Claiborne guardian. [volume] (Homer, La.) 1877-188?, 1882-10-10

bitterly opposed by faction OF the party
The Tine~-Democrat, the greatest news
paper published in the State, perhaps the
grratrst iu the South, strenuously opposed.
Ellis. Fur Sumo weeks previous 10 the
assembling of the Convention this great
Journal had teenied with charges against
the favorite Representative of the people
of the Second District. These efforts Of the
Times Democrat would have buried any
ordinary man, hut they fell harmless at
the feet Of Ellis. When the Convention
assembled there was not delegate present
but for Ellis. There MAS no one present
to do even 40 much for Judge Houston rs
to place his name before the Convention.
Futile indeed we're the efforts Of the Times
Democrat to defeat Ellis and to elect
Houston. With all the bitter opposition
aud all the fearful charges that were pre-
frrrrd against the Representative of the
End District, vet the people of that District
in Convention, without a dissenting voice,
named him ~ their chosen candidate for u
position which hi has held for years, aud
the duties of which he has discharged to
their satisfaction. II must have been graft.
flying to the silver tongnrd orator, after
being 40 warmly assaulted, to receive this
hearty, enthusiastic and unanimous en-.
dor-cmrnt of his party aud his people
The organized opposition which was
brought IL bear to defeat him proved weak
indeed. tie war as-ailed, but his people
have endorsed him-he should he salts
tel.
From this contest in the Second District
something may be learned. 1t hints sew
eral lessons In the 6rst place, it shows
that to bitterly attack the character of
pcrson-to carry personal likes and dis
likes into public affairs, will not win.
Had the imesDrmocrat, instead ofven-
ting it- spleen and venom upon Ellis, de-
voted its time and attention to convincing
the people Of the fitness Of its favorits for
been different Not that Ellis could have
been DEFEATED, but Judge Houston might
have had representative iu the Conv-n-
ion had hr aud his friends conducted the
canvass upon different basis. The pub
lie care little for the likes aud dislikrs Of
The people 70 for the fitness
of those hn seek public position.
1t teaches fulth"r, that the charms Of
oratory have not yet lost their power and
effect with the people. II is commonly
that the press has taken the place
Of the rostrum, and the idea Ia n great cx-
tent Is trnc; but the orator has not yet
been shorn of his power. Eloqurnce vet
swayst lie masses. f.. John Els owes his
triumph more to the charm of his match
lrss popular e'onHrncr than to any Thing
else. HIS silver-tonguc c"unteract-d the
influence of the press. But Ellis wa
warmly and prrsi-tently chanpinncd hy the
States, and his triumph can no; he ascrihch
wholly To his popular oratory. The press
aud oratory combined is q power which is
not easy to dcfrat.
From this contest may also hc learned
that the people are slow Ia believe evil Of
those who enjoy their respect and conf
arnce. The masses readily credit evil re-
doubtful, lnt are very iucrrdnlnus when
charges are made against their favoritc,
and while a mere suspicion i sufficient to
damn in the first instance, nothing short
of positive demonstration will -nflicc in the
latter
Last, tprove, that the peopl" are capable
Of contrnhng successfully with bosses,
rings, cli1urS ard wirr-p ullrrs the people
were for Ellis. and IN spite of these ibAn-
cnces they carried him through in triumph.
IL VAIN was the effort 10 break the cnrtrnt
Of his popularity. Slaudcr, misr,prcscn-
tation and villifcstou fccoilcd upon those
who welded II ~ weapon, and hut in
creased the popularity # him whom il was
designed Ia slaughter. We rejoice thar
the people are vet sovereign and defy OPP
State election we hope tn ace snch n tri-
nmph for the people Tor every office from
Governor down a. was Witnessed in the
Second District on the third nf the present
mouth. and we congratulate the State
that the signs Of the times indicat. that
the people are ready and waiting fnr the
and that those who are look
ing forward to officials prrf"rmcnt through
tho Influence Of bosses, rings, clique. and
wire-rnllrrs are reckoning without their
host. The people are determined 10 assert
their sovereignty. and choose their own
bearers.
1fthc Independent movement was calcu-