The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1870-06-01

t4O,o3U. VI THIS vote llO,ooO was cast
of which the Democratic candidates re-
ceived rs, 23l not only Il majority Of
the votes cast, but of the registered vo-
tiers of the State. These facts not only
clearly prove that the Democrats arc
the majority party in this State, but
that there is no necessity or plausible
pretext for organizing a third party,
unless the continuance in power of the
ruling dynasty is desired.
The result of the election in this
State in 1868, warned the Adventures
and renegades who have SO abused and
misused the power they obtained by
fraudulent and corrupt means, that the
days of their misrule, plumber and OPP
preston were numbered, unless free
and fair election by the people could
be prevented. HeEce we find them
urging upon the black-and-tan Legis-
lature, under the plea of party necessi-
ty, the passage of series of measures,
designed solely to retain the political
control of the State in the hands of tho
party in power.
The first of these measures was the
postponement of the Spring elections.
This was to afford pretext for declar-
ing the offices vacant that should then
have been filed by a vote of the people
and giving the Governor authority to fill
the same by appointment. AS mat
ter of course these vacancies have been
filed by the Governors partisan
friends, with view to securing their
active cooperation in the next contest,
in order to retain their places. The
Governor has appointed few profess
ed Democrats to some Of the parochial
and municipal Offices throughout the
State, but no one doubts but that in a
majority of eases, it was with the I'M
derstanding that they are to become
his plant tools. There are men in our
midst who offered their lives and their
property, as a sacrifice in behalf of
what he considered cause founded on
principle, who are now as ready and
willing to sacrifice what the high
and honorable hold most dear,
for place and power.
The other measures designed to con-
tinue in power tho ruling dynasty, are
the registI alton, election, constabulary
and militia bills, which clothe the act
ing Governor of this State with auto
cratic power. That he will not use
this power to the fullest extent neces-
sary to the success of the designs of the
and renegadcs, his past
course leaves us room for doubling.
First, because he had to promise to do
so in order to save himself from fate
similar to that which overlook Auditor
And in the second place, he
IS interested personally in the success
Of the design to control the result of
the next election, as it is to decide for
or against an amendment of the black
snd-tan Constitution which proposes to
remove his ineligibility for a second
term.
The registration bill gives the Gov
ernor the appointment of the registrars,
who have the right of denying whom
soever they please the privilege of reg
STEERING; and as a matter of course he
will appoint none but plant tools, who
will be wholly subservient to his will
aud wishes.
The election bill gives the Governor
the appointment of the commissioners
Of election, superintendent, returning
and receiving officers. These all being
his pimps and panderers. it will be no
difficult matter for them to manipulate
the returns so as to produce the result
desired by their political trickmaster.
It was feared the people would not
tamely submit to these wanton acts of
asurpation, and might appeal to the
civil tribunals for protection of their
rights as freemen, or might resort to
open resistance. To prevent such n |
result, the constabulary and militia
forces were provided. The former
makes all other departments of the
government subservient to the will and
of the Governor, and the lat
ter is designed to subject the people to
these wanton acts of outrage and OPP
preston by force OF arms.
That this programme is to be carri-
ed out to the letter, there remains lit
tie room for doubling. The Govern
or's appointments are an evidence
that he intends to perform his part of
the nofarious work as we'll as the Black
and Tan Legislature did theirs. An
additional evidence of this intention is
to be found in the fact that the secret
organizations among the negroes are
being revived and strengthened, and
militia companies are being formed and
secretly drilled.
These facts should arouse the Demo-
Gratis to the necessity and Importance
of an early and thorough organization,
unless they are content to become the