The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-10-23
WHERE DO YOU STAND.

their views on the subjects of deepest in
terest to the city and State. AS we have
before stated in these columns, the charge
has been made and Is generally believed,
that most Of the candidates we're nominated
at the instigation and through the influence
Of the Lottery Company and other rings.
This charge has received additional impor-
lance and O. seeming confirmation by
the declaration made after the adj
journment of the convention, by
Mr.. Howard, that he would have sixty mem
bers OF the next Legislature in his interest.
The people, who are to elect the nominees of
the convention, desire now to know the views
OF the gentlemen they are to vote for upon q
constitutional convention, the repeal of the
Molfet register law and the charters of
the monopoly and, generally, the reduc-
ton of the cost of conducting the city and
State governments to level with the ability
of an impoverished and debt-burdened people
to sustain.
Public officials are the representatives
and servants Of the people, and there Is no
opinion of public official on public ques-
tions, especially is there no opinion Of o
legislator which the people have not the
right to hear, know and understand
fully. For il we are to vote blindly for this
or that man whom it may please q few to
present to us for our suffrages; IL we are to
vote for candidates who are dictated to us,
and who we know have been, and were, up to
O. short time previous to their presentation to
US, the enemies and denunciators of our party !;
If we are blindly to accept such men without
r. fbniY hair, tbnir
preferences, then has King Caucus become 8
despot more irresponsible and dangerous than
Calligula or O. Tiberius. Then may monopo-
lies flourish and rings rule and debauch and
plumber the State. Then will Democracy be-
come what Radicalsm was.
We hold that no man Is Democrat who
will not, or dare not, speak to his constituency
and tell them his views upon the evils which
Cypress the commonwealth. and explain the
policy by which he proposes to eradicate or
destroy. Or, as far as possible, modify them.
We Gre Democrats: Democracy is our guide
and rule in life; we believe that on the great
and liberal principles of Democracy rests the
temple of our liberties and the great fabric
of our commercial and Industrial wealth and
prosperity Feeling and believing thus, we
recognize the claims OF no man to our sup
port who does not square his political con-
duct to the principles of Democracy; no man
can claim our support who Is not willing to
come out on the side Of the people and
against those evils and institutions which op-
press them, who is not willing boldly,
promptly and unreservedly to tell the people
what he means and what he proposes to do.
Let the candidates speak out. The people
desire, nay, they demand it, and they have
the right to demand it,
Amongst the candidates are several gentle
men who have never been known as Demo
Gratis before they were spoken of as candidates
for the Legislature. There is q strong feeling
against these men who became Democrats
only when they wanted office. We do not
fully share this feeling. If the new recruits
are willing to explain their views to the peo-
pie; if they are ready to declare their adhe-
sion to the principles OF the Democratic party
and place themselves squarely on record in
favor of q constitutional convention and the re-
peal of the charters of the monopoles, SO that
they may be held to strict accountability. we
are ready to support them with the same zeal
that we shall support tho oldest and truest
L
Junius, with what motives the newborn pa
triOt is animated, if the measures he supports
are beneficial to the community. The nation
is interested in his conduct His motives are
his own. Let us profit by the assistance
of such men and place them, if it be possible,
in the post Of danger to prevent desertion."
candidate who. above all others. should
present his views fully to the people, is Hon. D.
T. Kenner, nominee for the State Senate from
the Fourth District. And for several reasons.
Mr. Kenner is one Of the most widely known
public men in Louisiana: he is gentleman Of
very large abilities, of indomitable industry
and energy, and thorough knowledge of
men; he has frequently been in the Legis
lature Of Louisiana and there he has al
ways exerted q very controlling influence
II he is elected, he will go into the
Legislature, with several gentlemen closely
allied to him by family ties, and who, it is
reasonable to suppose, will largely share in
his views. Mr.. Kenner will be a power in the
next General Assembly, and he has been,
since his nomination, SO generally discussed
that he owes 1t both to himself and his con-
stituents to lay his views before the public on
and the constitutional convention. The point
made against this gentleman, that he is a
candidate for the United States Senate, is GER
tainly not to his discredit. 1t is an honorable
ambition in any man to aspire to that
exalted position. IT he be not
charlatan or vulgar trickster, the man who
entertains such aspirations is likely to shape
his political course by the highest principles
of honor and in the interest of the people. We
may have our own preferences for that high
office, but with us an ambition to fill it is no
point with us a gainst any man.
Col Breaux, the nominee for the Senate
from the Fifth District, Is a distinguished
lawyer and popular man. The nomination
of such man was creditable to the conven-
tion But his fellow citizens desire to know
what line of policy he will pursue II
elected to the Senate. A lawyer of such
ability and a gentleman capable Of exercis-
ing SO large an influence in a Legislative body
may do his people inestimable service il he