The Meridional. (Abbeville, La.) 1856-1906, 1886-12-04
Democrats Must Reward Demo,
Gratis.

! Gratis.
| Was it Civil Service Reform that
caused the losses in the Democratic
| ranks at the recent election? A number
| OF Democratic journals blame it to the
expressed views Of some of the Demo-
| cratic candidates Oh the tariff question.
We thipl the apathy shown by Demo-
Gratis IN certain districts is easily ac-
counted for. Many official positions
yes, thousands Of them-that should be
filled by Democrats, are still in the
hands of Republicans, who in many
cases have held their places for twenty
years. Ii a Democratic victory means
nothing for the men who helped to
bring it about, then Democrats say,
"What is the use of gaininga victory
When Democrats {head oficisls),
have lot of Republicans working I'M
der them who do not come under the
Civil Service law, as at the New Orleans
custgmhouse, for instance, is it any
wonder that the rank and file of the
party refused to try and plant victo-
rious banner on the I'd instantg If the
head officials imagine that the rank and
file are satisfied because they are s.in,"
said officials sadly mistake the popular
feeling.
There are great many Republicans
still holding public offices in the South
under Cleveland, but ten Republicans
in the South have been turned out of
office since Cleveland was elected, to
one in the North and West. The result
was that not a single Republican con-
gressman was elected in the South from
North Carolina to the Rio Grande.
The Republicans have held their
party together for so many years simply
by giving what there was to give to
men OF their own party. And if the
Republicans carry the country in 1883,
and elect a president and house of
representatives, in less than six Months
from the time the president is sworn in,
there will not be Democrat holding
an office worth having in a single State
in the Union. We do not pretend to
deny but that they will have a Civil
Service plank in their national plat
form, but as in the past, it will not be
enforced after the election.
Certain mugwump Democrats may
call the ideas we express "spoils sys-
tem." Call it what you may, it is the
only way that any great political party
can be held together, and if for nothing
else we admire the Republican party
for the manner in which they have al
ways taken care Of their friends and
seen that their political enemies were
not rewarded. Democrats have not
always been so far sighted In other
States, besides Louisiana, that are gov
erned by Democratic administrations, |
publishers OF Democratic newspapers
1i4rd it a hard matter to make both |
ends meet, but especially do we draw !
attention to louisiana under Demo-
cratic administration. First, all news
paper editors have to pay license.
Second, the fee bill for legal advertise !
ments is very small. Third, Democratic |
officials, police juries, and others, in
nearly every parish in the State will |
cut the Democrrtic newspaper to the |
lowest notch.
Men must be rewarded in some man |
ner if they do not lose heart and give !
up. Ii they do not receive Offices them
selves, they ike to see their friends |
placed where they have battled with
The foe in order to see them placed. 1t
IS human nature. 1t is horse sense. All
men labor that they may receive some
reward, if not in one way, in another,
and we Claim that if "all the rascals"
lad been turned out Of office six months
ago, the Democrats, instead of having
barely twenty majority in the house Of
representatives, would have had more
han fifty, and the senate would have
'een nearer Democratic by four or five
members. If the Republican Office
holders arc not all removed before the
election OF 1888, look out for Demo-
ratio "Waterloo."- Town Talk.
st. Landry DEMOCRAT: Ia the fifth
district of this State,
hrnn parishes Nprt. not SIIpi,Ijpd with |