Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1894-09-19
A Democratic UpheavaI.

OF the tarlH legislation OF the Demo
cratic congress has caused a gigantic
upheaval among the Democrats of the
great sugar-growing state, Louisiana,
which bids fair to disrupt the hereto
fore "Solid South" A convention OF
boiling Democrats held at New Or
leans Monday was the largest politi-
cal gathering ever witnessed there.
The character of the assembly was
even more impressive than it's magni-
tude. No person heretofore in affilia-
ton with the Republican party took
part In its management. The speak
ers, committeeman, and delegates
were men of lifelong devotion to
Democratic principles. The fifty vice
presidents were representative of
every trade, profession and business.
The temporary chairman, Mr.. Kerno-
chan, was collector of the port during
President CleveIand's first term, and
the permanent chairman, General
Behan, is a large planter. The chief
orators were also prominent in Dem
ocratic circles, one, Mr.. Wilkinson,
being a brother of Cleveland s present
collector of the port, and another,
Mr.. Parkerson, was the organizer of
the Young Mems Democratic associa-
ton, which has been a potent factor
in state politics. The audience num-
bered four thousand strong, and it
listened patiently through four long
hours of speaking, mostly apologize
and explanatory of conversion from
the Democratic to the Republican
faith.
In an emphatic sense of the word
the meeting was deliberative. The
gravity Of the situation was recog-
nized. Politics have been more of a
religion than of ii profession in Louis
lana. To abjure Democracy has been
to abjure friends, to jeopardize for
tune, yet these 1000 men, OF whom
400 at most We're planters, had as
sembled to resolve, and did unani-
mously resolve, that the chairman
OF this convention shall appoint q
committee OF thirty-One, which shall
be known as the state committee Of
the National Republican party"
Mr.. Wilkinson in his speech capped
the climax and sounded the true SEN
timents of his hearers when he said,
amidst a tremendous burst of APP
plause:
eve must change with changed con-
ditions, but ours is a change of
names only. We have not changed
principles. Talk of Jefersonian
Democracy, indeed! Neither Jeffer-
son nor Jackson could stand on the
Chicago platform of the Democratic
party. We cannot stand omit. The
Democratic party has changed it's
principles. 1t has changed from an
American to an English party. We
will not change with it. We viii
change our name. We will become
Republicans. We will vote as Repub-
leans for the American policy of
protection that Jackson and Jeffer-
son approved and that is not the
worse because Harrison also APPROX
ed it. 1t is nonsense to talk about
electing protectionist Democrats.
The Democratic party does not toler
ate Il proUectionist. We must send
Republicans to congress-"
And so the first break in the solid
columns of the Democratic party in
the South has been effected. Louisi-
ana could not endure the 'perfdy
and dishonor" heaped upon the par
ty by it's representatives in congress.
1t has pronounced boldly for protec-
ton, progression and business pros
perity, and in accordance with this
rightful conclusion has cast it's lot
with the Republican party. The sig
nifcance of this action we hope may
not be overlooked by Democrats and
people undecided at the North. The
lessons of Republicanism stand alike
for all and are shining marks OF
wisdom and equity.