The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1899-08-12
LEST WE FORGET"

fully gives the outlines of the Jack
sonian Democracy. Lets we Forget"
is what the Democrats should remem-
ber:
In the sermon preached from Kip
ling's text by the Jacksonian T(e)-
ID (eum) Missionary, the horrors of po-
litical bossism are pictured in the lurid-
est colors. The pictures are well cal
culatetl to arouse short memories to
cold shivers. But missionaries have
cunning as well as others who follow a
cali inspired or otherwise, and your
Jacksouian is no eption--and this
missionary is dumb as to ether miseries
of graver import, which there is
danger Lest we Forget"
Obedience TO written law is The key
stone to free government. To get rid
of bad law by vigorously enforcing
it to the point where public sentiment
must demand its repeal is the true
mode of reform. Fidelity to consti-
buttons and statues has ever been the
saving principle of the Democratic
party and is the security upon which
must depend government Of the peo-
pies, for the people and by the people.
Disregard of constitution, statues
and institutions has been the fruitful
source of all tho greavest misfortunes
that haye afflicted this great American
nation; and to ignore ard defy the law
upon private judgment of its badness
has been the distinctive trnit of the Re-
publican party from the time of John
Brown TO the era of Plat Hanna-Mc-
Kinley, from the tramping under foot
of the laws protecting the domestic
rights of the South to the ruthless
shattering of the Declaration of INDIE
pendence and the Constitution of the
United States in the mean grab of the
rightful possession of friendly peo-
pie. Hence sprang the horrors of the
civil war and the shame of the Philip
pine butcheries, the saturnalia of Re
construction" the dcbaucheries of
Trust Barons. On this the missionary
is silent. A small voice from the null
titude must repeat it, LEST we For
getn'
After period of suffering under the
tyranny of scouudrels of the Republi-
can faith, which seemed an eternity 10
those who have not forgot, the people
of Louisiana, by strict and brave OBJ
servance of written laws, came into
control of their own. and pursuing
conservative methods, rehabilitated the
State. Still, there hung over them the
dread menance of return of the des-
poiler through the brute numbers Of q
degraded race armed with the franchise.
How to abolish this tragic danger by
means of law was the problem that
long engaged the best thoughts of her
truest sons. AT length a plan which
promised safety was devised. 1t WAS
n plan of law, remedy by constitu-
ton. But to its success the first essen
tial was Democratic administration
to project and inaugurate 1t. To pro-
vide this. all elements of the party,
operating through its machinery, met
in convention at Shreport, and with
out dissenting voice nominated the
present Governor, Murphy J. Foster,
and his official colleagues. By that act
the faith and honor of every Democrat
in the State was pledged to the support
and installation of those nominees.
This is not ancient history, but it is
needful to toll it anew, LESS we For
get"
None of The roads leading to Rome
are perfectly smooth throughout their
entire length. There were rugged OBJ
structions to the success of the Demo-
cratic ticket in 1896. The Repnbli-
cans put forward their strongest man.
and to them rushed the sugar planters,
while the Democrats were weakened
by Populist defections. Since 1876
the negro was never so near supremacy,
and muicipal misrule IN New Orleans
provoked local revolution against the
party managers in the city. This re-
volutionists were the Citizens League,
one of their principal leaders being
Mr.. Walter Denegre; their principal
pledge was that their leaders would
demand no office for themselves. Their
profession and purposes were trusted
and their revolution was triumphant
All this seems to have happened but
yesterday; yet disease of the time is
shortness of memory, which on certain
topics needs Jogging stimulant Lest
we Forget"
The Republicans boldly claimed the
victory over the Democratic Governor
and demanded that the Legislature
should 60 behind the face of the re-
turns, contrary to law according to
their wont, and count the ballots. 1t
was feared, with more or less cause.
that such precedent might show a
prima facie case in favor of tho Repuo-
licans. The whole population OF the
State was thrown into condition OF
the widest excitement; the issue in
volved in the legislative action was
negro supremacy or negro disfranchise-
ment; civil strife or peace. AT this
juncture Mr.. Walter d. Denegre, fired
by waiting ambition and the pres
tige of the victorious Citizens League.
dashed into the arena as candidate
for United States Senator. upon the in
sistence of his supporters in the Leg
islature that the Governorship be de-
cided by going behind the returns,
His election meant the installation of
Pharr and a Republican Legislature
and defeat OF the plan for negro dis
Al ELL