St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1883-06-23
Parish Democracy of Orleans.
Clinton Xatchman


The Picayune in last Sunday edition
ID an article headed "The Parish De-
mocracy at Work. sends forth words
Of good cheer to all who, like the
Waterman, are embarked in the en-
deayor to rebuke the methods of the
present Democratic Government of
Louisiana. The article under review,
after an enumeration of the strength Of
the faction which has hitherto domina-
ted the city says, its voting strength is
but five thousand votes out of a total
voting population of 50, 800. The expla-
nation given by the Pic is substan-
TALLY that this Insignificant minority
has achieved its victories by superior
discipline, and by throwing the whole
Ring forces as unit !; by the fact that
full vote is never polled, and by rea-
son OF the further fact, that the vote
which was polled was not fairly count
ed. After noting the establishment on
Friday night of Central Ward Club in.
the Third Ward, the Picayune predi-
Gates cheeringly full vote, and to the
purport, that ut will be a bright day
for the Louisiana Democracy when that
condition OF things has been brought
about, for then only will the party ex-
ert its whole strength in New Orleans,
and New Orleans is the Democratic
stronghold in the State. For that rea-
son, the parish Democracy OF New Or
leans will receive the hearty sympathy
OF all good Democrats everywhere.
"The issues pending here are well un-
derstood. That there is widespread
and growing demand for reform in the
administration OF public affairs is be-
Yond question. The pretence of few
beneficiaries of the ring that the parish
Democracy owes its origin to motives
OF personal ambition, meets with no
ganization is OF itself a sufficient refu-
tation Of the charge. So far as the ar
gument is concerned, the fight is al
ready won. and it is only needed now
that the good work shall 20 on as
bravely as it has begun" To all of
which we append the warm sympathy
and cordial cooperation of the South
ern Waterman, distrusting gravely the
boast, that "the fight is al
ready won." 1t may be true as to the
parish of Orleans, but it is vet to be
fought out on the floor of the next State
Democratic Convention and although
the Orleans Parish Democracy may
send a united delegation opposed to
Rings and IN favor of clean ticket
even then the contest will be warmly
contested and the result problematical.
Ut course the movement in the City re-
ceives the hearty sympathy of all good
Democrats all over the State. But good
Democrats everywhere will watch with
intense solicitude the. result OF the City
primaries, for on tf~t depends in a
large measure the fate of the issue be-
tween the disciplined cohorts Of these
Democratic leaders who have taken
brides, turned aside after lucre, and
perverted Judgment, and the honest.
but raw levies of the clean Democracy.
No the fight is not already won, and if
the Orleans Democracy make single
or sustains check in the
choice of delegates to the State Conven-
ton, 1t nerer Will be. In the country,
we promise you we will do orr best, but
What will that avail unless the Parish
Democracy of Orleans will choose dis
creetly from its regiments, soldiers who
cherish honor and good faith above
Dribes or seductive promises