The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1884-12-13
"A Republican Superstition"

"A Republican Superstition"
A Prohibition speaker says it is time
to break down the Republican super
stition' that if the Republican party
goes out of power 1.-THE country will GO
to pot"
This superstition is all the more
remarkable because the Republicans
who are governed by it are in the habit
of associating in all other affairs with
the very Democrats who, in case of d
Democratic success, would administer
the Government. They deal with them
in business; they are often partners in
the same commercial enterprises. The
Democrat often intrusts the Re-
publican and the Republican the Demo-
crat with his most important interests.
They frequently go to the same church
and take or administer the r.tes of it,
mutually in each others behalf. They
are socially the best of friends and
neighborS do one another acts of kind
ness, help each other in difficulties,
sympathize with each others joys and
griefs, marry ard are given in marriage
with one a.other.
Yet, after ali these signal proofs OF
trust in one another's honesty. ability
and integrity, many a Republican be-
lieves, or affects to believe, that the
same men would. in public affairs,
wreck his own and his fellow-citizens'
interests. Republicans will give the
Democrat unlimited credit in business;
allow him to act as his trustee and man.
ager-in large and important matters.
andi some cases trust his judgment and
honesty as he. would not trust his own
brother. Yet in public affairs he
shrinks from giving him any lot or
share in the administration 1T the Gov.
eminent, in which the Democrat has
Just as great and vital an interest as the
Republican has.
A genuine superstition is rational and
consistent. The true Mohammedan re-
CARDS the Christian as a vile infidel--
the offscouring of the earth-whom he
ought always to despise, and, if he dare,
to kill. Everything the Christian
touches is deIiled, and the; follower of
the true prophet associates with him
only so far as his fear of the Christ an s
iron-clads aud armies force him to do
so.
But the "Republican SUPERSTITION. =
after admitting that the Democrat may
be q good neighbor. good friend. 3
good banker, a good merchant, good
trustee. superintendent, president of
manufactures or railroads, honest, up
right and truthful, turns about and de-
clares not merely that the Democrat is
mistaken as to his views of the Govern
ment and public policy. but that he is
eagerly and anxiously awaiting the
chance TO destroy the country and ruin
the earthly prosperity of every man,
woman and child in it. ----@.
Ii the Democrats were a mere hand
full of lawless, ambitious, desperate
men. bent on getting possession of
power by force or revolution, the Re-
publican fear of them would be intel
ligible. Instead of that they constitute
one-half of the people of the United
States. In 1876, counting the whole of
the opposition, the Republican party
was 500, 900 votes in the minority. If
the Democratic party is the dangerous
party which the Republican superstition
represents it, this formo government is
total failure. If one-half the people
in this country. who are citizens, voters,
farmers. manufacturers, laborers, pro-
fessional men, are bent on getting pos
session of the government only to de-
struy it, then the Nation is doomed : It
can never exist with one-half of its citi-
zens so ignorant. so unpatriotic. or so
disaaected as the Republican supersti-
ton" represents it 10 be. 49,,
The superstition is all the. more alb
surd, because these same terrible an
archists, as the Republican supersti-
ton regards them. have had posses
sion of score of State Governments.
They to-day are, as they have been be.
fore. in possession of Connecticut, New
York, New Jersey, Ohio, Michigan,
Delaware, Colorado, Pennsylvania,
Tennessee Nevada and California
Nothing has occurred in these States to
chow that the Democrats are not Just
rs capable and honest in their admins
tration as their opponents have boon.
In many instances there has been 40
knowledged improvement in the
economy and efficiency of the Admins
tration. According to 1.-THE Republican
superstition these States should have
been given over to anarchy and deviltry
such as RACED in the Southern States
during the reign Of the carpet bag
Administration. --Qstrojt Free .Haaa