St. Landry democrat., 1883-12-29
The Result.
N. o. Picayune.

N. u. IlcayuNe
The announcement OF the nomina-
tions made by the Convention at Baton
Rouge has been received here WIN pro-
found dissatisfaction, and VIII 10 50
received 10y the better part or the Dem
ocratic party throughout the otale.
The result may be briefly summed up as
the triumph of all the evil Influences at
wnrk in Louisiana politics. Monopoly,
ring-rule and demagogism have achley-
ed = victory through the arbitrary use
of PARTY machinery, and the corrupt en-
ployment OF money and patronage.
With the exception of the gentleman
nominated for the Attorney General
shin, all the nominees are OF the McEn-
ery faction, and the ticket as whole
gives no promise of that reform IN the
mana cement of the party and the ad-
ministration Of the State OF which both
are so much in need.
The most appropriate commentary
upon this conclusion was furnished by
the failure of the supporters OF GOV.
McEnery to secure the passage OF res
olution making his nomination nnanl-
nous. For the first time within our
recollection the head of OF Democratic
ticket goes before the people without
that Endorsement. That failure, more
over, is rendered particularly significant
by the numerical strength and personal
weight of the minority, which change
of 81 votes would have converted into a
majority of a total vote of 800. A mi
nority so formidable in its proportions
and SO intense in its spirit OF opposition
sutfices to show that the fidelity of very
many Democrats who had been true to
the party in all its hours of adversely
had at last been overtaxed. 1t is clear
that the unity and harmony OF the Loui-
siana Democracy were never so much
imperiled before. Indeed, while a SEM
blance of unity is still preserved. the
possibility of an enthusiastic allegiance
to the party organization on the part OF
all its members has been ruthlessly de-
stroyed. The essential conditions of
harmony have been violated in the in
terest of personal ambition, and that
unfortunate result has been reached
through means which should certainly
never be employed in settling a contest
within tlle party lines.
The McEnery administration has re-
ceived neither a vindication nor an III
dorsement of which it has any reason to
be proud. Its chief has been renomi-
mated by bare majority, and under
circumstances which would assnredly
he notifying to Il sensitive man, and
discouraging to an ardent Democrat.
The people will understand that the
merits of the canvass have not been in
the least altered by the action OF the
Convention, and that the case against
the administration stands precisely as
before.
Looking to the poor promise of what
has thus been done, we can but reflect
with something of reproacll that only
little more activity in two or three of
the wards OF this city, on the part OF the
professed friends of reform, would have
led To IL much happier issue. The Elev-
enth Ward, for instance. might easily
have been carried against the admins
tration. The vote there was lighter
than in the Ellis Houston congressional
contest, and very few additional votes
would have reversed the result so far as
that ward was concerned. On the other
hand, it is a pleasure to acknowledge
that the conduct of the anti-adminis-
tration delegations in the Convention is
deserving OF the highest Communications.
They contested every inch OF ground,
and at the last they put forward the on
" name which still gave any promise OF
success. Gen. Francis L. Nichols is SO
universally admired and beloved that
it was reasonable to believe that his de-
feat would be impossible in a conven-
ton of Louisiana Democrats. That
last effort would not have failed had
Gen. Nichols permitted the use of his
name in the canvass. 1t was used in
the Convention without his consent, and
the vote was in no sort a test OF his
popularity in the State. The men who
nominated Gey. McEnery would have
nominated any aspirant in the same in-
terest over the most illustrious genius
and the purest patriot who has ever
adorned the annals of the country.
George Washington or Thomas Jetfer-
son would have received precisely the
vote received by Gen. Nichols. As it
is the administration may claim victo-
tory; but the party and the State have
suffered great misfortune.