The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1899-11-18
GIVE THE DEVIL HIS DUE

At the mass meeting held at the
Opera House last Tuesday, set Of
resolutions were passed, which are
published elsewhere, denouncing the
actions of the District Executive
Committee at its first meeting, but
failing to commend in any manner
the effort of the committee to meet
the wishes of the people by ordering
general primary at its second meet
ing. The Banner-Democrat joined
with large number of the people
of this parish in protesting against
the action of the committee. We
think that any method or methods
adopted, whereby the will of the
people is defeated, is subversive of
our institutions and contrary to all
Democratic precedent. If there is
one inalienable right that the people
possess, it is the right of suffrage;
and if this right is ever in any
manner SO twisted and manipulated
as to deprive the people of the can.
didates of their own choosing, then
it is the duty of the people to rise
up in their might and put down any
unfair methods that tend to defeat
the will of an honest majority.
The District Executive Committee
acted unwisely, and, we may say,
wrongly. The people rose and re-
buked them. They saw their mis-.
take, so did Messrs. Holmes, Snyder
and Ransdell; and these three candi-
dates presented a petition to the
committee asking them to rescind
their former action and order a gen.
eral primary. Knowing the feeling
against them, and obeying the senti-
ment of majority of the people of
East Carroll, they re-convened, an
nulled their former actions, ordered
what the people demanded-a gen.
eral white primary-and made all
the necessary provisions for a fair
election.
Now, after doing this, we take
the position that it was the place of
the gentlemen Of Tuesdays mass
meeting to commend the committee
for seeking to meet the wishes of the
people. They demanded primaries
direct ana they got them; and in.
stead of condemning the District
Committee for what it had undone,
they should have thanked them.
The Banner-Democrat believes in
doing the right thing, irrespective
of both sides. There is no person.
ality whatever in the views we take,
and we do not hesitate TO condemn
the wrong, on whatever side it may
occur. Mems minds have become
so worked up by the developments
of the last week, that they allow
themselves to go too far in their
COMBINATIONS. We regret TO see
such extreme partisan feeling, and
we caution moderation. The Ban
ner- Democrat has friends on both
sides and wishes to be as unbiased
as possible; but while it condemns
the action of the District Com mittee
at its first meeting, it commends it
for attempting to meet the wishes of
the people a, its second meeting.
The resolutions passed last Tues
day should have contained some
courteous expression of the peoples
for its looks inconsistent
to demand thing and then turn
around and condemn the committee
that has granted the very thing
demanded. This puts our friends
on Judge Montgomery's side in a
bad light, and we hope they will
make some recognition Of the COM
miltee's action in giving them what
they desired. The editor of the
Banner democrat for one-a Mont
gomery man-approves the action
of the District Committee and COM
mends 1t for its action at the last
meeting.
We are glad to learn that the peo-
pie of Madison were forced into line,
and that their Parish Committee has
ordered their parish primaries to
come off on the Sth. of December,
with the district primary. Had they
not done so, they would have placed
themselves in the light of boilers.
As to the District Committee,
it If you wish for its for
ner action, but be fair,minded and
commend it for acceding to the de-
hands made. So much, at least, is
lue them.
As to political honesty and integ- {
'ity, one side is as good or as bad as /
he other the honors are evenly d.
'ided. The Banner-Democrat knows
hem of old, all of them, and sits off
md laughs, like Bre'r Rabbit, when i,
t hears one side or the other AFRO !.
eating to itself all the honesty and /
II the Democracy. 1t Is the old |
tory. readers, of the pot calling the I
,ettle black. You are all honest,
both sides; and all of G
ou would rather die and go to - q
ral tho ,,1ono ,rluro