The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-02-22
HAVE WE A POLICE?

Editor Democrdt-p cannot recall a single
event in the history of the States since the
formation of the Federal Union every way 80
deplorable. 50 significant OF evil, as the out
ruhians, with the passiveoaid end acqules-
cenee of the police on Saturday night last.
The interruption of this meeting of peace
able citizens by violence, under the eyes OF the
and under every rational view SO uncalled for,
that thinking men exclaim what have we
gained by all our efforts. by the vast treasures
expended and the blood shed to effect the
change from Radical rule to Democratic dom
nation Has the struggle been merely for a
change of masters?"
1t Is we'll that the public should look at this
thing in all its atrocty, as it Is without pallia-
ton or excuse.
A number of gentlemen Of unblemished
character, of undoubted responsibility, of edu-
cation, intelligence and of noted public spirit,
and whose motives were beyond all question
In the exercise of an undoubted right, organ
lied public meeting for the purpose Of adyo-
sembly the propriety OF calling convention
to amend the present constitution: consti-
tuition odious beyond parallel, never intended
to promote the public interests, but created
for purposes of oppression and humiliation,
by the aid Of an extraneous military force; a
constitution which stands confessedly as O.
complete bar to all these reforms by which 1t
is believed that this long oppressed people
constitution under which the most grinding
and demoralizing monopolies exist and
flourish; a constitution which the people OF
the State-the Democratic party-have for
ten years proclaimed their intention to abro-
gate as primary step to the rehabilitation of
the State. These gentlemen also advocated
that judicial inquiry be instituted for the
purpose of ascertaining whether any portion
Of the public debt is fraudulent or not with
the view of excluding the fraudulent from the
just Indebtedness of the State and city, to the
end that the people might be relieved of some
portion of a burden too oppressive to be borne.
Now, for years these measures have been adj
vocated by the Democratic party, and incor-
porated as an essential plank, into their plat
forms.
These gentlemen having no special ends to
serve, being neither Office holders nor office
seekers, believing that governments have
other objects than seating blatant partisans
in Office with the full privilege Of depicting
the people for their own and party's aggran-
dizement-opposing all rings, consistent in
remaining true to the people in defiance Of, Of
and eNacting monopoies, despising the ridi-
Guile and ribaldry of a corrupt and subsidized
press, they called a meeting to express and adj
vocate their views. The history of this meet
right of meeting in public to discuss Ques-
>tions of public interest, and the sacred rights
of person, were all wantonly violated. by the
connivance OF government-or it's officials
whose PAID duty IL was TO guard every right
thus stricken down, even to the last ex-
tremity.
This is the history of the affair in brief If
there is anything in it that can be palliated
still less defended except by the most brutal
and corrupt, am ignorant Of it,. II there is
anything in the affair that would justify the
belief that we have changed our affairs for
the better, / would like to know wherein it
lies.
Was it to put down the Justly odous Metro
politan Police and substitute the present po-