The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-08-06
THE CONVENTION AND THE MONO
POLES.

We deem 1t Of the utmost Importance that
the Baton Rouge convention should take @
decided position La regard to the constitu-
tional amendments and the early call of q
convention. This question constitutes the
one vital and aggressive issue In Louisiana
politics to-day, and comprehends, directly,
every subject, whether It be matter Of prin-
ciple or Of material advancement, In which
the people of the State are most earnestly in
terested- It is question the agitation
of which will never cease except
with the abrogration OF the bayonet
ediet of 1868, and the substitution In Its place
of a constitution which shall emanate from
the people themselves, and derive it's author
ity from their sanction, the only legitimate
source from which 1t can come. Certainly
this Is question upon which no party aspir-
ing to the control Of public affairs can afford
to be silent, and to ignore it Is o piece OF eva
sion and timidity than can but result disas-
trousy, and In the loss of public confidence.
In regard to the amendments, we believe
that these should be pronounced against by
the convention as party measure, prospect
i've of any question Of principle that may be
involved, Or Of the merits or dement's of the
amendments themselves. 1t Is conceded on
all hands that convention Is bound to be
called ultimately, and the only difference
of opinion that exists is as to the time when
it shall be called. In regard to the necessity
for a convention, and of the total abrogation
OF the present so-called constitution, there Is
but one opinion. II the convention recon-
mends the defeat of the amendments,
this opinion will be intensified and uni
fed, and the people will abandon
all projects of temporary expediency and
move on with more eagerness and unanimity
to the bringing about Of a convention. The
result, we feel assured, would be to material
ly strengthen the Democratic party by infus-
ing an active and aggressive idea into our
State politics, and one which will enlist the
profoundest interest of the people and serve
to arouse their energies and vigilance to
greater exertions.
Aside from the mere party consideration,
we believe that these amendments are in
many respects SO faulty and insufficient that
their adoption would operate positive injury.
Specially do we believe this In regard to the
judiciary amendments. If these ere adopted
the administration of civil and criminal JUS
tice in this State will be seriously impaired,
and the court system, weak and obiectiona-
bic as 1t Is now, will be rendered so inefficient
as to become practically imperative.
| Upon the question of monopolies the con-
| vention should also take O. positive and de-
termned stand. The repeal of these Doxious
| and corrupt institutions, whose very existence
| is the result Of the debauchery of public opin-
ion and the corruption of public servants
| should be demanded in the most imperative
| terms. When Democratic members of the last
| Legislature refused to repeal the charter of
the Lottery Company and the Infamous acts
No. 8 and No. 10, which placed at the disposal
| of that corrupt monopoly the machinery Of
our criminal courts for the purpose of punish
ing those who ventured to dispute the right of
its extraordinary privileges, they excused
their action on the plea that the
Lottery Company had vested rights
which they were forbidden to disturb
by legislation. 1t was idle to urge upon these
faithless Legislators that there was q differ
ence Of opinion on this question-that it was
o question of law, which belonged to the
courts, and which the Legislature had no
| rightto pass upon at all. 1t was urged upon
them that the repeal Of these acts would only
| bring the question Of vested right before the
courts for adjudication, and that their plain
duty was to carry out the conceded wishes of
the people and provoke the decision Of the
courts upon this question What assurance
| have we that the next Legislature, and
the next after that, will not have
their opinions about the sanctity Of
vested rights, and hold their opinions higher
than what they know to be the desires of the
people, and to the best interests of the State?
Can we afford to remit this question to the
unlimited discretion of another Legislature?
We think not; and for this reason we believe
that the people should speak out the common
| sentiment upon this point and we know OF no
manner Of their making an authoritative ut
teranee G-pon any subject save in convention
| assembled. The convention then, should
| speak out clearly In regard to amendment No.
| 4, and declare that 1t does not go to the
| extent demanded by the people of the State,
and should, therefore, be voted down. Let it
go further and declare that the sentiment of
| the people of the State is in favor of the de-
struction Of all existing monopolies as well as
their prohibition in the future. The people
| of Louisiana will be content with nothing
short of this, nor will they rest until their
whole object is attained. They will certainly
not be satisfied with the adoption Of the
amendments, which, 1t is notorious, were the
offspring Of q compromise with these very
monopoles. Let them be voted down, and
the convention should so recommend.
QUARANTINE MATTERS.