St. Landry democrat., 1879-12-06
Thomas G. Anderson.


"Shall these dry bones live?" is a
ouestion that might have been asked
when the bitter political opponents OF
him whose name heads this article
thought that in the campaigns Of 1876
and 1873, they had broken his power
forever in the parish of St. Landry and
reduced him to cold and lifeless poll
tical corpse. But the times change aid
men change with them; and no one
knows the bitterness, the fickleness, the
hypocrisy, and lust for Office cf the
average politician, better than this
master among them. He knew the time
would arrive when those who had won
what political capital they possessed in
the Democratic party by the abuse and
yilifieation of himself and friends, nould
need his support, and he further knew
that they would not be too modest to
seek it.
The Republicans party being natur-
ally in the minority in the parish OF St.
Landry, to run ticket made up exclu-
sively Of strict members Of that party,
would be simply folly. His plan there
fore would naturally lte to divide the
enemy--the Democracy-to cause divis-
ion aud contention in its ranks. The
opportunity he would not have even
To seek it would he offered to him.
When approached to know whom he
would support in the political contest
Just closed. he very naturally and CAN
didly answered, the candidates not
nominated by the Democratic party.
We have seen how some Democrats
announced themselves for office, some
subject to nomination by Democratic
convention, and some Omitsng this
condition; we have seen that the Demo-
cratic parish committee were induced
to omit District Judge and District
Attorney in the cali for q nominating
convention and it wonld be- difficult to
persuade any sensible person familiar
with the politicians and political affairs
- of this parish, that these things did not
point to disreputable combinations
with Republicans" and to the power
of him who has put more men in office
and turned more men out Of office than
was ever done by any single individual
in St. Landry. And we think no one
will deny that the sequel has sustained
this view of the case.
Though there was Democratic nomi-
mating convention, it followed the error
of the committee that called it, failed
to do its duty by not nominating for
every office, and sent the party into
aetionin two factions contending & against
each other, and to speak in plain Eng
lish the party was betrayed. If individ-
uals who had preached so much against
the rascaiities of Repnblicanism and
the miseries of Republican rule, and
who had especially blamed Thomas c.
Anderson for all the evils that Repub-
licansm had caused, and who had
preached the necessity Of organization
and strict discipline in the Democratic
party, with nominations for every office
from Governor down to ward constable,
had but practiced half what they
preached, and had considered the success
of their party of more moment than the
qualification of their lust for office, the
Democratic party in this parish would
not have been divided and betrayed
and sorely wounded and partially de-
feated last Tuesday. No Democrat
blan,es Thomas C. Anderson for bis
mastery fight against his political
enemy, for it has shown no mercy te
him nor blame him for any politica1
wrongs by any individuals of that party
which lie attempted to avenge; but al
true Democrats blame and condemn al
those of their own party who, for lust O
Office. aided and abetted him.
He carried the parish for himself il
1876, against heavy odds: some of hi
friends put his name out again in 1878
hut he was not present to manage; bu
shis time, though but for short tim