The Opelousas courier., 1894-04-14
National Democratic Situation.

Under this heading the N. o. Picayune
gave several weeks ago a gloomy view
of the political situation. Much of the
blame for the unfortunate state of at
fairs now existing it very properly lays
at the door of the obstinate, imperious
and conceited man who has been a curse
to the party from the moment when he
was first inaugurated in 1885. We make
the following extracts from the Plea
yune's very temperate article:
1t is not too much to say that within
less than a year from the time the Dem
ocratic administration was indicted into
Office the popular expectation has ex-
perienced a profound disappointment.
What has caused this loss Of conf
dence? The response is simple and OBJ
vious. 1t results from the apparently
hopeless divisions and %implacable feuds
that exist in the Democratic party. 1t
controls every department Of the Gov
eminent. 1t yields every element of
political power, but it is so broken up
into conflicting, %contending and hostile
factions, as that its power to do any
thing decisive is practically paralyZed.
A: house divided against itself cannot
stand. Chaos and disintegration are
the direct opposites of strength and sta
bility.
Some of the trouble of this unfortu-
nate and apparently hopeless situation
must be charged upon Mr.. Cleveland.
The chosen chief of a party, composed
Of many diverse clements, but united
only in hostility to the policy that had
impoverished the country +; that had en-
money monopolies; that had separated
the people into classes based on wealth
and had a~ggrandized the few at the ex-
pense of the many, was charged with il
most delicate and difficult task of con-
solidating his heterogeneous and inco-
herent following into a compact, solid
and powerful engine of political force.
1t is in such Il work that a genius for
leadership finds its highest achirve-
ments. Here were all the material ne
cessaIy to the creation of a resistless
and overwhelming power, fired by pa
tiiotism and the desire to work a great
political revolution. There was alone
needed the genius to weld all into one
grand, coherent and tremendous whole.
With such a following the right sort of
leader, a real master OF men, would
have been irresistible. This grand con-
junction Of conditions, given to few,
was ~vouchsafed to Mr.. Cleveland. His
was the political opportunity of the cen
fury. 1t is needless to say that he has
not been equal to it. More than that, he
has completely failed to rise to the
grand occasion, and the result is seen in
a following which, twelve months ago,
was united, enthusiastic and devoted to
its chosen chief, is now broken III spirit,
divided in counsel and estranged from
its allegiance.
Such is the Democratic situation to-
day. 1t is a pitiable one /; irresistible
power transformed into helplessness,
wisdom, craftsmanship and patriotism
surrendering voluntarily to imbecility,
impracticable theories ard greed. Yes,
pitiab!e is the only term that character
ICES the situation.
Cannot the President, even at this
late day, rise to the occasion and unite
the party? 1t might be done by con-
Citation, a wise yielding here and a jul
dicious firmness there, but never by
joining n faction against the others.
1t would be a grandoachievement to re-
unite the party now.