The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1880-01-23
noRAT1o sEYMoUR's VIEWS.
Prospects of the Democracy In the Next
Presidential Campaign.

so far as feuds are concerned. 1t is
true that the divisions in the ranks of
the latter are more open and conspicu-
Gus, but they have reached point
where they admit of healing remedies.
Hatreds and jealousies In the ranks OF
political organizations are like erysipe-
las in the human system-half cured
when brought to the surface. Con-
cealed hate and feverish jealousy poison
ton. The party has no remedy for
this state of things. It's disease is in
ternal and therefore dangerous, per-
haps deadly. If it could be brought to
the surface it might be cured, but now
it is fostering inwardly and with very
bad symptoms. The poison has per-
meated the whole system and there is
no sage 80 skillful as to be able to pre-
scribe successfully for hidden distem-
per.
On the other hand, there is one great
advantage which the Democratic party
possess. 1t always comes up smiling
after defeat. Its vitality is wonder
full. 1t has outlived a dozen opposing
organizations, and it has held to its
ancient creeds while others have caught
at every excitement or novelty brought
to the surface by events. In the coun-
try especially the Democracy have
made their adherence to sound party
principle a matter as personal as their
religion, though in different way. 1t
is matter on which they have per-
mitted themselves to become enthusi-
astic. You cannot change them. The
hard-6sted Democracy cling to their
faith under defeats and trials, and are
withal imbued with sentimental feel
ings never seen in the conglomerate
ranks of their opponents. The Repub-
licans fall to pieces unless they can be
kept at a welding heat by passion and
excitement. If these cannot be kept
up against their opponents they break
out in their own ranks.
Under these circumstances there is
every reason to hope for the success of
the Democratic ticket in the coming
presidential election. The Democratic
vote in this State last fall, under the
circumstances, was a marvellous one.
To my mind it amounts to a demon
stration that the State can be carried
by the Democratic candidates whoever
they may be. We have had our fight
and it is over. There are no feuds or
jealousies left to rankle inwartily.
There is another clement now COM
ing to the surface which will tend
strongly to increase this harmony.
The town meetings and elections are at
hand. About twenty thousand town
officers are to be elected and there is
probably an average of three candidates
to an Office. All these men are doing
everything that lies in their power to
unite the party and concentrate its un-
divided strength on the town elections.
People in the country really care less
about who shall be President of the
United States than who shall be super
visor of their town, or justice of the
peace or perhaps school commissioner.
They will all vote for supervisor and
will work with united energy to Sc
cure the election of their party's can
didate. This is especially true of the
Democrats, much more so, I think,
than in the case of the Republicans.
The old sores of the Democratic party,
as I have said, are on the surface, and
therefore not only not dangerous but
Whatever healing process is necessary
will, no doubt, be completed by the
spring elections.
AS to candidates on the Republican
side, the men who have opposed the
present administration appear to favor
Grant, and his strongest opponent now
is Blaine. The fight is so sharp that it
may end in bringing up new man, as
has happened before. The third term
is against Grant, and Blaine is too
much of Republican 10 suit his party.
The Republican party does not like
violent men in Office, though it always
praises them for their boldness in the
fight. Morton, Chandler, Blaine and
men of that stamp were thrown over
in 1875, and the more malleable and
less we'll known man from Ohio was
picked up and made President. Some
thing of the kind is likely to be done
again.
On the Democratic side there is a
readiness to take up any man who can
unite all factions. AS they are all anx-
ious to harmonizc, a way will be found
to carry out their wishes. Outside of
this State Bayard, Thurman, Hen
bricks, English and Others have been
spoken of as presidential candidates,
and either of them, 1 should think,
would prove acceptable. The Democ-
racy cannot go astray in making their
selection. The man whom they will
nominate has every prospect of sue
cess"
Senator Bayard is accused by the
Atlanta tn Constitution of trying to pad