The People's vindicator. [volume] (Natchitoches, La.) 1874-1883, 1878-03-02
EeliSll.

The Thibndanx Sentinel Is deter
mined not to be- trapped INT" the sup
port Of a constitutional convention
cat this time" All along it has in
sisted that the "lalent' aud thigh
,harartr," nf the Democratic mem.
brrs Of the present General Assembly
we're assurances in themselves that
alt tho '',etorms necessary lat this
time,' could he had by legislative
enactment. A constitutional ronvrn.
ton could be obviated by "wise. ju-
dicious and proper amendments from
the Legislature. This "wise' legis-
lature having mirerably failed to sus-
tain the high character reposed in
it by the Sentinel, therefore it was rea-
sonable to suppose we could expect its
support of a measure the great mass
of people of this State demanded,
and which had been solcmn1y prom
Used them by the Democratic party
new, honest and just constitution.
| Not so, however. The Sentinel slips
out of its legislative argument with
the ease of an EEL Hear him
The present Legislature, or at least
the Democratic members were chos en-
upon platform on which were dis
played in conspicuous letters, the
words retrenclment and reform the
cry npou every stump was that the
plundering of the peoples money
must be brought to close, and that
honorable and honest men must be
placed in front who would guard the
peoples interests and work only for
the general prosperity and public
welfare This was the language nsed
by the Orators sent ont by the Demo-
cracy all over the State, and under
these p, omises and pledges, made by
all the Candidates, that patty sue
cessfully carried the State at the cleo.
ton in 1876.
Now in this very session OF the Leg
islature, whose Democratic members
were chosen as the Representatives
of policy of reformation the specta-
Gle is exhibited of twenty six Demo-
Gratis voting for the Mileage Grab by
which some forty or fifty thousand
dollars was taken from the Treasury,
and placed in their own pockets,
without a particle of justice to sus-
tain such action. Members of the
Legislature putting their hands into
the Treasury and paying themselves
twice for the same mileage, a proceed
ing unheard of in the history Of this
State heretofore, with no other
ground to sustain their votes, except
that such a provision was found in
this very Constitution that they ale
so anxious to overthrow by means of
another Convention.
1t is natural to presume that the
Representatives in the Legislature
would DO elected Delegates to a con-
vention, or men of similar ideas of
reform. Can the people hope to gain
any benefit for the annoyance confu-
sions and jealousies that would he oc.
casioned aud engendered Ivy an cleo.
ton of Delegates, and the expenses
which such Convention would oc-
casion J.? Is there any reason to be-
lieve that men who voted for the Mile
age Grab, the other day, in the Leg
islature, would not vote to retain the
same clause in any Convention they
might assist to frame
There's sophistry for you and just
such reasoning has tended to injure
the State more than anything else.
Because one set of officials have
proven recreant to the trust re-
posed in them, is good logic in the
eyes of the Sentinel why the people
should cease altogether their strug
gle for relief. Out upon such stuff.
Our failure should aud does serve to
inspire the people to renewed and
vigorous action. We failed from
1863 to 1874 to secure tue fruits of
victories We gained in four elections
but that only inspired US to continue
the struggle. The very arguments
now used by the Sentinel filled to
overaowing the columns Of the rad
ical press of the past days, and We are
pained-ipdignapt-we might say
to see journals claiming to be Demo
CT attic INDUCING in them:
No! The people will not be put down
by such clap trap. The pleading is
special and specious from beginning to
end. Our purpose in North Louis
lana is for an honest government and
that can be obtained only by having
as it's basis an honest Constitution