St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1878-03-16
The Extra Session.



vening the Legislature in extra session
will not be received ut first by the peo-
| pie with favor, but we believe the Ex-
ecutivo has acted with great wisdom in
| taking this step.
! The sixty days of the regular session
expired at - o'clock last night, with
little OF the needed legislation accom-
plished. Indeed, We're the Legislature
To dissolve now the gravest consequences
would befall the State and the Demo
cratic party. We should be left with
none of that real reform legislation
which the public interests so much de-
mand, and this would be, considering
the situation, a great calamity to the
State. For the meagre results OF so
many professions and SO many pledges
hopes, and the almost absolute failure
OF 50 long and heroic ii struggle on the
part oi the people, the Democratic party
would be held responsible: this would
be a heavier load than we could well
carry, and it required to shoulder it we
might we'll anticipate a great and dam
gtrous diSaffectlOn in our ranks in the
approaching canvass.
We are gratitied, therefore, at the
action of the Governor in calling an eX-
ira session. 1t we really believed that
the Democrats in the Legislature were
responsible for the failure OF the regu-
lar session, we should think it better
aud WISER to permit the body to adjourn
aud return home without further ex-
pense. to the State. But it is not true
that the whole OF the greater part OF
the responsibility rests upon the Demo
Gratis. There has been unfortunately a
woful lack OF unanimity and aggres-
siveness amongst them. But the R;tdi-
calls have been chiefly instrumental in
thWartlng the work OF the session.
The House of Representatives is very
under the astute leadership of Warmoth,
reinforced by q few lottery members,
have used their large power to defeat
every wise aud proper measure. The
single purpose OF Warmoth, one OF the
most cUnsummate tricksJers in South
ern politics, has been to bring Legis-
lature containing a majority OF Demo-
Gratis into ridicule and Odium, by tlwarr-
ing the majority iu attempting to carry
out every pledge Of reform they have
made. There is abler and better lead
ershlp among the Democratic members,
but their want of unity and experience
has contributed largely tn the ss,::;;ccess of
Warmotll's sshrewd but tdishonests scheme.
The past sixty days, we believe, with
their attendant failures and humilia-
tions, have inspired the real Democrats
in both houses with determined pur-
pose to enact some beneficial measures
and also tended to unite and consolidate
their power. If, therefore, the proper
measures for consideration are taken
hold OF, we are hopeful that the extra
session will adjourn amidst the plaudits
OF tue people, instead OF the reproaches
which were heaped upon the closing
days OF the regular session.
II our Democratic friends will not
deem us impertinent, we would suggest
that strict caucus be organized; that
there; that the most skiilfui parliament
tarians be put in the lead, and that,
when they meet in session, every man
abide by the decision of the caucus and
force the reform bills to an issue by the
most vigorous and summary pr0ceed-
ings. The dilatory tactics of the Re-
publicans should not be permitted to
interfere with the great work which
ought to be done in the next-few days
the tricks of Warmoth should not be
permittedito thwart the measures re-
quired for the relief of this long-suffer-
ing State. Let the speeches on the
Democratic side be made and the diff
ferences of opinion among the refor-
mers healed in the caucus, and the vot
ing 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
point, the good OF Louisiana. depend on
the record they may make in the next
fifteen days. Tile failure and humiia-
ton of the last sixty days must be re-
deemed by vigilant, brilliant and thor
nugily reform legislation in the extra
session. W;irmuth fully realizes this
fact, and he will move heaven and earth
to defeat or delay every reform meas
ure that comes up and he has follow
ing sufficient to accomplish his end, un-
less the strictest discipline is observed
in the Democratic ranks. Had the Leg
islature adjonrned last night he and tile
other Radical chiefs, in fact every man
who wishes harm to the Democratic
party, would have been greatly reioiced.
The extra session is their defeat. Let
the Democrats see to it that they do not
convert that defeat into another and to
them more glorious victory,