The Lake Charles echo. [volume] (Lake Charles, Parish of Calcasieu, La.) 1876-1898, 1880-05-01
True Democracy.
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1 4OAACsb dGzllubA tAg ~ " CnA5 AAl0 WttNt
lie gets out of it, he is running attel
false idols. This beaten path Il
sincerity and truth. The party il
founded upon well understood ant
unmistakable principles. For fifty
years they were recognized and
firmly adhered to. Then the party
ruled the country. The opposition
in every contest went down before
lit. IL maintained through all the
half century which preceded the
great war between the States, an
almost llnbroken ascendency in the
government. III did this because
Its principles were honest, Just and
right, and 1t adhered to them. II
has the same, principles now, and II
only requires that they shall be
maintained with the same courage
GUS conviction Of right and duty
that once led the party to a success
sion Of unbroken triumphs to vital.
i2e ii again with the prestige of sue
cess. But expedieney is not prin-
ciple. Cajoling opposition factions
is not principle. These things are
the germ of weakness. Hpersisted
In they develop into ruin. But 1t
il this reprehensible and mischiey-
GUS course which the party has been
pursuing for years past, and which
has led 1t to the disasters which
have overwhelmed il. 1T il from
these things the party must turn
aside, and show to the country that
1t has both the honesty and courage
of its convictions. That it is more
honest, better and purer than the
republican party under any circum-
stances, eutsno figure In the case.
1T may be all this and still fail to
secure the confidence of the people.
Hglast be right 10 attain this oh.
ject IT need only be true to itself
and to the principles which fostered
and maintained the greatness and
glory Of the country for half a CEN
fuTy OF its most active life. These
pIinciplescan be briefly summarized
ais Hdrd Nancy, E5.ee Trade and d
strict construction Of the Coastita-
tion. They are principles which ap-
ply at all times and under all cir
cnmstances. In repudiating all en-
tangiing alliances, and urging a re-
turn 10 the old time-honored pTin-
ciples OF democracy, we are per
forming o service to the party and
to the country, and 1T is one which
we mean to persist in. The princi-
pies which we advocate will be de-
mocratic principles, We gciH en-
dorse no other. False and mcretri-
cious heresies we will trample I'M
der foot. We owe allegiance to a.
democratic party Of honest conyic-
ti0ns and sincere purposes, and to
none other. We are not and never
will be the advocate Of expediency,
IN the sense that expediency catch
cs votes. That which is right
should be always expedient. False
leaders and false ideas of political
economy must be thrust aside.
Repudiating the treason and theI
traitors which have well nigh shat
tered and wrecked its future, the
democratic party will recover all
the ground it has lost. II will al
ways be the party of the people
the deep-based life Of free institu-
tions-the only safeguard and bar
rier against that tide of centraIiza-
tioa which il nurtnred by Radical
ism, and which, under the lead nf
some American Maxiinir or Amer
ican Alexander, hopes TO conquer
and consolidate the States into q
central despotisn Of unlimited
power.