The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-07-18
NOW rs TIE ACCEPTED TIME.

NOW rs TIE ACCEPTED TIME.
We have watched with deep interest the
manifestations of public opinion in this State
on the question Of calling q constitutional
convention, and we have not heard that any
man of influence, or any paper OF consequence
has taken any other position than that there
must be a constitutional convention We
have not heard of single man who has
spoken or written on the subject who has
NOT spoken or written from the stand
point that the present constitution Is q
disgrace to the State and Objectionable In q
multitude of respects. Our excellent friends
in OuaChita, who lead off on this question
by instructing the delegates from that
parish to vote against committing the Dem
OCratlc party at Baton Rouge to Gonstltu-
tional convention, COnCede that, sooner or
later, we must have q convention. The
Democrats Of Assumption, who alone, so far,
have followed the lead of Ouachita, broadly
admit the necessity of a new constitution after
a while, and we know Of not newspaper in the
State which has had the temerty to defend
the present bayonet edct, or to hold that it
should not be, in the course Of time entirely
done away with and O new constitution,
framed by the representatives Of The people,
substituted for it.
On this point there Is a singular unanimity
of public opinion, and every section Of the
State declares that there must be new con-
stitution. It is needless, therefore, to argue
this phase of the question or to waste time in
pointing out the defects of an instrument
r,Y6t o1, les
| very serious difference Of opinion, how
ever, has arisen as to the time when we
should take the necessary measures to re-
pudiate before the whole world this obnoxious
constitution and frame one in the interest Of
the people, based upon the principles of free
government.
The i-conventonists hold that we should
wear the collar Radicalism has hung about
our necks until 1880; that we should yet two or
three years suffer the extravaganza and other
evils entailed upon us by the bayonet edict Of
1868. And why2 They hold that II a convention
Is called at this time, or early in 1879, we may
| be beaten In the elections for delegates; that
even If we are not, the convention may pro-
vide for new State government and attempt
to readiust the State debt.
| fully answered by the Dem OCRAT and the other
convention papers throughout the State, and
we believe they have been abandoned by the
anti-eonventionists, who now rest their oppo-
sitiOn TO O constitutional convention, solely
upon the ground that we may not be able to
carry the election.
This objection is based upon singular mis-
apprehension of the political events Of the last
few years and Of the present situation In Lou
isiana. The truth is that we are now, and will
be in the spring of 1879, better able to carry
this State by sweeping majority than we
will ever be again. The Radical party is now
totally disorganized; it has neither leaders
nor unity; 1t is as incapable of making
stand against the Democracy as the Radical
party Of Mississippi was when it was beaten
in 1877 by hundred thousand majority. II b
living question, such as q constitutional con-
vention, shall be presented by the Baton Rouge
convention, the Democrats will carry Loulsi-
ana by 10000 majority, and elect large ma
ioritv of the members Of both houses Of the
Legislature. So complete is the demOraliza-
ton Of the Radical party that our
friends from Northeast Louisiana assure
us that the Democrats will carry even such
parishes as Madison, Tensas and Carroll. No
| intelligent man can believe that this condt-
! ton Of affairs will continue until 1880. We
have q certainty Of carrying the State this
| fall, and again in 1879 if we call a convention
But the elements of opposition to the Demo-
cratic party will organize an opposing party
| before 1880 as certainly as the sun shines,
and under leaders which will make it's Oppo-
| StiDn more Formidable than MANY saer IN a n
prehend Indeed, we believe that if another
Democratic Legislature assemblies in this
State without calling convention, the Opposi-
ton to the Democratic partyin 1880 will carry
the election and gain fairly the control Of the
State. We hold, therefore, that If the Demo-
Gratis hope to prolOng their power in Louisi-
ana, they must yield to the demand Of the
people for constitutional convention Let
the Democratic conventions, therefore, in the
several parishes beware how they instruct
their delegates to vote against committing
the party to this great popular Democratic
measure All factions of the party; all
the leaders and journals of the party
have, without exception conceded that the
bayOnet edict of 1868 is an infamy and an
incubus; therefore let the party, when it
assemblies in Baton Rouge, be true to Demo-
cratic principles; true to the honor and the
best interests Of the State, and pledge
itself to call a constitutional convention
while there is q certainty that the Democrats
can elect large majority of the delegates
and thus insure the people an honest, eco
nomical and truly republican constitution.
/ -@-=-@z.-z1--.5@zz-