
'ad men and take charge of the machine
themselves. 1t will not serve the purpose to
ct up new and untried machine and at
empt to run it In new and unheard of man.
Ter.
We advise our fellow citizens of Democratic
roclivities to stand by the Democratic party
nd to work within 1t. The hue and cry
gainst the party of the people and the con-
htution Is all wrong and it will amount to
othing There has been nothing to ALLEVIATE
no devotion OF our people from 1t and there
J everything in this crisis to rally them IN
er its banner. We do not claim that every
IAN who has been elected or appointed to
flee In this State Is acceptable to all
lasses, or that every such man is com
etent or honest; but 1t will not be until .
uman institutions reach a higher degree
perfection that the whole body of public
ficials in this or any other city or State will
Q entirely worthy and entirely acceptable to
Unfit men, we freely concede.
ave been, in some instances the recipients /.
office from the Democratic party, and the
ame thing will occur again. But because the
emocratic party has not proved to be party
imposed Of saints and angels we shall not
our confidence in it, nor the hope q
nd belief that it will fully redeem the State.