The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-02-14
NEW ORLEANS, FEBRUARY "a. ls7s.
THE MONOPOLIEs.

Hon. A. III. Leonard, Of Caddo, yesterday IL
the House offered the following rs an amend
ment TO the constitution:
'No monopoly shall be created by the Gen
eral Assembly, and oil monopolies existing IL
this State are abolished.
This is the most important Of all the amend
ments offered and as tho vote was originally
cast, 1t was carried by n majority Of two
thirds. A number OF Republican members
however, changed their votes from aye t
nay. and the vote Us il stands recorded
Ia. For the amendment 70, against 1t 2s
not voting 49, Hon. John Young, of Clai-
borne. Is the only Democrat whose vote
Ia recorded In the negative. Messrs. Brady
Jonas Stagg, Spiller, Young Of Baton Rouge
Peralta and Wilde, Democrats did not, owing
we presume. to absence, vote Mr.. Leonard
gave notice that he would move reeonsidera-
tion; but the Speaker ruling that he. having
voted for the resolution which was lost, was
really in the minority, Ex-Gov. Warmoth
stated that he would to-day move the recon
sideration.
The amendment Of Mr.. Leonard will, there
fore, come up again In the House for debate
and final action. Should the seven Democrats
who were absent yesterday be present in their
seats to-day and vote, as they are pledged to
vote, for this amendment 1t will be carried.
Messrs. Wilde and Peralta however, are en-
ployes Of the Lottery Company, and We pre-
sumo will not vote at oil or will vote against
the amendment. EK-Gov. Hahn, upon the
other hand, who was absent yesterday, will
vote for the amendment, and this will leave
niftn hD apnJ txxp IVA nnI.
ment abolishing the monopolies. We assume
that Gen. Young. Of Claiborne, who repre-
sents one of the most intelligent and truly
Democratic constituencies In Louisiana, will
not stand against his party, his people and
the interests Of Louisiana In the final issue.
The amendment offered by Mr.. Leonard,
therefore, we predict will be carried In the
House to-day
We have said that this amendment is the
most important of all those which have been
offered, and we wish to urge this fact upon
both the House and the Senate.
Nations have prospered and grown rich and
powerful SO long as they have been governed
upon correct principles. Indeed, the history
of the rise and growth Of every State en-
bodies the philosophy of sound and just gov
eminent, while in the decline OF communities
it Is easy TO trace the origin and pre-
gress Of corrupt and abnormal princi-
pies and institutions. Evils In government"
ii was very justly observed by Erskine, "are
perpetuated by the danger Of attacking them,'
and States are impoverished, communities
oppressed, trade paralyzed and civil liberty
overwhelmed, not infrequently by monstrous
institutions the wrong, iniquity and oppress-
iveness Of which are universally recognized,
and yet which no party nor public man has
the courage to attack until they have preyed
upon the vitals OF the State, exhausted its
energies and destroyed its spirit"
The history of civil government, both
among civilized and enlightened nations; In
the luxurious East and among the stalwart
peoples Of Europe, shows that the most fear
full of all expressions is a system'of monopo-
lies. Under the influences of these blight
ing institutions trade languishes; industry
becomes paralyzed; wealth decays; venality
invades the government and the spirit Of tho
people becomes enervated and society de-
bauched. The glory Of Palmyra of Rome and Of
Athcns were the creation of sound theories of
government. The scattered marble cleaning
ovor the sands of the DESERT the ruins Of the
city that was once the mistress Of the world,
and the rabble which infests and disgraces the
city OF perieles are the results and the fruits OF
the supersedurc and dominance of the money
power. of rings and monopolies.
These pernicious institutions ut one time
took deep root in the English government
during the reign of Elizabeth; but the sturdy
people Of that country SO persstently re-
sisted them that even the naughty Elizabeth
was forced TO abolish them We wish that
every honest member Of the Louisiana Legis-
lature would to-day familiarize himself with
the origin, influence and adjustment of
monopolles in England. Elizabeth was in
all respects naughty and imperious
queen. 'She pursued with great severity"
says Macaulay, members of the House
of Commons who, in her opinion car
ried the freedom of debate too far. She as
sumed the power of legislatng by means of
proclamation. She imprisoned her subjects
without bringing them to legal trial Tor
ture was often employed in defense OF the
laws Of England for the purpose OF extorting
confessions from those who were shut up in
her dungeons. The authority of the Star
Chamber and the Ecclesiastical Commission
was at its highest point. Severe re-
straints were imposed on political and
religious discussion. The number OF
presses was at one time limited. No man
could print without license and every work
had to undergo the scrutiny of the primate or
the Bishop of London. Persons whose writ
ings were displeasing to the court were cruel
" mutillated, like Stubs. or put to death,
like Penry." Yet all this tho English people
bore with patience and forbearance, en-
PERTAINING deep and unconquerable
feeling of loyalty to their Queen. But
tho people who bore all these out
rage; wAy submitted 10 all this tyranny