The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1878-01-04

Iiase to call q conyentlon Of the peoples
delegates, 40 MISTER what this or that;
leading politician may say. Let them
bear in smind, perpetualiy, first, last
aud all the time, that Louisiana is not
redeemed, and that their duty is not
discharged until the people are con-
voked in convention. If u new and
better Constitution Is not made and
adopted, the members of the Legisla-
,ture will at least have done what plain
duty required. It Is morally certain
that the State cannot be worsteG.
y And the administration Of Gov.
Nichols Is not without it's share of re-
sponsibility In this matter. The cleo
ton Of Gov. Nichols was not the sud-
den gush of popular zeal, or frenzied
favor for the man. It was rather a
deep-seated longing for actual reform
for a wholesome, permanent change
from bad to good government. In
some sense this expectation has been
realized, but not to the extent antici.
pated. The present State government
has not done in twelve months, with
ell it's resources, what the lamented
Allen did in three months without any
resources at ALL. There has been a con-
spicuous lack of vigor and vim, to which
we-have been no willing witness, in
the management of our State affairs.
The suspicious beginning Of January
last has been allowed slowly to gather
the dust and cobwebs of lethargy, and
the buoyancy and enthusiasm of year
ago are we'll nigh slnothered with II
deadening stupor all over the State.
No battle ever bore fruits which was
not followed up vigorously. And thus
we shall tind that the Radicals of this
State, by not being utterly crushed
when they were defeated aud down,
are now quietly aud confidently pre-
pairing for a second lease Of the State at
the next election. Then, is not the
folly Of delay in the formation Of ~
wholesome Constitution plain to every
thinking man? Will not Gov. Mich
oils sct forward to complete his victo-
ry? Or will he be content to leave the
high Office no fills to II successor who
will be required TO swear allegiance to
a Constitution no cannot possibly re-
spect?
But we have the objection of expense
of impecuniosity to answer. The full
redemption of Louisiana-the liberty
of the people and their assured salvation
lis for sale! We, who have felt the
Radical yoke; and staked honor, life
aud everything to be freemen once
more, are to be jewed down into ac-
quiescence, and, for the sake of dollars
and cents, surrender our manhood and
birthright Why are Louisianians so
base AS this? Our wealth is not in
dollars and ccnts-for we are all i'm
poverished; but it is in our institutions,
our government and our hospitality.
"No such miserable interrogatory as
What is all this worth ?'' should con-
front II people who long to be free.
This may do for Office holders, or for
impecunious legislators who cannot
make buckle and strap meet or for buzz
zing politicians who do not pay Il
nickle in taxes; but for those who
have struggled through ten years OF
Radical wrongs, and now crave Il COM
plete cancellation Of all the death
grips of Radicalism, nothing will suf-
flee but New CONSTITUTION, guaran-
teeing the supremacy of intelligence
and virtue forever.
EMIGRATION CONVENTION.