Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-09-19
WEDNESDAY. .....SEPT. Is, 1894
The Democratic Party-Louisiana.

The Democratic Party-Louisiana.
Our readers must not suppose that
the sugar planters constitute the entire
Democratic strength in Louisiana, for
there are many sound Democrats In that
State. In the days Of Henry Clay the
Wings used to carry that State generally,
but there was always Il strong Demo
cratic party there. We deeply regret. of
course, 10 find so many Democrats de-
sorting their party. Perhaps we ought
not to charge them with deserving their
party, seeing that they claim to differ
with the DEMOCRATS only on the question
of the protection Of American industries
or. TO be more exact, only on the question
OF the protection of the sugar interests
and the paying of bounties 10 the sugar
planters. b. the difficulty Of keeping up
third party will be experienced by these
Louisiana planters IL they undertake 10
hold with the Republicans on the tarln
question and 10 run with the Democrats
on all other issues. And so the d'ss"'Is-
fed Louisiana Democrats may be resaiu-
ed as having entered a road that VIII
infallibly lead them into the Repuohodh
ranks.
The kilograms in yesterdays papers
from New Orleans stated that 'the DOH
ers from the Democracy" had everything
their own way, and that resistance 10 'he
eugar-planters' programme was but 'eepi'
made II was added that the convention
went over to the national RepuDilca"
marty in a body" This latter statement
may be true. The convention was caiie"
for the purpose OF threatening the o'Si"p
tion of the Democratic party, ana mus
convincing the administration at WASH
,rg,on or the Democratic leaders in ana
ON, If Congress. that they had - choose
between protecting sugar anu pay
sugar boun,ies on the one hand, ana inc
loss Of louisiana on the other hand.
We have no doubt that the planters OF
louisiana really feel that they have pee"
badly treated. They say they never aShet
for a bounty. but when il was provided
Cor they regarded IL as pledge LOT
afteen wears. and commenced the mort
gaging of plantations and the eNP'hu''u''
nj immense sums of money IN ire PUT
chase of modern machinery anu HdhAis
improvements in the manner OF H"H"-
featuring SUGAR. But where were al the
able lawyers in Louisiana when these
,otions were put into the heads OF heF
sugar.plauters? Where was there - be
found a man or a body Of men authorized
10 make such pledge? We deeply regret
that the men OF the sugar-intereatS OF u'e
country should have been misled INTO the
expenditure of so much money dhd1T l1e
mistaken impression that hey could en-
meet government aid in the Work o.
making sugar for SO long period. IL was
however. their own fault. They invested
their money without having taken tie
precaution 70 ascertain whether IL was Vi
was not invested under the only cifcuIn-
stances which would have justified them
fin putting it into Observation-Disclosures out
relying upon Congress 10 take care ol
their interests.
We are told that the New orleans
convention contained not only the Leading
nianters of louisiana, but other repre-
sentative men-that Is. men repieseHti"s
other than the sugar-interests'
statement is no doubt true. me sugar
interests are as large proporlohateV III
Louisiana as the tobacco interests are III
Virginia 1t was. therefore hatu'ai ina !
leading men engaged in all xmas oil ousI-
- .houla at least "show themselves
TO the sugar-planters.
We have from the beginning iaNoieu
q free breakfast table. To TAX sugar
ia TO make the poor man having Il large
family contribute more TO the support
of the government than the fch man
having a small family. 1t is. III WoIu'
a tax which cannot be successfully oo-
Tended upon principle. SO We cannon
think that the sugar-planters nave
.,ronser claims upon the lawmakers OF
the country than the sugar-eonsufneis.
The following article from the Ne"
Orleans Picayune shows that sugar j.
not everything in Louisiana. We quo'S
that papers encouraging words;
"No one in this State has any fear a.
"a the electoral vote of Louisiana al the
next presidential election. 1t VIII he aau'
I'd 10 the Democratic column as usual
and the Democratic maJoiiy WI "
large. The maJ0rit!es cast ior the p.iio'
cratic electors III past >o"i"''H
been so large that there Is IN ample II ar
gin 10 allow for an even mo.e serious ue
faction from the Democratic ranks thar
there is any promise Of. The DeniooiaU'
managers at Washington shouin TOT
therefore. become discouraged at the pos
pect in this State
or course, the above article was Written
before the big sugar-plan'ers' c"nNeLtcf
was held. and many underestimate I'M
strength OF the boilers. But surely al
alliance with the Republicans would b'
q bitter pin for good Democrats TO swai
low.