The weekly messenger. [volume] (St. Martinsville [i.e. St. Martinville] La.) 1886-1948, 1896-05-23
WHAT is DEMOCRACY.

cracy as government by the people,"
And as corrallary Of this "a democrat
is one who favors democratic govern
ment." That Is a democrat in those
DAYS was one who was in favor OF de- |
mocracy, or a government where the
people rule. But in these latter days it
seems that very great advancement has
been made. Judging by the recent man
ifesto of the Pugh-Krutchnitt commit
tee, which was the creature Of the state
democratic committee Of Louisiana, we
conclude that the old definitions were
radically wrong and no longer to be re-
lied on as giving true idea of demo-
cracy. This Pugh manifesto in effect
declares democracy to be government
in which the power is in the hands of
few whose duty it is to carefully guard
the machinery of the government SO that
there will not be the least danger OF the
people getting any real power into their
unholy hands. and the interest OF the
few" be thereby endangered.
In the first place this committee de-
clare their intention of counting the
votes ct the recent election as they have
been returned by the returning boards
appointed and controlled by the afore-
said "few" without permitting 1.-THE peO-
pie" through their representatives to
look behind these returns to see whe-
Their the election had been fairly or hO-
nestly conducted. What right have the
people to object as to the methods fol-
lowed by 1.-The few" anyhow? Is not
this democratic government and is not
all power vested in the managers OF the
democratic party? What right then
have the members of other parties or
even the rank and file of the demOcra-
tic party to make fuss about the way
things are managedP Is not the Pugh
committee the people, and when they
die will not wisdom depart from our
borders?
In the second place this committee in
the magnanimity of their generous
hearts, and because of the foolish and
uncalled for kicking throughout the
state about the way the late election
was conducted and the result obtained
. by "the few" in order to smooth iht
t ruf1ed feathers of the aforesaid kicker.
!, without really giving up any Of TIT
!, power they-''the few"-sO righteOuslI
(?) hold and exercise. have proposed {
constitutional convention. But lest thu
: people should by some means succeed il
|, edging themselves into this convention
: and passing some measures that nigh
be beneficial to the people to the detri
ment of the aforesaid "few," they wisel.
o and skillfully (O propose that this pro
8 posed convention shall be composed o
l. the persons they-"the few"-shall vir
@ tually select. and that when this con
ventiOn meets 1t shall have no real pow
er to make any change that will in tn
j. least jeopardise the power of 1.-The few.
a The question might be innOcently aske
! by those who do not understand the 81
tuatiOn. "Why take all this trouble b
> calling cOnventiOnY"
y The only reason we can see why thi
70 committee suggested the convention
!, the aforementioned kicking on the PAL
:, of the people Of Louisiana who foolish
:, supposed they had some rights In de
" mOcracy. These people--Or at least
y large number of them-still hold to tn
q old idea that democracy is govern
ir ment by the people. They have no
been enlightened by the new light she
, forth in such rich effusiOn by the Pug
- committee. When the said cOmmitte
10 succeed in fully matchmaking the PEG
Ie pie with the Pugh idea of democrac
> "the few" can then dispense with Al
r. such foolishness as going through tn
farce Of holding elections or calm
" conventions and follow the example q
u that great exponent Of modern demOcrs
ii cy, as set forth in the Pugh manifesto
l. the car of Russia. The said car doe
not hold elections or call convention
where there might possibly be remOt
y chance that the people could have
e, small voice in affairs. He simply issue
T, II his odicts and IL Darchanco there ahOul