The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1879-09-17
TIE COMING CONTEST.

Ikea, When the democratic C0hsef-
yatiye party will put in nomination q
ticket for all officers, provided for
under the new Constitution. The
State convention will, no doubt, make
good and judicious selections for
State officers. Our Parish and Dis
trict officers, by far the most impor.
tant to US, will be nominated by our
respective Conventions. We take it
for granted, that honesty, capacity
and fitness for the various positions,
will be diligently sought after, and
that the candidates must and will
necessarily combine these with other
qualities to insure the support of the
party. These qualities, however, are
not alone requisite to render a can
didate eligible, to the support Of the
party. His record in the past,
should be that of true, faithful and
undinching Democrats otherwise, the
nomination would be injudicious, it
would be q palpable injustice to our
party to slight or drop any of its
true and tried veterans, who have al
ways been at the post Of duty and
honor. Those who now come and
seek shelter under our victorious
banners, should not expect to be
placed in the front ranks, and Gin
trusted with the emoluments of office"
If rewards are to be given, those who
have been constant and ever true to
our cause, should be the first to re
ceiye them. Rapides has score Of
honest, capable and faithful men
whose party fidelity, under all cir
cumstances, commends them to it's
support. They should come first.
Discipline, organization, thor
ough and active campaign will be ne
cessary for the complete success of
the party. 1t is idle to listen to the
patent rumors Of would be Democrats
those who breathe the foul mir Of dis
Contentment, and are for the moment
spell-bound by croakers and sore
heads, to the intentions Of tho Re-
publican leaders here. They are as.
tute politicians and their disclaimiDg
any intention of nominating o ticket,
is a political trick TO lnll to sleep
our vigilance, and encourage so-called
| independents, who have no other mo-
tiyes in view than to dissatisfy and
disintegrate our organization. The
simple declaration oftAose, who have
no fixed political opinions Of their
own, but simply a candidate for Of
fee, that there is no necessity for
nominations at all, shows q want of
| strength and infdelity to the people,
who have battled SO long for the es-
! Establishment of an honest and eco
nomical government. Our party is
accustomed TO such insidious foes.
For one we believe tlat our party is
not now prepared to halt III the good
work Of re-establishing our State
Government. The party which made
the new Constitution, containing so
many wise provisions for the peoples
good, is the proper party to put it in
to active operations. We have but
half way completed the reforms, and
| cannot, for the sake of office seekers,
| break up our organization and DIES
royit efficiency. Stronger now the
nomination Of the party, which is
tantamount to an election, should be
wisely and judiciously, keeping in
view all the time the wishes Of the
people. Every true Democrat, with
the proper requisites for Office, has
the right to ask the nomination of
his party. The Convention should
confer the nomination in accordance
with the wishes of c majority of the
party, and no bargaining, conbina
tons or "swap-offs" should be in
dulged in or tolerated. The party
must be kept beyond evil reproach.
Therefore, let every candidate
stand on his own bottom, let the del
egates to the Convention remember,
that they represent the Democratic
Conservative party as whole, and
not the interest OF any one man, or
any particular section of the Parish.
Democratic principles must not be
lost sight of--the voice of the people
must rule, the promotion of individ
uals and localities in the Parish, must
be made subsidiary thereto. Sec
tional feelings in the Convention