The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1875-03-10
THE COMPROMISE.

$500 $500 -
The unanimous Report of the Con-
gressional Committee stamps the &C
ton of the Returning Board in refer
ence to our last election as illegal and
unwarranted by the facts. One of
the consequences of this Report, if
practically enforced by the compro-
mise adopted by the Conservative
caucus, will be the election from their
seats of the Radical Representatives
from this Parish, and the admission
of the three Conservatives in their
places. We say # practically en-
forced. The same vote that elected
these three Conservative Members of
the Legislature also elected our pa
rochial officers, and there should fol-
low the installment Of Mr.. Paul in
the Sheriff's office and Mr.. Taylor in
that Of Coroner, to which they were
elected. The Conservative Police
Jurors are already in.
The commissions of the defeated
candidates for Sheriff and Coroner
have been sent up, but Mr..
Kellogg should be obliged to
withdraw them for two reasons
First, because they derive their sole
authority from the declaration of the
Returning Board which has been pro
nounced erroneous by the Congress-
ional Committee, and its Report in
that single particular has been unan-
imously approved by the House OF
Representatives at Washington
Second, because the admission to
their seats Of our Representatives
carries with it the confession that
not only they were elected, but also
all others who received the same
votes.
We might stop here to remark the
intense opprobrium fastened upon
Governor Wells and Tom Ander.
son by this unanimous judgment Of
the Congressional Committee, and its
unanimous ratification by the nationa
House of Representatives, but there
are some persons who cannot be hurt
by condemnation, even so public
and so just as that. no
1t is argued by the advocates Of
the Compromise that it must be prac
tically enforced, and all the logical
consequences flowing from it must
ensue. How? When the national
House of Representatives voted in the
closing hours Of it's session to seal
George A. Sheridan because he was
duly elected, a logical consequence O.
that vote was the confession thai
John McEnery was duly elected Gov
ernor, for they were both elected by
the State at large and by the same
vote. Yet in the same breath, thai
House recognized Kellogg as Cover
nor. And when this Compromise
shall be partially put in operation
and the Conservative Representative:
shall demand the parochial officers t.
be installed who were elected will
them, they will be told it was not 81
stipulated by Mr.. Wheeler.
The next few weeks will enlighter
us on these practical questions. W.
have opposed the Compromise from
the beginning, and our opinions as tt
its baneful effects are unchanged
But if it is to be executed, let the at
tempt be made with as much oppor
tnnity for success as can be gained
Those who advocated it have assumed
a great responsibility and a herculear
task. If we could undo their work
we would lose no time in the effort
but as it is inevitable, let them pro
coed unhampered by further adverse
criticism. Louisiana has need ofthe
energy Of all her sons to extricate
her from her present thraldom, and
care should be taken by each and
every one Of them that no act shall
be done or word be spoken that shall
impair that thorough union in which
alone is strength. .p.s.s~
Since the above was written a Com
mission has reached here for D. c.
Paul as Sheriff, and this puts a new
face on matters. We hope Mr.. Pau
will qualify without delay. This
Commission should have been sent
to him in December, and much con.
fusion has been caused by it's having
been withheld. A friend at our ell
bow inquiries how our people will like