Year: 1876

Ihe DemOcrAtlc-ConSe nSeINauNo p"ioA ~
Louisiana must enter the campaign as
a reform party If II hopes to unity the
opposition to Radicalism under It's OIL
ganization. Mere professions OF virtue
will not meet the demands OF the situa-
tion. The organization OF the city
clubs. the character OF the delegates 10
the State Convention. the standard OF
tho nominees. and the general manage
ment of the canvass, must o. sueh as 70
inspire the people with confidence IN
The capacity and purposes of the party,
if il is designed to awaken their enthuSl-
asm and combine their strength.


II is folly 10 suppose that the Demo
cratic party. OF any other party, Y iree g
corrupt elements, or even OF corrupt
captains. TO attempt to utterly lfee
tho party Of such elements would pe
Ouixotic The enterprise would be
futile. But it is practicable to Keep
those elements in subordination, and
our best efforts should be directed to
that end and to placing the control OF
the party in tho hands Of our best aud
trucst men mon whose abilities and vir
tues commend them toShe confidence Of
the people. In this work vital to the
best interests of the State. il is the duty
of every good citizen to join.


II is impossible for lis to see the con
sistency Of men who complain that the
Conservative party are likely to control
it. and who at the same time refuse to in
tercst themselves in the management Of
the party. IT seems to us that the state
has no worse enemies i'm times like
these than those men of wealth and intlu-
ence who refuse to give either time or
effort TO the public interest. and who
complain of the depreciation Of proper
ty, the decline of trade and the spread
Of lawlessness We are free to con
cede that i'm the -Conserv-
ative party there are bad elements at
work clements strong. too, and eager
to obtain the mastery of the party In
deed there never yet existed n party in
any country. or in any time. of which the
same thing could not have been said.
and, until human nature shall he en-
tirely changed. there never will exist a
party of which the same thing will not
with truth hc said But there Is an
other faet we must recognize in our sit
uation which has not been go general :.
that j.. that there are multtu les of
men Of property. intelligence, inilu-
cnce and wealth among IA who refuscto
participate in public affairs. The first
fact the existence of corrupt elements
il the Democratic Conservative party
springs from the imperfectiou Of human
nature. the second fact the indiifer-
ence of men Of property and business
to the public interests is more deplor-
able, because it springs from the decay
of civic virtue. the decline of pa
triotsm and the growth Of greed and
seliishness.


If Louisiana is TO be saved, she Is 70
be saved by the Democratic Conservative
party; and If the Democratic-Conser
tive party is to save Louisiana, our peo-
pie must unite in a general effort 10
nominate good men to all Offices, from
the harmonious, sustained aud vigorous
effort to elect them. The platform must
be. in truth as in assertion, reform in
every branch of the government. the
abolition of all needless Offices; the re-
duction Of all eXorbitant salaries
and fees. in short, q remodeling
of the whole State government.
with view to reducing its cost. inereas-
ing its yigor and lessening the burthen
Of taxation. Upon this platform every
honest man in the State can stand.
Why. then, should not every honest
man in the State do what lies in his
power to secure the control of the party
to mon whose character will give a
meaning TO the platform. and to insure
the nomination Of men whose election
will be a guarantee that it will De car
ricd ont