The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1878-07-28
A Constitutional Convention

the polls II o Constitutional Convention
should be attempted. 1t was supposed that
the whole power Of Northern Republicanism
would be called into the fercest activity
| by such an emergency and that under its
| stimulating influence its African allies in
Louisiana could be once more rallied to
victory. But that 10 all sheerest stuff.
Northern Republication has enough to do
to take care of itself at this time, while If
it had twice its power and prestige the
resurrection of it's Louisiana brother would
be an impossible task.
No doubt our present Constitution does
please Radicalism greatly, because its
very essence lie "steal" and Radicalism is
born thief. 1t is q robber not only by in
stinct but by profession. 1t lives for plum
der and sustains itself by organizing riDgs.
Its great objective point is the public
treasury and it dares all to control that.
OF course it would look with immense
grief on the destruction of SO grand
fabric of villainy as the Louisiana Consti-
tution. That precious concoction is as the
apple of it's eye-looked on as the very
chef d'oeucre of it's malign ingenuity for
capture.
But times have changed. The master
hands that cunniDgly wrought the work
are dead or bestowing their activity on
other chimes or palsied with the sense
of impotence. Above all the,Afriean allies
are scattered forever. Our colored people
when they once fnd out q scoundrel they
have little uee for him afterwards. Their
intercourse with their white leaders has
generally produced this condition of wari-
ness. The enthusiasm aroused by lying
promises has died out, and the dread
created by lying aspersions on their white
neigh5ors has fallen into ridicule. What
then has Republicanism to trade on
Nothing, absolutely nothing. but the name
of Grant.
And SO much the more reason for acting
promptly. Two years from now, if that
man is a candidate for the Presidency, it
| is possible that something of united organ
ization may revive among the negroes.
Until that time such a contingency would
be, humanity speaking, impo ssible, and no
contest of races can be reasonably antici
pated.
! a very determined opposition to the
calling of q Convention may, however, be
fully counted on. The Sins" would not
like the prospect of becoming "outs," or
taking their chances over again, and, for
our part, we see no peculiar necessity for
a change in that respect. Notwithstanding
a rather common propensity to carp, now
observable among citizens, we believe that
as a general thing Louisiana has a good
set of officers, but in politics the pot boile
and another dip into it would not be apt to
bring out the same dish. From the Gov
ernor down, we may, therefore, anticipate
q strong opposition to the plan of a new
Constitution. In certain localities official
influence is paramount, as apparently in
Houma, but throughout the parishes in
general the popular demand is too strong
for it. The great field of battle is New
Orleans, and it is important that the pub
lie will should make itself heard in thiG
city notwithstanding any seductive per.
suasions to keep quiet.
The present Constitution is at once &
fraud and q disgrace-a fraud because
foisted on this people against their will, g
disgrace because its parentage of dishon
esty is plainly betrayed in the studieC
opportunities for plunder which it presents
The Legislators and Governor are mad
absolute the State belongs to them tber'
is hardly anything they cannot do; they
can give away everything the State owns
they can make the State stand as security
for hundreds of millions in bonds whicI
will never be paid by the makers; the.
can tax property to it's full assessment
they choose and screen their officials
, they assess it at twice its value; they ca
grant monopolies for killing beef, sellin
lottery tickets, making shces, bnildin
t houses, practising medicine, baking bread
T and for all other callings and professiou'
: Let the Legislature but exert the powe
3 with which it is 80 recklessly endowed, an