The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1889-10-23
A STRIKING CONTRAST.
THO Progress Of Democracy and Retro
erosion Of Rcpublicantsm,

| eAA0 AAoSAeSS Vi DOlnOCr8Cy ana Retro.
erosion Of Rcpublicanism.
The most striking illustration We
know OF has been furnished by the
progress IF Republicanism and De-
mocracy since the former triumphed
at the polls last November. ANY one
who chooses to see and comprehend
can not escape full conviction of the
difference between principle and preju-
dice, between reason and passion, be-
tween the love of country and the love
of profit
Democracy is indestructible. It has
the living spark. and the ideas it
teaches must grow and strengthen in
the minds of the people, Its confess
sion OF faith made at the St. Louis con-
vention and interpreted by the Presi.
dent has, in the face of an electoral,
though not popular defeat. been in
dorsed by every Democratic conven-
ton called together since that time.
There has been no thought OF discour-
agement, no sign of weakness in the
ranks of the mon who are waging a
peaceful battle for the principles they
consider right and to the best interests
OF the country. All are united, cour-
ageous and eager to try the mettle of
the foe again.
The Democrats have war-cry and
a banner to fight beneath; the Repub-
llcans are without either. A few
months Of power have sufficed to dis
organize and divide them, and, as rob-
bers invariably quarrel over the
spolls, they are decorating each other
In the effort to get share of the
plumber, the prospect of whose attain
ment alone held them together.
Without great principle to unite
them. with no other guide than per-
sonal interest. it will be strange if the
factions succeed IN combining forces
again.
Other causes than disunion are
weakening the Republican party.
Some OF the old appeals to prejudice
and passion, often so effective with
people who did not take the trouble to
learn the falsehood and folly OF it all,
can be made no more. The solid
South was long the bogy of the North
ern voter. 1t was preached from
every platform, and sometimes from
the pulpit, too, that the South was
making no progress under Democratic
rule, and these speakers pointed with
pride to the increase of wealth and
other material advantages in States of
the North, where Republican Gov
errors and Republican Legislatures
held the reins OF power Opposed by
recent facts, such statements can have
no weight and return to plague those
who utter them. The advance of the
South. where Democratic principles
are universal, is now more rapid than |
that of the North, and multiplied evil
dences on every hand attest her
prosperity, the exact proof of COM
parative figures being one of them.
Again does practice ally itself with
Democratic theory.
The second appeal was not to preju-
dice but to profit 1t was said that
Democratic reduction of the tariff
meant a business panic, the breaking
OF banks, the destruction of manufact-
uring establishments, the depression
OF trade and general ruin, while it's
Republican perpetuation foretold
boundless wealth and prosperity. Re-
publicanism succeeded, and the worst
period the manufacturers have had
for ten years has been since the cleo
ton of Mr.. Harrison. All the pro-
tected industries have been made
gloomy by long line of failures,
while a powerful and increasing fac
ton of the Republican party is calling
for reduction of the tariff. Thus
the only article of confederation
which it could dignity with the name
OF principle is about to be swept
away. And again does practice ally
itself with Democratic theory. l.
We can not restrain shade of sor-
row for our Republican brethren who
have made so much capital OF the al
legged oppression OF the negro in the
South, and rolled under their tongues
with delight tales OF discrimination
against him at the hotel, in the rail-
road car, and wherever else social
forms hold place. A colored man and
white man might quarrel, and i'm
mediately it was in the Northern
mind a race war of threatening pro-
portions. and no one will ever know
the frightful exaggerations which
have been made concerning such
events. This would not occur under
rule, they said, though
they never gave a reason for suah a I
belief. But the news has just come of '
real race war in the good Republican
State of Illinois, where man can do no
wrong. 80 long as he elects Republic
an office-holders. White men have
killed black men. Republican patri-
DTS, armed with revolvers, are seek. !
ing the lives OF their dark-skinned
brethren who voted solidly for Mr..
Harrison. and are now receiving their {
reward in Illinois.
Time tells the truth, and one by one
The illusions flung over the people by
The Republican party disappear, for
common sense must prevail, and false
hood can not always hold its own
against right. When all the arts OF
leceit are exhausted; when malice no