St. Landry democrat., 1879-09-13
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ST. LANDRY DEMOCKAH's
OpyrOTsAs. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER IL, 1879.
A card from Mr. F. I. Lewis, ono of


grave charge against Mr.. Lewis
brother that we can see in the editorial
OF last week, is the report of his advo-
cacy of no nominations for district
Judge and district attorney, which being
an undisputed fact is no "chargo" at
all. We do think such advocacy is
utterly inconsistent with Mr.. Thos. II.
Lewis political record for several years
back. In 1876, Mr.. +. T. Lewis an
nounced. himself for the same office for
which he is now a candidate, "suHcct
to the nomination OF a District Demo
cratic Convention, if one be held, and
if nut,a to u nomination of the local
Democratic nominating Conventions" )"
The italics in this announcement for
1876, are Mr.. Lewis. Then the Demo
cratic party here was divided into two
factions, and one of the main issues, it
not the sole issue, between them was,
nominations Or no nominations for al
offices. Mr.. Lewis announced himself
subiect to nomination then, when the
question of nomination was in dispute
ana two parishes were complicated in
the matter. But now this parish is a
district of itself, there arc not two
organized factionssof tie Democracy in
the parish; and as we, and the great
mass OF St. Landry Democrats, under
stand it, the two factions united and
harmOnized only through submission to
the principle. of nominations for al
Offices This is the 'action' OF record
OF the Democratic party, and the con-
trary WAS the action " OF factions, not
of a united party. The party will have
tossreverse it's action and subvert its
own established principle, il it fail to
nominate for oil Offices. In view there
fore Of the nature Of Mr.. Lewis an
benncenlent in 1876, and the greater
reason there is for such an announce
ment now, we can only say that his
present announcement surprised and
astonisllcd us; and when his brother
advocated no nominations, in the Demo
cratic Gonmittee, we were still more
surprised. We think the committee
blundered and committed a grave error,
tosay the least of it, in permitting them
selves to be Influenced on this subject.
The question of nominations or no
nominations for aN offices, was no
longer an open one The party had
united and settled upon nominations
for all offices as a principal, as rule of
action We think the Committee had
no right even to, discuss the matter.
The Committee had no right to change
the principles of the party-its functions
are executive, not legislatiye.s.A con
vention is the legislature of the party; ;
and a convention alone has the right
to say whether there shall or shall
not be nominations for all offices.
The Committee is the creature and
servant Of the party through its con-
vention, and has no right to prescribe
swhat,its master shall do. For Il COM
,riittee to a call convention to do what
1T partially prescribes, and to leave
nndoue what it has neglected to pres
rcribe, is preposterous, ridiculous and
absurd. -a - ,ra
~ In addition to this violation Of, or
neglect to enforce Democratic princi-
5ple, 10y the committee, there is an, evil
that follows as a natural consequence.
We are surprised that the Committee
overlooked it., If two Democratic CAN
didates are allowed to run for the offices
of district Judge and district attorney,
fsi.ey win naturally be independent can-
raidates, and will form no part Of the
regular ticket. The regular nominees
of offs the party for the other Offices, can
mot support both Of them, and will
therefore take sides. The other one
or oiies will have to cast about for sup
port elsewhere, and will seek assistance
from. other political parties or bring
out other independent candidates. SO
we will have u serious division or roppo-
sition within the party Immediately ;. at
ter the nominating convention, which
ss the main thing such a convention is
iutendetl to prevent. If theprogramme
laid down by the committee is followed
by the convention, the disintegYation of
the party will begin at once. Better
have no nominations at.all, than to
have them for only some ofae Officers
The only way to maintain party is to
enforce discipline; and discipline can
not be enforced if exceptions are made.
We are in favor Of nominations for all
Offices or for none.
Elections have just taken place in the
States Of California and Maine. The
workingmen's party and the Republi-
cans have carried the city of San Fran
cisco-that is, some from each party
,havcsbeen elected; and the Republicans
have carried the State. The Republi-
cans have also carried Maine. It looks
as if the North is going to lie as solidly
Republican as. the South is solidly
Democratic.