Year: 1876

ing lighting few control the homes,


majority, is problem exciting the atten'


ton of the thinkers of our land. The


great Democratic party stands opposed to


law and order. The men who waged Wal


against the Union were Democrats. The


draft rioters of New York were Demo-


Gratis. The persons who have massacred


colored men in this State, who intimidate


Republican voters in all States, they who


are disciples Of the shotgun policy, are


Democrats. All Democratic lecders are


not lawless men. Many of them are far


from that as men; bnt as Democrats they


encourage the very element of disorder


which disgraces the country. 1t can not


be denied that the chief strength, the ex-


ecutive local force of the Democratic


party, comes from low order of men


who have little respect for law and the


rights of life or property. The Demo-


cratic party will not purify itself


because it fears the loss Of the


voting strength which comes from


rowdyism and rowdies. In o COM


munity evenly divided between Re-


publicanism and Democracy the tempta-
ton is great to draw the bad men from
the Republican to the Democratic side,
and establish bad Democratic govern


ment. New Orlean ms is q city thoroughly
Democratic. The nomination of Demo-
cratic ticket in the parish of Orleans is


thought to be equivalent to an election.


If there is a place in the Union where


Democrats have chance to make good


record by putting good men in Office that


place is here. 1t seems the easiest thing


in the world to name men for Office SO fit


for the places and so pure that 10 fault


could be found by any party. Have the


Democrats done this? The parish and


city ticket is not satisfactory to the good


citizens of New Orleans. In many re-
spects it is reproach to the intelligent


portion of this community, the more
shameful because the Democratic boast
that to nominate is to secure election
leaves no good excuse for bad nomina-
tions. 1t is fact that good ticket
can be elected, but it is also
sad fact that thoroughly good
ticket can not be nominated by the Dem
ocratic party. This statement is not a
paradox, but plain truth. There is
Of of
things which calls for reform within the
party, and yet all the party leaders and
papers fear to advocate reform measures
touching the corrupt manner of nomina-
tons, for fear of party ostracism, and the
Christian gentleman is expected to vote
for the ward bruiser because the parish
committee resolves in caucus that the
parish pill must be swallowed whole. Mr..
Pilsbury and one or two men named for
Administrators, are acceptable They
are the sugar-coating for very bad Dem
ocratic dose. The most partisan of intel
ligent men can not claim for the parish
and city nominees that they fairly repre-
sent the intelligence, the wealth. the bar,
the industry and the commerce of this
community. To say they do is to in
suit the good and sensible citizens
of this ilk. The timid Picayune says
fault can be found with the ticket,
Of course, but that it is as good as
could be expected. How, if the people
have right to expect the best ticket from
a powerful party? Claiming to be re-
form party, the Democracy cries out to
put the best men in Office, and straight
way proceeds to nominate some of the
worst men. The man who says he will vote
only for the best men makes himself lie
when he votes the Democratic ticket
straight. Bad men get nominated be-
cause bad men have voices in the nom-
mating conventions. The good of the
community is not considered when dele |
gates and factions are trading candidates.
The trading is open and shameful. "Vote
for my ward, hummer, and will vote for
your respectable man." The friends Of |
the respectable men are in competition |
with each other and respectfully anxious
for nomination, and the trade is made |
with the odds in favor of the bummers
and jealous bruisers. The conventions
are corrupt because they spring from cor
ruption. The ward clubs gather men
from the by-ways Of vice. The corner
grocery and the rat pit furnishes ward |
club material. Honest business men can |
not compete with rowdies in controlling |
ward clubs, and generally have little to
do with them, hence from the filth of the |
ward cutters comes up a force that over
powers the good element which would |
form good tickets.


Democratic con ventions as they are
now put together, can not be made to do
better work, and they are entitled to no
respect. No good citizen is bound to
accept their DEGREES, and allegiance to
such bodies becomes criminal when it
leads, as it surely is doing, to mob law
and ruin. The remedy is with the people,
and the voting people must throw off
party shackles and be men all through.
The bruiser will sneer at, insult and
bruise the indepe ndent voter, but the
battle of honor and order against the
gutter stained rowdy must be fought and
won before peaceful and industrious citi-
zens can live here with any feeling that
heir lives and propertv ara safe.