The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1889-07-27
The Basis Of Representation.
ISugar I'lanter.l

The Basis Of Representation.
rSugar Planter.l
Not long since newspaper pub
lished in q certain north Louisiana
parish boastfully remarked that cow
ing to our increased representation,
the people of our parish will have
quite say in the next convention"
Some months ago The Planter feebiy
and humbly undertook to call the
attention of the Democratic leaders to
the danger that menaces the party IN
future from the repre- sentation Accord
ed certain parishes in the State.
Until otherwise changed by the
State Central Com mittee, the repIesen-
tation OF all parishes in State conven-
ton (and, very probably, in all other
conventions) will be based upon the
returns of the last guberpat0ria! cleo.
ton.
Now we do not for u moment wish
| 10 be understood as ohjecting To the
heavy msjorities polled for the Dem>
ocratic nominees in April, 1SS8-on
the contrary, we heartily approve Of
big Democratic majorities at all times
and under all conditions--5ut the
truth of the matter is that while the
methods by which c.rtaih parishes
were carried overwhelmingly Demo-
cratic can be justified on the Jesuitical
doctrine that "the end justities the
means,'' representation based upon
that vote is open to very serious OBJ
lection.
Il The advocates of the present basis
of representation have time and again
urged in Its defence that il is estab-
lished by the State Central Committee
that the large mejorit!es referred IL
represent just 80 much skill, labor and
, intelligence on the part OF the Demo
Gratis who secuted them, and that they
3 are entitled to propor,ionate represen'
| ta,ion as reward for services render.
. ed the party. We are prepared to All
? nit that these gentlemen deserve
3 great deal of credit for what they have
: accomplished, but we deny that they
l are entitled to a power in convention
which they have no right to possess
, | a power which ia unjust to their fel
: low-Democra's in the ail-white par
' ishes, aud which, il allowed to con
# tinue, will inevitably disrupt tn
: party.
9 Under the representation accorded
!. the various parishes by the Stat
e Central Committee, Rapides, Concor
n dia, Tensas, CatahouIa aud a few othe
J, parishes can virtually control a Stat
o convention aud dictate the nomination
II of officials. Is it right and just ths
IS these parishes, having no larger Dem
ocratic (white) population than a
It equal number of other parishes tina
"a could ba named should WELD sue
- ;oh nd that
r. Rapides Democrat should have {
,e much voice in the convention as thre
Re East Feiicianaians? Can we afford
e allow this state of affairs to continue
a. Most emphatically, nc!
ID In all fights with the common on
my the Democrats Of Louisiana ca
20 resort to ali means to win, on tt
90 theory that "alPs fair in the war;
te but they cannot afford to be dtshone
er within the party by accepting repr
oe sentation based upon vote that the
I'd know is not !egitimsteiy Democrat
III 1t is high time the party leade
rs we're beginning to apply the knife
i'd order to rid the Democratic body pc
Id itic of sore that is fast corrupting or
y. poisoning the party-aye, threatcni.
US its very existence.
H. Let us nave Whlte supremacy
IN fact as we'll ss in name. Let Il
he representation of each and every pa
ish in the State be based alone upt
,r. the actual WHITE DEMOCRATIC VOT
white primaries in slt casts. Wi
this done all will be well. But co
Uinuance of the present basis of re
rcsentation will bring about serio
ce split which may eventually entire
disrupt tho Democracy.