The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1889-06-05
FACTIONS DOWN SOUTH.
Radical C1iques, White and Black, Fight.
ing for the Spells OF Office.

Radical Clique,, White and Black, Fight. |
ing for the Spells OF Office.
The reports from Washington that
President Harrison is perplexed over
'the Southern situation" and that the
quarrels of factions in the Southern
States is a chronic condition, should
be understood as characteristic rad
ical Misrepresentation. We do not
deny at all that there are contentious
in Louisiana. Alabama, Virginia and
elsewhere, but they are the result OF
conditions created by Republican rule
and the presence and schemes OF the
old carpet-bag brigade. We heard
very little of the Southern situation
and of factions in the South during the
last administration, and we only hear
OF them now because the success of the
Republican party last fall has given
new vitality to the decaying carpet-bag
element. This element has always been
aggressive, quarrelsome and Office
hunting, and at no time and in no In
stance has it been representative OF
| the South Since it's invasion OF the
Southern States during the reconstruc-
ton days it has been the plague
and malediction of Southern society
and Southern politics, and, although
| its control is broken and its power de-
parted, it remains in diminished form
to work mischief and propagate slam
| ders.
If there are factions in Southern
States and local quarrels over Federal
patronage, they all have their origin
in this source and not in lust OF office
or want of self-restraint among the
Southern people. When our readers.
therefore, hear Of the Presidents per-
plexity over Southern factions, let it
always be understood that it means he
is confused and perplexed over the
office grabbing and mutual revilings
of radical cliques, white, black and
mixed, all of which is quite apart from
the great body of the Southern people.
But there is another aspect OF this
matter that needs some passing men
ton. If Mr.. Harrison really wishes
to distribute the Federal offices among
the class that truly represent the South
and its permanent interests, then he
must necessarily ignore, to a very
great extent, the radical section OF
the population. We suppose he has
found this out, or is fast discovering
the fact, and he hesitates naturally
in some perplexity. This is alarm
ing to the aforesaid factions quar-
reling over offices yet to come, and in
creases their chronic ill-humor, and q
situation is created, Southern so far a:
location is concerned, that may wei
worry the mind of the President. Hi
only course, if ne regard truth, dig
nifty and decency, is to leave the Office
where they ought to be-in the hand
} of honest end representative citizens
no matter to what party they may be
long
4 The South is Democratic and the eS
3 ercise of Federal patronage can no
change it. Ofice-hunting is not
l Southern characteristic, and all tn
Southern people really wang is full an
8 fair opportunity to develop 5heir cour
e try and build up it's varied industries
e This they are doing quietly steadil
), and effectively; and it is tlae duty
J, the Federal Government to gid, so ia
It as appropriate, the great work i
! progress. This object will certainl
n not be advanced by thrusting int
y prominence the pestilential elemer
h which so long villifed and misrepr
n sented the purposes and principles of
C loyal population.-St Louis Republic