The Meridional. (Abbeville, La.) 1856-1906, 1892-04-16
"a Word For Harmony

I'LL lCdg uLC uuc " A1tc 1SJ
ed its name for coEservatlveness
and quasi neutrality which it has
maintained during the campaign,
and in an editorial under the cap
ton of IA word for harmony" it
has allowed the sting of defeat to
arouse its prejudice and blind its
reason. 1t goes on to ~deprecate the
vituperation, v%illifcation, slanderous
charges and scandalous imputations
which it says characterized the fight,
and continuing, states:
1t is simply a fact that this atrocions
numbering of private character first
started with violent and o~ver-zealous
partisans of the cause which is repre-
sented by Mr.. Foster and the State
ticket which he heads. These shame
full assaults on private character and
personal rights and opinion naturally
provoked retaliation in kind, and as a
result the canvass between two factions
of the Democracy reached such ex-
tremes of heat and hate as that a
breach wide, deep and well nigh i'm
passable vas created between them.
We dispute this. If the indig-
nant outburst of outraged constitua
ents is "murdering private charac-
ter" then we plead guilty. If the
protests of a misrepresented people
against undenied and %undeniable
bribery and corruption is "villifca.
tion," then we villiied. If crying
against the moral enslavement of
a State by a corporation (which the
Picayune aided and abetted) is
vituperation, then we vi%tuperated.
If the exposure of official neglect
and carelessness on the part of an
aspirant for reelection on his record,
constitutes "%slanderous charges and
scandalous imputations" then we
stand mute before the Picayune's
cyclone Of adjectives; but until then
we deny the statement that Mr.,
Fosters adherents are responsible
for the complexion of the campaign.
Again in the course Of the same
editorial it says:
Gentlemen of the Foster following
the advances and o%vertures must come
from you You possess the machinery
and the power of the State. You have
possession Of the polls and the poll
books. You arrogate to yourselves the
right to all the officers, emoluments2 anC
patronage attached to to the State Gov
eminent. You hold all this by virtue
of a majority, 40 matter how obtained
, so small and so pitiful, that you car
) claim the support of only one-half 0
, the Democratic party.
The other half of the Democrats
) smarting with defeat, ranking will
a sense of injustice and wrong-doing
are not to be whipped into harmony
They will not endure the lash for
moment. They will not serve as slave
to another half. If you want to pacifa
and appease them, address them al
brothers, assure them that they still
have a substantial interest in the party
Offer them a fair share of the Offices
This is the first step to harmony. Thi
will be a real movement towards broth
; erhood and restored unity. This ant
nothing less is required.
This is plain. 1t is tantamount t
saying "Mr. Foster if you want til,
support of the gentlemen who hay'
! just sought your political scalp b.
means which the law condemned
you must dizzy with u.s." Here is
doctrine for a journal which hac
} such a horror of dickers to preach
j. For it is nothing but dickering pure
and simple. Offer a Democrat al
Office to SUPPORT a Democratic nomi
; nee? Is patriotism dead? Is prin
! ciple buried? Away with such
} plea and let us get back to the gooC
old precedent established by tn,
founders Of our country which calle'
, the ittest and ablest men to til
helm Of government. If there ar,
such in the faction which opposed
8 Mr.. Foster give them office, but Civ
t it to them because the good of tb
State demands it, and not as a go,
to blasted political hopes.