The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1895-08-10
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* 80 the Demoerat.Joul
IlS ., e!d and right here, ]
shW 81 the State Democrats
Thing Crisis.

\ - r.
shW - the State Democrat
CommiSee at their meeting soon {,
be held, should give the river par
ishes their honest and just represen
tation.
A crisis is approaching in Louis
iana's history, one that the Demo
cratic party will have TO meet will
hxedness of purpose and soIidity
of ranks never before, perhaps, ex
perienced; and to this end every
lover of republican institutions and
Democratic principles should take q
cain, dispassionate view of the
situation with view of forecastipg,
as far as possible, what the future
has in store for oar State and party.
+ The party has not fully recovered
from the blow inflicted upon 1t by
the lottery question, yet an effort is
being made, innocently by some,
malIciously by others, to create
further discussions in its ranks by
the injection of the monetary issue,
a purely national one, into our
State and parish politics. Is it not
reasonable TO suppose that, If the
silver Democrats force the issue and
make the free coinage of the white
metal test of party 10y atty, the
gold Democrats will revolt? We
think so; and we also think that,
when the time comes, which heaven
| forbid, it will be found that the
numerical strength Of the gold men
is greater than was expected. If
the party should lose these men, will
it gain a sufficient number of re-
cruits from the Populist party to
fill its depleted ranks? No; the
average Popullst has no use for the
Democratic party under any condi-
tons, be it said with regret, and he
would rather combine with the
Republicans, on State issues, than
return to his old friends.
1t 10 not at all unreasonable to as
sumo that the Republicans and
Populists viii combine in the State
canvass, for they have common
interest in several of the issues that
are TO be fought ont, chief among
which is tie destruction of the.
Democratic party, the great and
hitherto insurmountable barrier be-
tween them and the possession of
the State government. Can the
silver wing of the party, alone and
unaided, hope to win success under
these conditions? A man must be
very sanguine to think so. 1t can
not be SAID that the gold Democrats
would enter this coalition, but it is
safe to predict that they would not
be of as much service to Democracy
as they would otherwise be. 1t is
net always safe te HHaeFFate aH ep
ponent's strength. That of the
gold Democrats has not fully devel-
oped. The only possible hope of
placing Louisiana in the silver
colps.sn IN the presidential election
rests with the friends of the white
metal III the Democratic party. If
the State is lost to Republican
Popullst combine, can il be carried
for silver?s We think not.
From our standardpoint of obser-
walton and a logical process of reas-
oning, the Injection of the financial
question toto our State politics to
the extent of making it a test of
Democracy may cause us the loss of
the State goyernment and blow to
silver from which 1t will suffer
greatly. Look at the situation in
North Carolina, brought about by a
similar turn of affairs to that which
can be effected IN Louisiana, and
then ask yourself this question: Is
it not best to take care of our State
first aud then give the necessary at
tention to national politics? Be-
tween April and November of neg t
year, the dates of the State and
national elections, we will have
ample time to take care Of silver.
We can do all that can be done
during that time, provided we can
retain possession ofthe State govern
ment.
We favor silver, and We are a |
Democrat. The former consists of |
a single Issue; the latter embodles a |
number of issues, one of which,
white supremacy, is paramount to
any other with us We. are not an
asarmist, bat we are unwilling to |
hazard Democratic ascendancy III |
our State for any national issue.
The disruption of the Democratic
party in Louisiana means ruin to the
best interests Of her best people,
hence we shall decline to follow
those ove,-zealous leaders of the
party who would make bug.bear
Of the danger of Authorization.
Our policy is for Democrats to get
,ogethei and stay together to the
end. ! they do this all will be
A.6vice to Cotton Planters.