The Opelousas courier. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1852-1910, 1885-09-05
Federal Patronage.
East Carroll Democrat.

Louisiana politics are IN IL mixed con
dition, and are becoming more compli
Gated every day on account of the action
of the Federal Government. For twenty
years the genuine Democracy of the State
struggled against Radical domination,
carpet bag gluttony and scalawag party
intrigue We are no sooner freed from
the illiterate, farcical misrnle of recon
in our midst. The evil of which we
speak is that which threatens the Regu-
lar Democracy from the self-arrogated
Reform Democracy, which has been
croaking for the past three or four years.
Unfortunately for our State it is divi-
ded into two factions, and this division
goes even into parochial affairs. There
are men 10 many communities who are
constitutionally opposed to falling into
line and marching quietly along to vic
tory, for they fear they may become
mixed up in some 'ring." Now what
is ring? If being an honest straight
forward Democrat who believes in par
ty "fealty and party discipline" and
being opposed to faction headed by
boilers, such as Kernochan, who led
an Independent movement, constitutes
a ''ringster" then we had best all enlist
in the service of the ring and become
thorough and faithful Democrats. The
support of an independent candidate is
inconsistent with genuine Dem ocracy
or any other party fealty or success.
There are persons who enter party lines
and participate in their deliberations,
but if their particular friend does not
happen to be the choice of their party
they set up howl of ring, or fraud to
justify their action, and then bolt the
party. Now the good people of Louisi
ana, will never submit to be governed
by such faction though they may ap-
pear under the guise of reformers. This
covering is too short and the intention
and caste of the party is too marked to
be mistaken and too manifest to be hid
den. The difficulty is that the National
and State politics are more or less
blended by the appointment of these
"sunshine Democrats who have lifted
an arm to assist in freeing our State
from its quandam mis-rule.
the future does not come from the
strength of the so-called reformers, but
from the Republicans.
Mr.. Cleveland. who was ardently and
faithfully supported by the Louisiana
Democracy, had an opportunity to heal
the breach in the party, but it was al
lowed to go by uninnr9ved. When he
prefers such men as he has appointed
he dlsgusts those Democrats who have
tolled and labored all through the night
and watched for the coming morn. He
has not only disgusted the genuine De-
mocracy, but has widened the chasm
until it may be extremely difficult to
unite the factions and lead to q Demo
cratic victory in the next campaign
I Why Mr.. Cleveland has pursued this
policy is unknown. 1t may be through
! ignorance of the facts or malice towards
| Mr.. Eustis, who has manfully fought the
i appointment of men who have not been
loyal to the party, and who may yet
find difficulty in having their names
confirmed by the Senate.
I It is the boast of the bulters that Mr.
i Cleveland means to break up the State
Administration ring 1t has been very
truthfully said that he has his hands full
of national affairs and viii probably not
meddle with State factions and State
affairs. The people will not submit tt
! Federal authority that interferes will
State rights. There is such a thing al
State sovereignty and it does not come
in conflict with any higher authority
] and it must be respected
We may be in error, but a continuous
pursuit of the present policy of the Pres
ident and the strife that is kept in mo
ton may yet be the rock upon which
the Democratic party will wreck.