St. Landry democrat., 1884-06-14
The Issue Joined.
B. r. Truth.

r 4EHtls
The administration organs have been
preserving a discreet silence concerning
the mOmentous questions involved in
the methods of the last election. It has
been hoped that the wrong would be
forgotten and condoned that the peo-
pie would go to work and to play; that
the same old politicians would go along
in the same old way, until thenext elec-
tion, when after much preliminary fuss
and fury, "the boys" would bring out
their double-action ballot boxes, and
fix them up again. But such question
in the very nature of things cannot be
whistled off the issues are too serious
and so there is here and there an awak-
ening public sentiment showing itself,
and demanding whether radical meth
DDS can be justified by giving them
Democratic sanction The policy of
silence will not do, and so there is a
faint response and Justification coming
from several quarters. The Patriot
Democrat expostulates that it is prema-
ture to crificise Democratic admins
tration. The Central Express of Alex
andria, questions the right of the Pic
ayune and the Truth, to be heard in the
councils of the happy family, it calls the
Democratic party. If impending ruin
is to be averted, it wants a newspaper
labeled and endorsed by high authority
to point the way. But with all this, an
ingenious correspondent of the Pic
ayune, from the Iberia country, sees
that a defense is necessary, and adopts
the only one available, namely; that
the Republicans did it; that Fontelieu
is very undesirable character, whom
it is necessary TO get rid of; and that
the only way to fight the devil is with
4lis own fire. Here is the issue plainly
pnt. Fraud must be deliberately adopt
ed as permanent policy of State in
those sections where the Republican
majorities prevail. The ballot-box
stuffer must be recognized party
agency. Perjury and false swearing
must be Incorporated as necessary in |
gradients in the principles of the party, |
representing the wealth, the intelli- |
gence, and The virtue of Louisiana.
With this definition of Democratic |
doctrine we do not find it necessary to |
vindicate our Democracy against the |
charges of the Central Express; for if |
this constitutes democracy, we are no |
Democrat. Words cannot express our
aversion for sentiments so destructive
OF all civil organization, so repugnant
to every principle of morals, 30 ruinOus
to any party that will prOmulgate and
adopt them. Parties become strong by I
principles dear to the pop
ular heart, and leading to the prosperity
and happiness of the people. Fraud
never organizes a party. 1t is essen
tally and inherently disorganizing. 1t
protects no right for it is the distilled
OF wrong. To use it as an in
for resisting oppression
and Republican abuses, is like furnish
ing our Fire Brigade with coal oil to put
cut fires. For instance, it Is said that
Fontilieu is bad man, oppressive as
Judge, intolerable to the good people OF
lis district. Let that be granted, and
still we cannot perceive how he can be
by fraud and by making him
/ MARTYR, As things now stand, ne
represents principle that gives him a
lew hold on popular support The pur-s :
ty of the electoral system of Louisiana
las been incarnated in him by the fatu-
nus and ridiculous policy of the Demo-
.ratfc leaders. In the canvass now ap-
the Democratic party is put {
ln the defence for the first time since
he war. If we remind the people OF
he excesses of the Republican regime, !
he reply is evident and peremptory.,
This is the reason why the body. /
sOlitic is drifting toward disruption"
IS the CapitOlian Advocate says. Put i
raud into the social cement, and it loses
.t once all it's power to stick. 1t is the I
cry principle of disorganization. The I
Democratic party has but one alterna- !
i've. Reject fraud, rebuke it, anathe- !
1atize it, or let it stick up to toes IN {
ndless sleep. When it swallows that
afal dose. its time has come. a
&