The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-09-28
OVER ZEAL !.


It is to be hoped that the Democracy Of this
State will not waste their vigor and zeal In
the preliminary combat for the nomination of
their candidate FOR Governor.
~ has not been the habit Of the party to en-
gage 10 such purely personal contests With so
much lire and intensity. Nor is 1t PROMOTE W
q that harmony and effectiveness which will
De demanded to secure success and victory III
me real and decisive political battle that has
to be fought In December.
~ - great delusion to imagine that this
victory has been won, that the Democracy
may Indulge themselves In a fierce domestic
broll, faction fight by way Of practice and
preparation. Such broils. especially when
marked by 80 much vehemence and personal
Intensity, are not calculated to improve the
spirit and promote the harmony Of the party,
SO as to give 1t that vlgor and morale It will
need In the great decisive contest. With two
estimable gentlemen arrayed against each
other In contest for nomination there ID
no Justification for such waste Of enthusiasm
III behalf OF either. They represent the same
party, the same cause. the same political
principles. Their integrity Is conceded.
tion or distinction between them; they stand
on the same plane Of personal merit and po-
lltical fidelity. It Is true one OF these gentle
men ID dark-halred and tall, and the other 10
sandy-halred and stout. ..--m.m
1t would be as Idle for these respective fol-
lowings to divide upon the questions Of the
| comparative merits Of dark and sandy hair, or
upon any real issues which exist between
them.
| We soy real issues: for those upon which
ono OF tho followings have, with great lack
Or maKnanlmity and disregard OF Democratic
justice and fair play, assumed to base their
movement ID favor OF their candidate is not
real In any sense, either Of fact or logic. It IL
| the mere outcry OF those overzealous idola-
tors who 50 often damage their chieftain
more than they aid or advance him. This
cutlery assumes that one of these candt-
dates has already conveyed himself to ring
or cabal, to be used III their interest and under
their direction. The other gentleman 10 as-
sumed to be incapable OF such surrender 81
his manhood, but Is Of that stern stuff that
would render him as unapproachable by de-
voted friends and supporters as by bitter
foes. Such distinction between two gentlemen,
standing on the plane Of moral and Demo.
cratic equality and manhood, is utterly IN
justifiable and highly reprehenslble. II II
not In accord with the true spirit Of Democ-
racy.
Louis A. Witt ID no more capable Of such
subservlency than Frederick N Ogden. They
calumniate either by such in5inuations. That
such gentlemen should have warm and de-
voted personal friends does not justify the
suspicion, much less the assertion, that their
friends apd supporters constitute that odious
thing called q ring, BY which they are held
In ignobIe subOrdination and control. That
our political foes should employ such devices
to ALLEVIATE and divide our party Ia quite legt'-
mate, but that II should be sanctioned and en-
couraged by good Democrats s certainly q
just cause Of alarm for the fraternal harmony
and effectiveness Of the party In the approach
Ing political battle.
This paper has often exposed the origin 81
this calumny and reproach. The Times news
paper under the ownership and direction Of
the bltterest enemies Of the Democracy 10
all these fights in which Wilt and Ogden
won their highest honors, originated this
calumny. Their infamy is not increased
thereby. But Its adoption by any true Demo
crat would stamp him with the character OF
falsifier or fool. The supporters Of Mr.
Witt no more compose a ring, and are as
honest unsefish and patriotic In their mo-
tives and ends as those OF Mr.. Ogden.