St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1892-04-09
A WORD F0B HARMONY.

n. o. Ticayune, April e.
The Democracy of louisiana il 4 condition
of almost hopeless disorganizat.c Il. 1t needs
neither wisdom nor saeaclty to Il cover that;
The fact Is patent to tile most ordinary nlnd
and to the dmmest physical vision 70 pat
riot, to lover of Louisiana, to devoted DEM
ocrat, the situation is plainly desperate.
A political canvass OF unparalleled bitter
ness amounting, but for the absence OF physl-
cal weapons, to actual warfare Waged between
two factions Of the party, has brought on ms
wretched state OF affairs. The lack of material
weapons, SO tar from mitigating lhe seventies
of the canvass, has increased them, because all
the vituperdtion, FIlnncatloh, slanucro.as
charges and scandalous imputations that IN
ccnuity could suggest and malice invent nave
been sown broadcast by unscrup!4ous and 1e-
rocious partisaus against the private charac-
ters not only of candidates and public person
ages but OF private individuals who dared to
hold personal and private opinions upon sub
iects of public policy.
1t is simply q fact that this atrocious muir
deling of private character first started with
violent and oyer-zeaons partisans OF the cause
which is represented by Mr.. Foster and the
State ticket which he leads. These shameless
assaults on private character and personal
rights and opinion naturally provoked retaila-
ton in kind, and as a result the canvass De-
tween the two factions OF the Democracy
reached such extremes of heat and hate as that
breach wide, deep and well nigh impossible
was created between them. This campaign OF
hate was continued for months despite every
effort to check it and to secure an nonoraple
prejudice the conflict has been brought 10 all
end.
But has tho breach been closed? Have
the grieVous wounds been healed! Has
there been any Intervention OF equity to secure
q fair and honorable compromise of differences
and adjustment OF interests Have there been
any oycrturos Of fraternity and o friendly re-
gard for a common welfarel Has there been
since the close OF the contest before the late
Committee of Seven one single act looking TO
the restoration Of harmonya Wo answer to al
A. fhncn HnnStiDnS.
hopeless and desperate words: mo, nothing,
never" Two parties OF friends have been
playing, as 1t were, game OF chance for nlgn
stakes. One party wins, the other party Is beg
cared, not by the turn of a card, but by the in
Prevention OF what the losers believe is fla
grant wrong. This is the termination or q
fierce contest, and the breach Is as wide as
ever.
Patriotic gentlemen have come to the Picay-
unc, asking that something be said in the interest
of harmony. Well, the Pcayune, which did
not bring on this ferOciOuS campaign OF ha e.
which has not maligned or slandered anybody.
which calmly held and openly expressed Its
opinions despite the masnity and wanton lies
that were propagated against it, VIII say a
word. The Picayuno loves the DomocFatic
party 1t is devoted to the grand old party OF
the people, which 1t has supported before
many of the SANDER mongers were born. 1t
will say word for the restoration OF peace anu
unity. 1t says thIs:
Gentlemen of the Foster following, the adj
yances and oyertures must come from you.
You possess the machinery ana power OF the
state. Yon have possession OF the polls and
poll books. You arrogate to yourselves the
right to all the offices, emOlGments and patro-
mage attached TO the State Government. You
hold all this by virtue OF a majority. 20 matter
how obtained, 40 small and so pitifui, that you
can claim the support of only one-half OF the
Democratic party.
The other half Of the Democrats, sinarting
with defeat, ranking with the sense OF injus-
tice and wrOng-doing, are not to be whipped
into harmony. They Will NOT endure the lash
for moment They will not serve as slaves to
another half. II you want to pacify and ap-
pease them, address them as brothers, assure
them that they still have a substantial interest
in the party. Offer them fair share of the
Offices This is the first step to harmony. This
will be a real movement towards brotherhood
and restored unity This and nothing less is
required
Ii is useless to preach platitudes Of piety and
patriotism to men in such a temper. Ii you
need the help OF half the Democratic party of
the State to secure the triumph OF the party,
then win it by fair and fraternal means.
The Picayune will do all i'll its power to aid
in the restoration OF harmony. 1t will do all IN
its power to heal the breaches and restore
brotherhood but its efforts will be unavailing
unless the first and most fair and liberal and
fraternal advances are made by MIR. Foster and
his followers.