The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1883-11-07
THE DEMOCRACY.

sents the few.
After this country had emerged from
the revolution, two parties were form
ed contending fof the mastery and two
parties have ever since been contend
ing for the rulership of the country
One allying itself to the favored few
who by fortunes favor Or by social pc
sition naturally took the lead OF thei1
communities, assumed the name 0:
Federalism, Whigism and Republican
ism, while the other, as representing
the people at large, took the name O.
Democracy, which it has kept eve,
since.
The former advocated centralized
strong government, control of thu
currency and banking privileges by
the general government, a high tariff
and the duty of the government to see
to the internal improvements. The
latter has never swerved from its plat.
form Of government from and for the
people only therefore as cheap as il
can be carried on, a free banking sys.
tenn and a currency entirely indepen.
dent from the government, such a ia
riff as is only necessary to meet the
expenses ofthe government, and inter
nal improvements to be left to each
State, except such as relate to rivers
and harbors and the carrying on Of the
general government.
The principles which divided the
two parties sixty odd years ago are
identically the same to-day. Ever
watchful Of each others movements
and actions and each represented by a
press as alert to protect their party's
interest as to divulge the shortcomings
Of their opponents; the even balance
of power has been kept unchanged fo1
years, and our government, all things
being equal, is as pure and as well ad-
ministered as any civilized govern
ment. The danger of the future is
not in the parties, it is in the continu-
ance in power of one party.
As long as each party is united with
in itself, strong in the honest belief
Of its principles and ever watchful Of
the interests of the country at large,
the country is and will be safe. But
whenever the two great parties divided
within themselves shall form multi
tude of branches, each anxious to OBJ
tain power for the furtherance of sell
fish aims, then the Republic will soon
come to an end.
Our State to-day is engaged in a
strife which for bitterness and person
alities is as unusual as it is new to the
party.
It is asserted that one Of the wings
Of the Democratic party is corrupt and
that one Of the principal candidates
for the Governorship is in the hands Of
a ring whose populations and thefts are
nothing short of felonies. No direct
charges are made against the individ-
nal, but the branch of the party which
he represents is directly attacked
Can it be possible that the few years
Of power which We have enjoyed has
so demoralized the Democracy that the
choice of the Convention has to be in
fuenced not by the claims of this can
didate Or that candidate as regards his
merits Or services, but by direct char.
ges Expectations and felonies7
The Republican party wants nc
better card on which to enter the cam.
paign. They will say; What! YET
Democrats, who few years ago drove
us from power, under accusations o.
the most nefarious acts and amidst the
excavations of an indignant people
you have hardly strengthened the pow.
er into your hands before you are &C.
cusing each other Of acts as black and
as criminal as any laid at our doors
What will the country at large say
Can you enter the Presidential canvass
with such record 7 Under the dread
Of a corrupt Democratic government
as foreshadowed by the accusations
against McEnery and his followers
the North, solid as one man, would
hurl into the oblivion of nothing what.
ever hopes the South might ever have
had of regaining an equal footing in
this country.
To use plain language, if McEnery
and his. followers are thieves, force the
facts plainly and squarely before the
people, and purging the party from
their presence, enter the campaign
with a pure record and an unsullied
following.
If the accusations are false-as ut
hno1o they are--we, as one, demand 70,
McEaery, from the party at large, an
equal and impartial showing before
the Convention.
Louisiana the Democratic party
expects you to do your duty!
ADVICE TO MOTHERS. Are vol
disturbed at night and broken of yom