The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-07-09
rs THIS A PARTY QUESTION:

We learned last evening that 1t had been
determined by the Democratic delegates to
make the settlement ofsthe debt party aues-
tion, and fix it in tile caucus. This Is
startling proposition, and one against which,
as Democratic Journal, we enter our most
earnest protest. WeIare unable to under
stand how, or in what respect, or
by what high authority, the settlement OF the
public debt can be made a party question;
and this effort to force It upon the party and
into the party caucus. partakes 80 much Of
that spirit of reckless5and aspiring violence,
bound to resent 1t.
So long as delegates on the floor Of the Con-
yention, or in their personal intercourse else
where, assume to represent the views and In
terests OF their constituents on this question,
we have not word I'd say; we have no right
to complain, and we make no complaint
They are free men, and on this and all
other questions they have right to their own
opinions and TO vote according to their own
convictions But weEpositively and peremp-
torily deny the right or propriety OF any man
or set of men to saddle their views on such a
question as this upon the Democratic party,
and we shall refuse TO obey any such unau-
thorized, unwise and tyrannical dictation.
The question OF the debt is one Of very
large interest, we freely admit; but, In our
opinion, 1t sinks into utter insigniffcance be-
side the Importance Of preserving at this time
the unity and harmony Of the Democratic
party in Louisiana And yet these daring
spirits, who advocate reputation. and who.
it seems, would rather rule in hell than serve
in heaven" propose, Tor the purpose Of re-
pudiatipg the debt, to- break up all the hold
ings of this party and plunge us into scene
Of political anarchy On the tossing waves of
which they may ride into temporary notori-
ETY. and popularity. Nor will the disastrous
effects of identifying the party in this State
with this question be confined to Louisiana. III
the party In this State Is forced to shoulder the
responsibility OF this question 1t will be y
damaging blow to the party throughout the
country. Gentlemen may say that they do
not mean reputation; perhaps they do not.
But the grim fact exists that, say or mean
what they may, the country will call any
scaling OF the principal of the debt repudia-
ton; and Ii the Democratic caucus of the
Louisiana Convention adopts any such
scheme as party measure, the Louisi-
ana Democracy will be sugmatized as
a reputation party, and the odfitifn will be
reflected upon the national Democratic party.
These are plain words but they are earnest
words, and we trust the Democratic delegates
will heed them. They have no right to make
this a Democratic measure. But If they are
determined to do SO. we insist that the leaders
Of the party; the men who have heretofore
borne the brunt Of the struggle for Demo
cratic supremacy, and who expect to
bear and are willing to bear 1t in
the future, shall have word in the
matter The record of the party on this
question Of the debt has long since been made
up; 1t is entirely consistent, and the record
Of the party cannot be ignored, nor its prom
ises violated In this reckless manner by a
Convention caucus. Even Convention OF the
party could not do this without periling the
harmony and very existence of the organi-
cation. By what right then, we desire to
know, do these gentlemen propose to take
this extraordinary step? We claim for the
leaders OF the party no right or privilege to
influence the votes of members of the Con-
vention In the discharge Of their official du-
ties; but we do claim that, If new and extra
ordinory issues are to be raised, and new and
extraordinary measures foisted upon the
party, that the leaders and representatives of
the party have right to be heard.
We warn the Democratic delegates that If
they persist In forcing this question into the
caucus, and making it a Democratic meas
ure, they will imperu the success of the party.
They are assuming % terrible responsibility,
and as certain as the sun shines, II they pro-
coed, they will have a long account in the end
to settle with the people whom they claim to
represent.