The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1875-03-31
Personalism.

That personal system of government
which has been developed under the six
years administrations Of President Gran,
until 1t exhibits itself like an offensive
wart on our polity, will one day have tc
be treated with keen and pitiless surge
ry.. During the last three years four
state governments have been suspended
on the individual decision of the Presi-
dent of the United States; at this mo-
ment one state government rests on his
arm alone; another stat, government
has had to pass the ordeal of his decis-
ion twice, and in point of fact we can
not know what is the de facto govern
ment In any state until we know what
one is recognized and upheld by him.
Two years ago an individual member of
the cabinet, who had no more to do with
the matter than the king of the Sand
witch Islands, assumed to declare what
persons the Alabama legislature should
b. composed of, and actually named the
members of the two contestinS bodies
| who should constitute third body to
be recognized as the lawful legislature.
About the same time, that member of
the cabinet together with the President
assumed to decide who had been elected
members of the Louisiana legislature of
1873, and decided in favor of a body of
persons who, VIGOROUSLY and admitted
~, never were elected; and now we
have seven cx-members of Congress,
two of them citizens of New York, one
citizen OF Maine, one citizen of New
Jersey, one a'citizen of Ohio, one a cit
lzcn of Illinois and one citizen of
Massachusetts, without any warrant of
law for their conduct, meeting in law
Office i'll New York to decide who are
and who shall be maintained as lawful
members of the Louisiana Legislature.
Under the distorted method of looking
at every event in the South which the Re-
publicans have established, this personal
and extra legal adjudication of the legality
OF the Legislature of LOuisian eXcites no
surprise; it is accepted as a very proper
and agreeable way Of settling aperplexing
controversy. But what would Mr.. Hoar,
one OF the seven arbitrator, say about
taxing the legislature of HIS state can-
vassed and adjudicated by some persons
living in other states? If a dispute over
the next gubernatorial election; and the
proper constitution Of the legislature in
Maine should arise in 1877, how would Mr..
Frye of that state receive the proposal to
leave the whole question to seven MEM
beers Of the Democratic housed.
1t is a very unsatisfactory reply to all
this to say that the individual arbitration
OF the Louisiana and Alabama difficulties
are assented to by the people of these
states. The people of these states were
made to assent to them; they were threat
ened with something worse. Their right
tul functions were usurped by the presi-
dent, or the attorney general, or by con-
spirators who had the support of the pres
ident; and because the outrage was COM
mitted by Republicans in the name and
interest Of the Republican party, a Repub-
lican congress acquiesced in it even while
not daring to formerly approve it. If this
is government of law, the fact ought to
be recognized and submitted to; United
States collectors, marshals, army officers,
attorney-generals and the president him
self ought to be broken into subjection to
the fact. If, on the contrary, president
or his attorney general, or committee of
ex-members OF congress, or some other per-
sons, really have become invested with Sill
preme determining authority to declare
who are the governors and what are the
legislatures of the states of this Union, it
would save trouble to have the warrant
of law for the assumption produced SO
that the people of the states may no longer
delude themselves with the exploded no.
ton that they have the right Of governing
themselyes.-[ St. Louis Republican.