The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1878-04-10
ANOTHER RETROSPECT,

There can be no good, not even
policy, in hiding or Disgusting the
lamentable and notifying fact, that
the elements of Democracy aid Con
servatism in our State, as opposed to
and organized last campaign against
Radicalism, are in a complete demo-
rallied state, disconte tented and dis.
gusted almost beyond remedy
Would that we could longer hide
these things and bluff off this cpl.
demical malady of our political sta
tus at this time, and paint it in rose
ate colors and even aver that the
goose baunks high, but we cannot,
and would be justly charged with
criminal fogyism were we longer to
blink at the sad fact.
Therefore, more in Democratic
sorrow than in Conservative anger,
we state that the cause, the real and
true cause of these woes and tau:r
pas unnumbered, and yet increasing,
spring from our trusted leaders, tri-
umphantly and cordially endorsed
and supported, in November, 1875,
and their lack of confidence in their
sovereign supporters and hackers,
tinctured with the. dead weight of
owl wisdom, is the pillar of salt that
has caused, and is the sole cause, of
the troubles, vexations and hercu.
lean Inconsistencies and betrayal of
vested rights of confding people,
which has thrown our good and sac
red cause in confusion and dropped
her graceful banners. And now we
frankly state the starting and sole
point Of The Had of our woes and
dissension and mistrust, and almost
entire loss of confidence in our lead
ers, and we must be excused if we
state that though late in the day to
break our defensive lance against
the wreckers, yet we consider it bet.
ter late than hide it longer, as they
have done.
The authorship and parentage of
our present troubles must be traced
and commenced on the day and the
hour, and the minute, that Governor
Nichols received that great and i'm
portant message direct from Mr..
Hayes in Washington, through few
of our then repnted and trusted lea.
ders, stating in substance that the
troops would be removed at a min
ute's warning, that be could get full
possession of the State Government.
he acknowledged as the Government,
if he and his party would promise
eLtire Immunity and pardon TO all
the criminals OF Packard's crowd,
including the Returning Board and
all such frauds. In less than an
hour after the reception of this tele-
gram from the White House, Cover
nor Nichols summoned the Demo.
cratic Conservative Senators togeth.
er, bound them TO secrecy, and laid
the important telegram before them,
demanded action and an answer
within an hour, which action and
answer came coolly, quietly and
justly in the affirmative, and thus
the disenthralmcnt of Louisiana was
effected, thus she was freed, and thus
would every man in Louisiana, who
supported the Nichols ticket have
answered, agreed and ratified the
bargain. But here where comes in
our real trouble, the first false step,
the opening of Pandora's box filled
to overlooking with want and lack of
confidence in the people, the very
people, who voted and worked them
to power. They consummated the
good agreement, protited by it, the
Governor making with indecent haste
sandry valuable appointments in ia.
vor of the agreement men," and to.
tally ignoring many with high en-.
dorsements and trusted credentials
of the people, they were nop deny
ing to, hiding and repudiating the
earnest impntations that such an
agreement had been made, slrove
harder and harder daily for months
to deny, to keep it from the people,
from the entire Press of the State.
who would to man, at the time,
have sanctioned and endorsed the
agreement.
These few blunt, but honestly pen
r'led sentences tells the sad story,
that has passed in history and that
has done all The harm; the harm of
all the Returning Board trials, which
never would have been heard of had
the people been told the great State
secret, and con6,led with voice OF