Feliciana sentinel. [volume] (St. Francisville, La.) 1877-1892, 1878-03-16
THE EXTRA SESSION.
IN. o. Democratic

ple with favor, but we believe the Ex-.
ecutive has acted with great wisdom in
taking this step. ....e.
The sixty days Of the regular, session
expired at IL O'Clock last nj ght, with lit
Ito Of the needed legislation accomplish
ed. Indeed, wore the Legislature to
dissolve now the gravest consequences
would befall the State and the Democrat
ic party. We should be left with none of
that real reform legislation which the
public interests so much demand, aud
this would be-, considering the situation,
great calamity to the Suite. For the
meagre results of SO many professions
and SO many pledges for tho disapoin.-
ment of SO many hopes, and almost the
absolute failure of SO long and heroic
struggle on the part of the people, the
Democratic party would be held respon
sible; this would be heavier load than
we could we'll carry, and if required to
shoulder it we might we'll anticipate a
great and dangerous Justification in our
ranks in the approaching CANVASS.
We are gratified, therefore, at tho ac-
ton of the Governor in calling an extra
session. If We really believed that the
Democrats in the Legislature werc res
ponsible for the failure of the regular
session, we should think it better and
wiser to permit the body to adjourn and
return home without further expense to
the State. But it is not true that the
whole or the greater part of the res
possibility rests upon the Democrats.
There has been unfortunately woeful
lack of unanimity and agrcssiveness
amongst them. But the Radicals havo
been chiefly instrumental in thwarting
the work of the session.
The House of Representatives is very
evenly divided, and the Radicals, under
the astnte leadership of Warmoth, rein-
forced 10y !" few lottery members, have
used their large power to defeat every
wise and proper measure. The single
purpose Of Warmoth, ono of the most
consumInate tricksters in Southern poll
tics, has been to bring q legislature con-
tanning majority of Democrats into ridi-
| Guile and odium, by thwarting the ma
jority in attempting to carry out every
pledge of reform they have made. There
is ADLER and better leadership among the
Democratic members, but their want
Of unity and experience has contributed
largely to the success of Warmoth's
shrcwd and dishonest scheme.
Tho past sixty days, we believe, with
their attendant failures and humiliations,
have inspired The real Democrats in both
houses with n determined purpose to en-
act some beneficial measures and also
tended to unite aud consolidate their
power. If, therefore, the proper meas
measures for consideration are taken hold
of we are hopeful that the extra session
will adjourn amidst the plaudits of the
people, instead Of the roproaches which
were hcaped upon the closing days of the
regular session.
If our Democratic friends will not deem
us impertinent. we would suggest that u
strict caucus be organized; that the
most important bills DO discussed there
that the most skillfui parliamentarlans
be put in the lead, and that, when they
meet III session, every man abide by the
decision of the caucus and force the re-
form bills to an issue by the most Wig
orous and summary proceedings. The
diliatory tactics of tho Republicans
should not be permitted to interfere with
the great work which ought to be done
in the next few days the tricks of War
moth should not be permitted to til Nart
the measures required tor the relief of
this long-sutfering State. Let the
, speeches OF the Democratic side be made
and the differences of opinion among the
reformers healed il the caucus, and the
, voting promptly done in session. The
Democratic members must bear in mind
that the fate OF the Democratic party in
the next canvass and from their stand
poin:, the good of Louisiana, depend on
t.Ie record they may make in the next
fifteen days. The failure and hnmilia-
ton OF the last sixty days must be re-
deemed by vigilent, brilliant and thor
ouyhly reform legislation in the extra
| session. Warmoth fully realizes this
fact, and he will move heaven and earth
! to defeat or delay every reform measure
| that comes up and he has a following
sufficient to accomplish his end, unless
| the strictcst dicipline DC observed in the
| Democratic ranks. Had the legislature
| adjourned last night he and the other
Radical chiefs, in fact every man who
wishes harm to the Democratic party,
would have been greatly rcioicet. Tho
extra session is their defeat. Let the
Democrats see TO it that they do not con-
vert that defeat into another ard to
them more glorious victory.