The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-02-24
THE VESTED RIGHTS or THE PEOPLE


paper that the charter u the Louisiana Lot
terry Company was procured by the most cor
rupt and infamous means, that there is not II
existence single law, act or statute which
was honestly passed In ils behalf, that 1t sub
stantiallv possesses q monopoly Of q felony
and is disgrace to our State and civilian
tlon Yesterday we opened new branch Of
the discussion and showed. that, granting
that The acts creating II were not obtained by
ID, agency which pUisons and nuitles all
J which II touches fraud 1T nevertheless pos
sesses no sacred OF vested rights. On this
point WE pHoted the law as laid down by the
best authorities In the country, which sweeps
away every remnant Of the claims Of the lot
terry or any Of the other mpnopolies In this
State to the protection Of the government
In addition TO all this the. people Of the
State, north. east south and west, In every
1 parish, town and village, have endorsed and
Joined III oui appeal to the General Assembly
to repeal the charters Of these nonopolies and
sweep them out Of existence.
We are curious now to see what the Lepisla-
ture will do In this business during the few
remaining days Of the session. We are curious
to see IL body of Representatives and Sena-
1
canvass and Upon pledges to break down these
monorolies will adjourn, In view Of the ex-
posture we have made. without striking blow
Mt one Df these institutional nay, with the
odum Of having voted down every bill which
was introduced to destroy them.
This will make strange and startling text
for the speeches Of the opponents Of the Dem
ocratic party In the approaching canvass.
'sIhe Democratic Legislature of 1879 voted
down the bill TO repeal the odipus monopoly
feature of the Slaughter House Company by
which the people Of New Orleans are indirect
~ taxed upward Of s5On,0oD per annum. The
Democratic Legislature of 1878 voted down a
bill to repeal the charter Of the Crescent City
Gaslight Company through which the con-
aumels of gas In New Orleans are taxed 10
per cent on a pretended capital of $I,5OD000
which is fraud and has no existence
The Democratic Legislature of 1879 voted
down bill to repeal the charter Of the Lou
siana Lottery Company, organized by cor
r,,ption. existing In corruption, and which
possesses a monopoly Of a felony. The same
Legislature refused to repeal act No . Of 1874, |
passed In thee interest Of that company, and
which virtually deprives citizens charged
with ofTenses against that Constitution Of the
right Of trial by jury
We submit that, unless the people them |
selves, during their long submission to Radi- |
calis,n. have forgotten the first principles of |
civil government this record will be strong |
platform for the opponents Of the Democratic |
party to go into the, canvass on. But If the |
Mofrett register bill is also passed, attacking |
the interests and trade Of upwards Of ten thou |
sand stalwatt Democratic voters, and then |
upon that is piled the revenue bill which now /
lies before us. more oppressive and violative |
of the principles of republican government |
than almost any act passed by the Radicals |
what hope do the Democratic members Of the |
Legislature think tie party will have Of car
rying the State next fall unless 1t repudiates |
and denounces their action?
"Apres MOI Il ,lei,,ge," said Louis XIV. and |
he went on with the plumber and oppression |
Of his people. The Legislature however |
should be careful how 1t initiates the naughty |
indifference of the French king. After the Leg
islature comes not the deluge. but the inexora- |
BILE Judgment of the people; the Judgment of /
a people who through eight years Of corrupt /
and oppressive government have watched and /
prayed endured and fought for emancipation |
from rings. monopoies and legislation
against the public interests. VIII the judy
ment Of such a people be favorable toa Legis-
lature which has conspicuously failed In the
great mission they have entrusted to 1t 7
We think not. They will demand to know
why these monopolies were not destroyed;
why the Louisiana Lottery Company, created
by fraud and corruption, has been permitted
to continue its existence with power and ma
chnery to largely control our politics and
elect It's agents to the Legislature. They will
demand to know why new and extraordinary
means OF taxation werc resorted to for the
purpose Of sustaining an expensive and cum
hersonae system of government. when the
first duty was to reform and retrench until a
reduced rate of taxation was practicable.
We have been actuated by no factious spirit
in our attacks upon the policy of the Legisla
ture We had and have nothing save the
good will of the people TO gain by taking
issue with that body. On the contrary we
have had great deal to lose. But we have
regarded our duty to the public as paramount
to our personal interests. We knew indeed
that the people looked to the DEMOCRAT
to keep watch and ward over their in
terests and we have faithfully discharged !
our duty to them as we understood 1t.
In behalf of the people we have attacked
every evil we could strike. We have assailed
the policy of our friends in the Legislature
relative to monopolics and the constitutional
and we have arrayed large ma
jority of that body against us. Indeed, the
issue has been SO squarely made between us
that the Democratic party in the next cam
paign will be forced to Judge and choose be-
tween the DEMOCRAT and the Legislature.
Ohio. the Presidents own State, still holds
h, senaratn schools for the two races black