The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-03-06
A Constitutional Convention vs.. the New
Orleans Times.

Editor Democrat-On Saturday evening last
a meeting was held in Lafayette Square, at
which were present some OF those who favor
the proposition of the Hon. u. T.. Kidd of
Jackson parish, to submit TO the people, who
are the source Of all authority under repub-
ican government, the question whether or
not they desire constitutional convention.
The proposition is altogether such u modest
and proper one that every man OF honest pur-
pose and righttul thinking would, upon the
face of it, give it u respectful and fair con-
sderation.
The New Orleans Times however. has seen
the meeting in itself, but the Hon. Il, T. Kidd
and Hon. Chas. Lea. who expressed their
opinions on the occasion.
AS one Of those presenta at the meeting: and
an advocate of the bill of the Hon E. e;
Kidd, which bill the meeting was called
to indorse, l take pleasure In character
izlng the Times report thereof as indecent
and untrue. Not, however, that | or those
interested In that meeting or the bill OF Mr..
Kidd covet or would have had the good opin-
ion or favorable report of the Times; far
from it, There is nothing which I, or they,
or any honest man, would more deprecate
than the favorable notice or consideration of
that sheet A noisome weed springing from
the corruption and injustice OF war and OPP
preston, it has tiourished only in the decay
OF virtue and of principle
| With every instinct which 1t has iii it has
even an instinct tending only to that which
| is corrupt aud corruptng, the hireling sheet
of anything that will pay it; it represents
| nobody but itself. and its good opinion is only
| q disgrace.
Had one-half the number Of men who ap-
peared at the meeting at Lafayette Square,
on Saturday evening, met at the call OF tn the
merce the Times would have been on hand
| to have characterized it as large and
enthusiastic meeting; though had such a
number met at the call OF either of the bodies
mentioned. one-half even OF Their number
| would not have been voters.
| | will frankly state, however that | would
have been vastly surprised had the Times
| given any other report than just what it gave.
| The offspring of corruption it is only right to
expect its opposition to any move that is
| honest.
| The Times thrives when, in the fitness Of
| things. scholarships for brothers-in- law OF
| the Auditor are possible, or large fees for do
| ing nothing in the way of removing injunc-
| tions from the path of conscientious audito-
| rial obrothers-in-law are comeatable. I'm
| der q normal and proper condition of things,
such as the Times would starve and die
| | must confess, however, to somewhat OF
surprise that the Times did not, at least, have
the decency to treat with somewhat OF
respect Representative of the people lIon.
| L. +. Kidd, who was given occasion at that
meeting to express to the people the objects
and intentof his bill, in which, to say the least,
| there is nothing unreasonable or Objectionable
| to any honest maa.
In conclusion, would say to the Times that
| the White League of 1874 lof which, it was a
most ready and violent defamer and misrep-
resenterl had not at its commencement one
| half the number of those present at the meet
ing on Saturday evening. This | speak of
| personal knowledge. 1t might be the wisdom
| of the Times to remember this. In the matter
| of the convention, as in the matter of 1874, a
principle is involved; and though the Times
may know onothing of principle, it might
| learn wisdom from experience, and at least
make q show Of decency.
Respectfully,