The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-03-24

ried out, and in accordance with It, Drury and
Gracien the two Radical members Of the
House Committee Oh the Constitutional Con-
ventlon, made minority report in favor OF q
convention. About the same time 1t was
generally known throughout the city that the
Radical members OF the House were In favor
OF q convention.
The only obstacle the ring considered to be
In their way was the DEMOCRAT. Earnest
and prayerful consultations were held
amongst them as to practical means Of con-
trolling the paper. They did not believe that
it could be controlled by money, or that
it could be ajoled or intimidated; but
1t was hoped that through it's fidelity
to party 1t could be managed. They were
willing to have the DEMOCRAT support
convention up to certain point that was
to the point where it should become manifest
that the party In the Legislature was against
o convention; beyond that stage 1t was hoped
we would not venture to carry our advocacy
OF the measure, and that with we'll timed
subserviency to party discipline we would
become the unconscious supporters and back
ers of the ring.
On this hypothesis the combination pro-
ceeded with their plan. They ordered their
henchmen in the Legislature to vote for any
and all amendments. They understood some
thing OF the fierce desire Of the people for q
convention, and believed and hoped the
amendments and therefore, the more OF
them the better would appease them. In
measure the combination succeeded They
defeated the people after fashion; but they
| have lost their stake. They defeated the call
for n ittYfi
| through the tumble of amendments, and they
passed Moffett register bill. And yet the
bonds with which they had loaded them
selves have not advanced; nay they
have gone down as If they were
lead, and the ring and Its hangers-on
have lost hundreds Of thousands of dol
lars. They mistook the temper Of the people
and they mistook the character of the DEM
ocRAT. They began an aggressive movement
with banners flying and drums beating, but
before they made point they were forced to
waste half their strength In defending the
monoplies from the attacks of the DEMOCRAT
The people defeated in their demands upon
the Legislature for q convention are more
determined than ever to have one: they have
dismissed the Legislature In disgrace and
are already making the convention and the |
destruction OF the monopolies the battle cry of |
the opening campaign. The emasculated |
Moffett register calls for only five per cent |
tax. and 1t Is extremely doubtful if, through |
the obnoxious methods of the bill, the State |
will derive any revenue from it. The victory |
OF the combination has been a disastrous de- |
feat, and their bonds have tumbled in the |
day Of their triumph.
We have no sympathy for them. Where
selfish and corrupt men, for their own per-
sOnal ends, array themselves In free coun-
try against the people, their shrewdest
schemes, sooner or later, will come to dis
astrous termination.
If the credit Of the State has been damaged,
the sufferers should lay the responsibility
where 1t belongs-upon selfish and unscru-
pulous ring which frustrated the great reform
measures Of the people, and rendered the
first Legislature we have had In many years
powerless for good by organizing against the
public interests majority out Of the minori-
ty and the weak brothers of the peoples ma
jority.
If the holders Of State securities had rested
upon the good faith Of the people of Louis
lana and left the Legislature alone to carry
II the State would to-day stand unimpaired.
We would have no miserable and iacompre- l
lensfble tumble OF amendments to disturb
IS; we would not have one of the largest
classes Of taxpayers solidly arrayed to resist
he outrageous tax imposed on them, and we | ,
would have had q constitutional convention.
But there would have been no voice In the
State raised against the State debt; there I
would be no angry mutterings Of discomfort Q
md no open threats Of revolt throughout the '
'arishes There might not have been a
eduction of one mill on the rate of taxation
ust now; but we would have been in fair
Tay to reorganize and reconstitute our gov
rnment on cheap basis, which would
nable us to reduce the rate of taxation to |
30 mills, and at the same time sustain the
ebt un1mpaired. The enemies Of the States
redit are the spectators in bonds and q
ne monopolists who have defeated and q
ngered the people, aroused their resentment, =,
nd filled the State with discomfort where
lere ought to be a universal feeling of hope, n
not Of positive satisfaction.
The credit Of Louisiana ought to be sound;
Or bonds ought to be regarded as first class
lvestments. This is what we desire, and it
what we have labored to accomplish. But
will never be achieved by "bull rings"
I'd combinations to defeat wholesome public
gislation, because that legislation may be
to spectators and monopolists.
he credit OF the State can only be sustained
2 the establishment of government upon
'und and. economical principles, and in h,
e interests solely Of the people. The rings q,
i've defeated the people this time, and they
I'VE felt the consequences. We warn them :.
1t to organize against us again. 80
- "
e-A. Ea---- til