St. Landry democrat., 1886-10-30
From Anti.BOlter.
RAPIDEs, La, Oct. 18th, 1886

man who fails to perform his duty, be-
cause he might create prejudice against
himself, is moral coward. just in
proportion as citizens interest them
selves in public affairs, will good gov
ernment take the ascendency over dis
honesty and trickery.
1t is my purpose to use this right Civ
en- every freeman, and enter into a dis
cussion of the political situation. Not,
however, with the view of wounding
the feelings of the gentlemen on the
other side, many of whom are nv
friends, but simply to find out where
stand. AS true party man, what am
to do7 In other words, who am I, and
where do belong9
A few days ago, / saw in the same
paper, call for the meeting of two Ex-
ecutive Committees. Will You please
tell me how the Democratic party of
this parish can have two Executive
Committees? 1t seems to me that there
can be but one. Somebody is wrong !,
who is it? We will have to solve this
question for ourselves.
1t seems that on July 2Sth, 1886, there
was Congressional Convention held in
Alexandria. At that Convention, Mr..
E. G.. Hunter, one of the delegates, off.
cred resolution empowering the
Chairman, Hon. NJ. Ryan, to appoint a
new Executive Committee. This mo-
tiOn prevailed by vote Of 3S to go
Eight members of the "Old Committee
attended as,delegates and vigorously
fought the motion by speaking and vo-
ting against it, Though in the minori-
ty they refused to abide the result and
called another Convention. Before the
call was made, however. Judge Ryan
appointed what is now known as the
'Swann Committee"
Now, did the "Old Committee" have
the right to call the Convention which
afterwards appointed the "Thornton
CommitteeW Did not, as one of your
correspondents stated some time since,
the ''Old Committee" become .tunctus
oficio, as soon as Judge Ryan appointed
the "Swann Committee ?"
1t seems to me very plain prop
Osition that if the Congressional Con-
yention had the authority to appoints
new committee, the old one went out of
Office as soon as the new one was ap-
pointed. II this be true, the Convention
which appoited the Thornton Com
mittee," was no Convention at all. be-
cause not called by the properly author
lied Committee.
Now, what are the objections to the
''Swann Committee" The gentlemen
on the other side, who voted In the
Convention with the minority, who
would not abide the result and icho are
not boilers, urge that the Committee did
not authorize the people to put them
ont and that it was undemocratic to
do so.
This looks strange, inasmuch as these
gentlemen were appointed by tia Mass
Meeting two years ago, held to elect
delegates to Congressional Conven-
tioD. This meeting also passed what is
now known as the "Blackman resolu-
tion.n That resolution declared that
Hereafter delegates should be elected
by Convention This accounts for the
holding Of Convention instead of a
Mass Meeting, for the election of Con-
gressional delegates. Now, if a Con-
Fenti0n is more representative when del
egates are to be elected, why is it not SO
for all other purpOsesY
It was larger Convention than the
one called by the "Old Committee"
after they bOtted. There was go votes
cast out OF II in the Congressional Con-
Vention. In the other only Al.
As to the want of authority on the
part of the Congressional Convention,
toappoint a New Committee, the Con-
vention, just held at Baton Rouge, set
tied that point and settled it in favor of
the Swami Committee. In that case,
which was contest from st. Landry,
over the recognition of delegates sent
by two Executive Committees, the
Convention seated those elected under
the call made by the New Committee.
The gentlemen advocating the cause of
the 4s0ld Committee" put up the same
defense that our friends on the other
side are putting up in this contest But
they could not choke it down the
throats of a Convention composed of
Democrats.
Now, gentlemen, after decision by
such body OF true, intelligent and 10y
al Democrats, will you not gracefully
retire, and let the majority rule, even if
does not suit your ideas of what ..ought
to be-" 1t.may come your time next,
and then you can laugh. You have held
the reins a long time, and it may be
hard to give up, but the boys got away
with yon. They did it honestly, and
inside the party. Ii you can't laugh,
make q bold eifoTt at it, and ask the
boys up to take something They
don't mean any harm. They love you,
but they are jnsta little weary and
tired OF the same old thing, and the
people, old and young, outside of the |
"ring,n have concluded to help them |
stir you up a little.
Mr.. Editor, this thing sounds SO well, !
that it even satisfies and conviBces me
that ! am with the "SwaDn Commit
tee, and you need not trouble yourself
about my political salvation. Try to
save all of them, try to get "leanntynt'
70 hand down to our children.
Yours Truly.
ANTT~ RNTTEP