The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1882-06-03


Democrats, as whole, did not support
Chalmers with that warmth aud party
zeal he had a right to expect, and the
result was the Republicans were thus
enabled to decide exactly in accord
ance with political views-ignoring al
together law, equity and evidence-no
opinion being advanced In opposition
to party interest, thus making the
whole Investigation fraud upon the
people of the United States. Deserted,
as he claims to have been at the most
critical period of his political existence,
bat that lands him In an arena hostile
to orthodox Democracy, which will, in
the end, result In the utter anihilatfon
of his political ambition, but which, in
the meantime, bodies no good to the
Democratic party in the South, for
has more or less of a following. And
1t Is particularly unfortunate at this
time, when Republication is seeking
a 'snative" foothold in the South, and
where the corrupt influence of public
patronage is brought to bear for the
support of any principle or want of
principle, that assists the party in
power. Chalmers deserved well at the
hands of the party in his State and in
Congress. Like Gen. King, of Louis
lana, he led "a forlorn hope' in two
campaigns; overcame obstacles that
would have discouraged most of men,
gaining triumph on each occasion,
which was finally lost in great meas
ure by party Indifference and otherwise
by the Republicans deciding the case
solely upon political merits. In future
we must profit by the folly and blum
ders of the past, If the South is to re-
main solidly Democratic. We want to
guard against any more entering we'd
ges of the Chalmers kind, whose recent
change of political front is as unpardon-
able as the Republican vote expelling
him from his seat in Congress was
unwarranted. Harmony and unity
are what we want, with promises that
will utter no uncertain sound.
The friends of the Mississippi river
improvement measures are very we'll
pleased with the liberal spirit manifest
cd by Congress, which gives 81, 1913 900
for the national stream, and 1876, 200
for the Improvement of the river
above Cairo. Representative King is
jubilant over the valley victory, and
certainly himself aud colleagues have
labored tirelessly in behalf of its attain
ment. And then it is understood that
much of the sum agreed upon is only
to lay the foundation for future opera
tions. Eventually it is expected the
whole length Of the stream will be like
one vast, artificial canal, defended by
embellishments, which, while incident
ally deepening the channel and thereby
improving navigation, will reclaim
millions of acres of fertile lands. When
the sugar lands of Louisiana alone are
protected amply, we can produce all
our own sssweets" at home, and thus
save the enormous sum of $47, 1884, 1882,
now paid annually ON imported sugar
and mo1asses at the United States Gus
totn-house. The money paid out in
any one year for foreign sugar and mo-
lasses, would reclaim the alluvial lands
of Mississippi, Louisiana and Arkansas
forever. The products of the valley are
those of which there is never surplus
in the markets of the world, and the
President displayed sagacity beyond
the ken of his party when he urged the
protection of this superb region, whose
products would return to the treasury
every year, through the medium of a
tariff on imports, large portion Of the
sum expended on lowland reclamation
and river Improvement. Wisdom,
craftsmanship and patriotism should
prompt all public men to look at the
great question through the glasses of
President Arthur, and to act promptly
and declsiveIy.
Those who have assembled the polit-
icaI ramparts and scanned the horizon,
bring cheerful Democratic tidfngs.
Disguise it as they may, there is any
thing but union and harmony in the
Republican ranks, and all concede Re.
publican losses the coming fall in New