The Opelousas courier., 1892-01-02
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every democrat OF the parish fromj any
obligation to abide by the action Of the
Executive committees and by its Vocal
nominations
This is equally true of every parish
in the State, whose delegates diH not
remain in the Pik's hall convention
Delegates are sent to represent the par
ty that sends them and its interests,
and whenever they fail to do it, 5they
are without power or authority to bind
those who send them. The principle
involved is one of legal recognition and
sanction. An agent must act within
the psrvieu and scope of his authority,
and ifihe do not his actions do not bind
his principal
Politics, we know, present many pha-
ses, bnt the law of agency is one which
is we'll understood by every one, when
ever il is SO simple in it's prime purpose.
The delegates were sent to democra-
tic convention, to assist, according to
its usage, in nominating democratic can
dtddtee They were not sent there to
negotiate and contract with such as
were bent on side issnes- and on them
alone There 10 not true democrat in
ST. Landry who ia under the remotest
obligation to support the nominees oi
those who went to Baton RoHge as their
party representatives and who bolted,
They did not represent the democratic
party, but abandoned it aud eonsorted
with the managers of the Lafayette
combine. With equal propriety, they
might have gone to a republican conyen-
tion to nominate HerRig or Warmoth.
No Democrat is bound.
We most heartily indorse the follow
ing taken from the Baton Rouge A dvo-
cate
The Foster and Adams contingent
participated in the primaries beforeth
white people of the State ON equal
terms, and were overwhelmingly de-
feated, Under the obligations which
ordinarily bind honorable men, they
were bound to abide by the result. But
they did not do it. Theyrevolted, and
set up an independent standard that has
disrupted the democracy. on the plea
that there is an Issue at stake which
they cannot surrender, because it in-
wolves high moral principle. This is
merely a fudge they simply aim tG
perpetuate their power in the State by
making pretext of the lottery issue,
IF they did not intend to keep faith in
the event of their defeat, they ought
not to have gone into the primaries.
That was the time for high morality to
assert itself, and not after taking the
chances for victory, which, If won,
would have been claimed. 4
It il, throughout, sound To the core,
We most seriously commend it to our
readers for their careful consideration.
Think for one moment, what the
consequences to party organization
might be, If the conduct of the boilers
at Baton Rouge should be tolerated by
the democratic party
Such a precedent, If not Indignantly
and promptly repudiated with all the
energy of the party, would become q
rule for future imitation. The party,
with such precedent, ais law of ac-
tion for its delegates. would authorize
and excuse betrayal at every conVen-
ton, and justify every attempt to dis
infegsate it.
If AT ita power and authority are e
be trif1ed with by boIters whenever 4
may please them to ignore party nsagee
and lsws, ne may as well give up con-
venti3ns. And ii We mean To preserve
The autonomy of the democratic party,
its naembeTs, one and all, should re-.
bnk8,fhe bolters Of the Baton Rouge
convention 10 the most emphatic man.
ner.