The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1908-04-04
4 Time far Uonorable DesertIon.

porary, the New Orleans Picayune,
which blows hot and cold on the sub
iect Of election frauds and boss rule,
as the mood or the exigencies OF the
occasion prompt, makes a speelous
plea for submission IN the part of hon
orable Democrats to the outcome OF
VIGOROUSLY fraudulent primary and
continued patient pursuit OF that ein-
sive will-o'-the wisp-now more remote
and intangible than eyer-'Reform
within the Democratic party" Under
the caption of mo Deserters" the
Picayune says:
Our assistant Republican papers are suggesting
that the result OF the recent primary eIectloh
absolves the displeased and dlsappolhted DEM l
ocrats who voted with the minority from the
obligation which they practically took unaer
oath that they would support the nominee WITH
out regard to personal considerations
The entire intention of the primary lay was
first to secure nomination for each once by
Democrats, and to insure that the Will OF
the united Democracy shall be expressed honestly
and fairly. If many thousands OF democrats IN
the state have conspired to falsify the primary
the evil is one that must be cured by and among
the Democrats themselves and not By deserving
to the enemy. In all warfare the deserter from
his nag ana cause presents u IHoSL 4siio4aAlAAou0
spectacle. Let US have none OF that.
II all the Democratic journals that
have denounced the fagrant primary
steal and demanded the punishment
of the political bosses and their crea-
lures who are responsible for the out
rage are to be elassed as assistant
Republican papers," it would seem
that a majority of the best and most
influential newspapers Of the state are
liable to the designation, and that the
dominant Democratic oligarchy has
forfeited the coLfGebce and support
of these organs Of public sentiment.
What the Picayune characterizes as
ignominious desertion in Louisiana
would no doubt be lauded by the same
paper as patriotism of high order if
the revolt was made against Republi-
can instead of Dem oeratic rascality,
or if it occurred in Pennsylvania, New
York or Minnesota instead of Louisi-
ana. Our New Orleans contemporary
invariably commends the independence
Of action and disruption of party ties
that occasionally gives Democratic
officers to Republican states, hence
only the rankest partisanship can ac-
count for denunciation of similar
movements in Democratic states,
based on opposition to corrupt and
despotie practices that 10 good citizen
can eountenance or defend.
If such a perversion of the popular
villas thatwhich has taken placein Lou
isiana within the past two months had
been perpetrated ia any other common
wealth, the politicians and the candi-
dates seeking to profit by the crooked
ness would be speedily diseredited and
driven from power by an avalanche OF
the ballots of honest citizens, ire.
spective Of party lines. Why should
Louisianians be less mindful OF their
rights or more subservient to parti-
san tyranny than their neighbors of
the other states5
Ii coGtradistinction to the pitiful
behest for submission by honorable
Democrats to the rascais of their
party, it is refreshing to note that the
columns of other Democratic papers
are teeming with protests against
such an affect and Ineffective policy.
A sample Of these that furnishes a
complete reioinder to the Picayune's
plea is letter TO the Times Democrat
-one of many OF like teuor recently
appearing in that paper-from an
tx Democrat, who writes as fol-
lows:
''....... The result of the action of these cleo
ton crooks, together with the action OF the state
central committee IN refusing toinvestigate con-
oitions Which they knew were reeking with fraud
will be to drive thousands OF good, lifelong Dem
ocfats out Of the party las IT has done mel, as /
win cast my vote along with four other Demo-
Gratis VINO occupy the same Office, for Henry n.
Pharr.
Inc writer has voted the Democratic ticket for
twenty-five years and belongs to family of life
long democrats, but ne does not teef that he can
longer stay in a party which has grown so cor
rupt that it has not even the semblance of re-
spectability left. ITO try to purify the be
nocracy by staying in the party is to follow q
forIorn hope, as the recent action of the state
posed OF representative men OF the Democratic
faith, shows clearly that there can be no reform
from within. The only salvation for Louisiana,
politically, is for every self-respecting democrat
to resent the actions of this committee and Join
the Republican party and thereby help build up
a strong opposition parity When this state has
two political parties about equally divided then
we will have good, clean government and not
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