The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1874-11-14
Political Probabilities.

necessarily gloomy view O1 tile future
While we admit the prospect is no
so bright as we could hope for, we
there is no good reason for despair
no just ground for despondency. /
is not improbable that several years
of uninterrupted successes have rend
cred our people a little wanting il
fortitude. That the idea has beer
generally entertained that what ha!
been done SO frequently may be done
again, and that the virtue, consis
tency, is present in sufficient quantit,
throughout the State to have avoided
any abrupt change in the politica
complexion. But, it is true now, as
it always has been-'' the times
change, and we change with Them
Hence, we are called upon to record
IL diminished Republican vote, and
may find it necessary to guard with
jealous care the claims of every Re-
publican to Il seat in the lower branch
OF the General Assembly. Certain it
is that there has never been a more
urgent necessity for us all to stand
together, to strengthen each others
hands, and encourage those in whose
keeping have been placed the fate of
the party, perhaps of the State itself.
We can see much that is hopeful
mixed with what we earnestly wish
were otherwise. Prominent among
the signs Of encouragement is the un :
doubted indication of serious disa-
greement among our political enemies.
They recently agreed to lay aside
their internecine quarrels until they
they could by joint action, defeat the
Republicans. In this attempt they
have been only partially successful.
They have carried the city by an in
creased majority and reduced ours in
the State. But it is as certain as any
thing not positively acknowledged
can be that the Republicans yet re-
tain their hold upon the State gov
ernment. That we have elected our
Treasurer by a substantial majority j;
have secured two-thirds majority
in the Senate, and half the House,
with as much right to claim the new
members OF doubtful politics, who are
known as Independents, as the Dem
ocrats have. We have all the other
State Offices for two years longer, and
expect to have at least four of the six
members of Congress. There is no
sense in complaining because we can
not have every thing, nor any reason
to apprehend the loss of what we
claim and have honestly secured. I'm
less it is intended to forcibly disre-
gard the right of any Republican to
hold any political position, and in
augurate u physical revolution. there
is no way by which the Democracy
can realize any thing out of the re-
cent election except the doubtful ad-
vantage of a member of Congress or
two and the administration of the
affairs of Il bankrupt city. Bluster
and threats are employed for the
donble purpose Of keeping up the
courage Of the Democracy and dis
heartening the Republicans. But
these menaces, be it known, are en-
ployed by those who have nothing to
back them up, and who are by no
means agreed as to the manner and
time of attack. One faction wants to
make instant war upon the returning
officers, compel them to throw the
doors open to the rabble, and sur
round them with intimidating inf1u-
ences. The object of all this being
to coerce the board to evolve out Of
the returns a Democratic majority of
the House Of Representatives, to
which the contest would be removed
Immediately upon assembling in Jan
uary. We shall not pursue at present
the plan to be carried out in the
House, as it is based upon revolution
and armed force. We can not pre-
sumo that enough members can be
found who would disregard their
oaths to carry the bad design into eff
feet. The true intent and meaning of
those Who are instigating such a
course as we have limited at is to
work their cards in such a manner as
to get rid Of both Governor Kellogg
and Mr.. McEnery, and cause the f,l-
ture executive to arise out of the
House of Representatives,. The friends
OF Mr.. McEnery, Oh the other hand,
propose to collect toa ether the sur
viving members Of the Odd Fellows
Hall Legislature, said to be ten in
including Mr.. Brusle, whose
election is held to be doubtful by the
most sanguine Democrats. To these
ten gentlemen it is expected there
will be no difficulty in adding the
Democrats elect, which, for con-
venience of argument, are supposed
to be ten in number-.just quorum,
you see. This Senate, thus composed.
would, with the House manufactured
BY the White League committees in
the name Of the returning board,
the next General Assembly.
Immediately upon meeting in January
5he returns of 1872 will be sent for, if
hey have not already arrived from
Kentucky, and an official count SOL
emnly resolved upon. This is the
adder by which Mr.. McEnery is ex- ;
oected to climb up to Governor Kel-
oggg's chair; by which the aspirations
If the mythical man of the House are
o be kept down, and the old Denoc
acy enabled to rrau the fruits nf a