The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-07-10
THE DEMOCRATIC CAMPAIGN.


According to custom the representative
Democracy of New York and invited guests
assembled at Tammany Hall, On the Fourth
OF July, TO hold their annual celebration.
THESE gatherings possess more than ordi-
nary interest. from the fact that Iii the utter
ances of the prominent party leaders who as
setnble at them, may usually be found the
key notes Of q coming campaign. In this
case we find the real Issue between the Re-
publican party and the Democracy thus terse-
ly stated by Senator ELL OF Georgia:
We have accomplished more for The liberties Of
the ueople than has ever been eomplished IN
nny four months OF our history; lApplause.l
now notice that this Is d free government, and
TINT people arn not to be governed II times Oh
peace BY standing armies; thatthis ~ cnun-
own elections. mud that they ehall not be con-
trolled In their management by deputy mar
shals u infinite NUMBER appointed ut Wash-
tugton City.
Instead Of permitting the Republicans to
choose the issues upon which the campaign
OF 1880 should be fought, and thereby allow
the great questions OF constitutional govern
ment To be lost sight Of or swallowed up In a
contest over financial questions, upon which
the Democracy Of the country IL divided,
our leaders have wisely forced to the front
the more important question Of free cleo
tions and economical government.
The Republican party would gladly keep In
the background their record OF fraud and
force Republicans would rejoice ii the peo-
pie could forget the San Domingo job, San
born contracts. Credit Mobilier, the Belknap
and the navy yard scandals, and the whisky
ring frauds, gladly, too, would they evade
the resentment OF d people wronged by the
reversal of their will as expressed III the cleo
tion of 1876.
But they cannot escape the issue raised BY
their crimes against constitutional liberty
and the rights OF the people, BY the use Of
masshals, gunboats and troops In New York
elections, the overrunning Of Southern States
by the army. stationed ut polls and caused to
patrol the country for political PURPOSES nor
can they destroy the recollection OF the seizure
Of the election machinery by United States
marshals and United States supervisors. and
the seizure of the State government by the
army Id 1872. under the order Of drunken
Republican Judge: the overthrow Of State
Legislature In 1875 BY bayonets; the crimes of
forgery. perjury, bribery and corruption by
which the result Of the election Of 1876 was set
aside. No less in gravity We're the crimes
against liberty involved in tho high-handed
arrests by United States marshals Of hundreds
OF citizens Of Louisiana, who were dragged
before United States courts on the eve OF an
election and on trumped up political charges
Upon these issues the Democratic party oi
the country can march to victory: the people
OF the Union want peace and freedom from
the fierce anxieties Of political strife, with
free elections, unawed by bayonets. and The
enforcement Of the principles Of economical
government. Every interest Of the Demo
cracy of Louisiana is linked with the Dem.
| ocratic party OF the Union, and ID to be pro.
noted by its success; by its failure and the
accession To power OF the advocates OF bay.
onet rule, perpetual menace would hang
over our people.
! II Ii then lii order to consider what would
most contribute to destroy the plans Of the
party which now promise such high hopes 81
success, and here we refer to our editorial 81
| Wednesday upon the subject Of the s att
debt. and the effort to force the settlement 81
this question as a party measure.
i III I5SAla NO bA0 tsh1PGiOh NJ aL
ordinance repudiatlng the debt, or scaling it
this question would plunge the State into
fierce agitation, disintegrating and dividing
the elements which have struggled 80 long
and so manfully to restore the State to re-
pose, and endanger the adoption Of the cDnsti
tuition to which the people look forward fol
relief.
The stigma Of Reputation thus voluntarily
fastened upon the Democracy Of Louisianf
would attach Its consequences to the natfOna
Democratic party Every Republican iourna
In the country would ring the changes upor
the charge TINT this act was but Indicative o
cracy Of the South; and who will say tina
the vantage ground now occupied by tht
national Democratic party may not thereby
be lost and the issues changed?
These are some Of the responsibilities whict
delegates will assume, and we offer no othel
excuse for strong language In treating this
subject when 1t is sought to handicap The
party, and at the same time violate every
pledge on the subject and every act by which
the party in this State bound itself in con
ventions, legislatures, and through It's repre-.
sentatives OF every branch Of the State gov
eminent.
There never was period In the history 81
this State when the people had more reason
to expect men to act wisely and courageously
and it is painful to witness the vaeillatior
and indecision betrayed by gentlemen In tht
| Convention, to whom the people are looking
| for such action as will restore tranquility tx
/ this State, whilst it relieves them OF theil
| great burdens Both OF these results ar
demanded by the people, and freedom
! from political agitation is as essential,
required as the other benefits sought
# for the paltry sum Of $4,000 per year, d
to crafty the rale-or-ruin views OF iniu
dicious delegates, a Pandora's box Of evils
to be let loose upon this State, and Demo
cratic supremacy to be thereby endangered
it will not be said that the DEMOCRAT ha
aided, encouraged or sustained the suieida
act, or failed to raise o warning voice befor