The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1879-10-08
THEPRIMARY ELECTIONS.

tions of next Saturday, and we wish
to say few plain words to them in
continuation of what we have al
ready had to say as to the impor-
lance of the Ward elections of dele
gates. We are not yet so secure
from radical opposition in this Far
ish, that we can afford to disregard
the dictates of prudence and eau
ton; nor are we in any position to
forget the demands of and the neces-
sity for thorough organization of
our grand old Democratic party,
which has brought US so far safely
out of our troubles, and which prom
ises US the only hope of holding the
fruits of former victories. The time
has not come, and God forbid that
it should ever come! when the party
can be lost sight of in a personal
scramble for office. So the party
thrives and It's interests are guarded
and protected, it is small matter
whether one man obtains or another
loses the nomination for any partic-
ular office. If he is good democrat
he will cheerfully submit to defeat,
and if he is not a good democrat, and
Just such democrat, he ought not
to have either the nomination or
election. The danger of the hour is
that the interests of the party will
be lost sight of and absorbed in per
sonal contests for the nominations.
The people, the good, sober and
sensible people of this Parish have
it in their power on next Saturday,
to guard against this danger, and if
they allow this chance to escape
them, they must remember that it
will be the last they will have for
four years to come. They elect del
egates on Saturday in all the Wards
of this Parish who are to select the
Parish officers, and who will elect
delegates to the District Conven-
lions, to choose the District officers,
all of whom are to serve for four
years, as provided by the new Con
stitution. The people of the Wards
owe it to their party and to them
selves to go to the place Of holding
their Ward elections on next Satur
day in such force and numbers as
will secure the selection of true and
tried men who, when they come to
the Parish Convention, will fairly
and fearlessly express the sentiments
of the people, the whole people of
the Wards, and not come as the re-
representatives. of any man or set of
men.
They will want to send men who
can neither be hoodwinked or cajol-
ed into support of men instead of the
party, and who will see to it that the
men who get the nominations for the
offices shall be the very best men for
the places that can be selected-men
who can have the solid support of
the party--sober, law-abiding and
discreet men, who will see the laws
enforced without fear or favor and
without reference to who the parties
may be--men for the Offices who will
owe their selection to recognition
of their fitness for the place, their
capacity to discharge it's duties faith.
fully and we'll, and not to any CON-
binations or extraneous circumstan-
ces. If the Wards will send as dele
gates such men as we have describ-
ed, and the delegates when they meet
in Convention will see to it that the
party is represented in this canvass
by suitable candidates who will give
general satisfaction, then the fight
is won at the very start. If, on the
other hand, unsuitable men should
be chosen at the primaries and un.
fortunate and unpopular nominations
should be made, we may, and doubt.
less will, have trouble and repiti
tion of some of our past campaigns
in this Parish.
| There has been all sort of talk ani
charges about "rings'' and "combi
nations" Let the people turn out or
Saturday and do their duty, and they
can smash all rings and burst al
combinations, if any such things ex
list. The primary elections are the
places at which this can be done. I
the people stay away and let a few
men, a small minority, control thu
primaries, it will be their own fault
and they ought not to blame any
body but themselves. Turn out ani
select good men and all will be plair
sailing!