Richland beacon. [volume] (Rayville, La.) 1869-1890, 1878-07-13


have been so candid with him as to
tell him that they believed be failed
to meet Leonard's arguments, and
that his abandonment " the stump
during the campaign and display of
temper after doing so, lost him many
votes in the District; but they have
said so TO us, and we are inclined to
believe that it is true. We believe
that the Captsin did exactly right in
not contesting Mr.. Leonard's election.
As to our euloSizing Mr.. Leonard,
when dead, and calling him a car
pe:-bagger eforc-we think we called
bin such during the campaign. we
do not remember-but our recognition
of his good qualities does not destroy
the fact that he was "carret-bagger"
aud that he defeated the Captain for
Congress. TO hasten on to con-
cInsicn, we deny that Governor
McEnery was the candidate of the
Liberal Republican party in
1872. He was the candidate of
the Louisiana Democracy was nomi-
mated by the Democrats /; but their
Executive Committee compromised
with the Reformers and Liberal Re-
publicans by accepting q portion of
their ticket, as fusion ticket, with
orr candidate at its head. We deny
that the Liberal movement led to our
triumph in 1876, and contend that q
return to first principles, a vigorous
effort on the part of Democrats and
the conduct of the Grant Administra-
ton, all combined, led to the achieve.
mpnt OF that victory. Governor
McEpery'S treatment at the hands of
Grant dill have great deal to do
with it but be was not Liberal Re-
publican.
Capt. Farmer says he Is Opposed
to agita,ing any question, r'thn He
party, which may cause division in
our ranks, until we have a Democrat
for President. Then we will be safe
But should Grant he elected in 1880,
we will again have over Us the army
and the navy, the cavalry, the bayo-
nets and the haad-cuHs, the Radical
constitution and the Radicals them
seices ;" and be is willing TO subordin-
ate every other policy to Grants de-
feat. Then, whv did he join in the
movement that is creating division in
our ranks? Why not get rid Of the
Radical constitution while we can,
and thus free ourselves of one of TIE
means of oppression which be fears,
and not leave a possibility of its being
used to Cypress US? Why not put our
house in order while we have posses.
sion Of it, and not wait for the posi-
bility of Grants election. when it
will be too late to snatch this danger
Gus weapon from the Radical grasp?
We do not consider this Constitu-
tional Convention insignificant, when
compared to anything; it is of vital
interest to the people of Louisiana !;
and we are one of those who do not
believe in subordnating the interests
of State to national politics. but we
hold to the principle of taking care of
the State first, and doing all we can
for the interest of the United States
afterwards. A radical change was
promised the people of this State, and
they demand it: aud they do not be-
lieve that they are the agitators of the
question that divides US those who
oppose them are the ones who did
this.
Finally. We wish to ask the anti
coLventionists one question. If they
are working in the interest of the
Democratic darty of this State, why
is it that nearly all the pronounced
Democratic papers in the State are in
favor of the Constitutional Convention,
while the Republican press is unani-
mously opposed to it? 1t is useless to
answer us that these Democratic pa
pers do not reflect the sentiment of
the people. They have heretofore
been very correct mirrors of that sen.
timent, and they would hardly now
be SO badly mistaken on this question.
The anti-cOnventiOn diSorganizers