The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-10-19
their burthens and begin in truth the era liz
Louisiana of Democratic government.
THE PLATFORM ON THE AMEND"
MENTS,

The act OF the Legislature subm lifting the
constitutional amendments required the peo-
pie to vote for or agai',st each separate one Of
them. Let those who are opposed 10 them
not faii to vote against them under the I'M
preston that by letting them go by default
they will be defeated. Every vote for them
will be counted, and If there be more votes for
than against them they will become part OF
the fundamental law of the State. To be de-
feated they must be actually voted down, Let
those who favor @ constitutional convention
bear this In mind on election day and cast
their votes accordingly, thus giving no IN
certain expression to the faith that is In them.
II the people of the State are In earnest
and really desire constitutional convention,
as we have all along contended was the case,
then there can be no good reason given for
the passage OF the amendments-no reason
why single vote should be cast for them.
The entire question, the old constitution as
we'll as the numberless patches that have
been put upon it, will come under the pur-
view OF and be duly considered by the con-
vention. II we are to have q convention,
then there can be no object in voting for the
amendments. Should there, however, be
more votes for than against them the enc
mics OF the convention would argue
with great plauslbility that such q
result was tantamount to formal
endorsement and approval of the action
Of the last Legislature in submitting
the amendments, as well as q declaration Of
the sense Of the people that no convention
was desired by them. The Baton Rouge
platform plainly condemned that amendment
in demanding the early convocation Of q con-
tttttattiiot convention ~ tttfo z1ozt Ht
ture. This Is the only logical deduction the
action Of the Baton Rouge Convention ad-
mits Of and we shall certainly look to every
Democrat In the State to sustain by his vote
the platform Of the Iarty. Had there been
any differences In the party as to the expe-
diency Of a constitutional convention they
should have been made known at Baton
Rouge There was some show Of opposition
to the measure in one or two parishes before
the convention met, but its opponents found
themselves such a weak and Insignificant
minority that they did not raise their voice
in the party convention, and tho entire plat
form, including this call for @ convention, was
unanimously adopted. Thus 1t became q
party measure, and to-day it Is the most
prominent and conspicuous, In fact, the con-
trolling idea Of the Democratic canvass in
this State.
No man can accept nomination, especially
for the Legislature at the hands Of the Demo-
cratic party without at the same time for
maly pledgng himself to vote for the con-
vocation of O constitutional convention at the
earliest practicable period. The Democratic
party began this canvass by solemnly pledg-
ing itself that the inert Legislature should
call q constitutional convention, and If it pro-
poses to carry out that obligation, there can
be no sort Of sense or consistency in Demo
Gratis voting otherwise than against the
After the action Of the party at Baton |
Rouge 1t appears to us almost supereroga-
Jon to discuss the merits and demerits Of the
This action implied @ con-
lemnation Of them, none the less unequivocal |
because it is inferential, and every man who
lesres to cast his vote In strict accord with
he declaration Of principles made by the
party must vote against them. Let them
cave no room for doubt or INSTRUMENTATION
Il their wishes. The only way to do this is
0 vote down the amendments.