St. Landry clarion. (Opelousas, La.) 1890-1921, 1903-08-22
MIR. E1slrtiscl,aiat'. Views.

The Chairman OF the State Gen.
tral Committee has given to the
press OF New Orleans his views On
the subject of general primaries.
Not only his position as the Off
cial head OF the democratic party
in the State, but his clean jndg-
ment and high standing as a law
ser, thinker and democrat would
entitle his views to the most earn
est consideration at the hands OF
tho democracy of the State. lie
INDUCES no TRADES or criticisms,
has no ax to grind and no purpose
to subser9e except that OF the great
est good TO the party and the peo-
pie of the State.
LIN his peculiarly forccfnl way he
demonstrates the undesira bility oil
the direct general primary.
The hue and cry that we hear
over the State on this point comes
largely from sources that have not
in the past contributed substan-
TALLY to democratic success.
Some OF the most vehement adj
yocates aro not recognized as DEM
ocratic patriarchs; some of the
journals that are leading the new
faith have never figured in the past
In democratic councils.
But it can not be denied that
many true, tried and eminent dem.
ocrats, and some OF the boss demo-
cratic journals in the country, are
urging the measure.
1t seems to us that the subject
has not been thoroughly discussed
from every standpoint, and that,
without weighing all OF the facts,
many good and true men are being
led away by sentiment and by a
inisconception of the trend of pop
ular democratic conviction.
Many vagaries are being indulg-
ed in. just now, that have not been
subjected to the searching inquiry
and Investigation Of reason and
sound Judgment.
We ought to have learned les
on from our experience in Nation-
al affairs, which would make us
slow, careful and cautious in party
policies at home.
If the present constitutional linn
itations on suffrage and elections
are ever overcome, II again the
electorate In polluted by our own
action in permitting the return OF
the undesirable element, we must
accept the result and endure the
evils that follow.
We must remember, too that
there is a tremendous element in
the State that is not, nor ever was,
democratic--an element that is
opposed to the principles and poll
cies of the party and despise the
existing order. This is particular
ly SD In Orleans parish. A latent
force is there that is aroused to ae-
tion on occasions that cares moth.
Ing for party organization. & por-
tion OF the press, claiming TO be
democratic never fails to centure
democratic administrations and
find fault with democratic poll
cics. Once the bars are let down,
this element, urged on by this sec.
tion Of the press, will lead the par
ty u merry dance. Joined with the
discortiant, discredited and defeat
eel elements of the party in the
country parishes, this element
would rejoice to see tho disruption
and defeat OF real democratic cam
didates aud principles all along
the line.
Since its renewal in power, in
1876, the democratic party in the
State has suffered many vicissi-
tudes. The eyolutions from 1876
TO 1896 called for and made inn
perative the constitutional con-
vention OF 1898 which purged the
electorate and gave q new vitality
to party obligation and party feal-
ty. We have scarcely been able to
adjust this instrument TO the af-
fairs of the State aud apply legis-
iative acts under it. Not q COM
plaint is urged against the integri-
ty of party nominees under the
present system or the administra-
tion OF public affairs under their
management.
The public mind Is much like
the pendulum. It swings far out,
returns, swings the other way and
back, but finally rests upon the
true center.
Just now there Is a great hue and
cry, the pendulum is swinging
wide, but the sober, sound, con-
seryative Judgment and acts of II