Feliciana sentinel. [volume] (St. Francisville, La.) 1877-1892, 1878-03-16
THE EXTRA SESSION.
IN. o. Dempcrat.1

ecutive has acted with great wisdom In
taking this step.
The sixty days of the regular, session
expired at IL O'clock last night, with lit
tic Of the needed legislation accomplish
ed. Indeed, were the Legislature to
dissolve now the gravest consequences
would befall the State and the Democrat
ic party. We should be left with none of
that real reform legislation which the
public interests so much demandy and
this would be, considering the situation,
great calamity to the State. For the
meagre results of SO many professions
and SO many pledges !; for the disapoint-
ment of SO many hopes, and almost the
absolute failure of SO long and heroic a
struggle on the part of the people, the
Democratic party would be held respon
sible; this world be heavier load than
We could we'll carry, and if required to
shoulder it we might we'll anticipate
great and dangerous disaffection in our
ranks in the approaching canvass.
We are gratified, therefore, at the ac-
tion of the Governor in calling an extra
session. If we really believed that the
Democrats in the Legislature wero res
ponsible for the failure of the regular
session, we should think it better and
wiser to permit the body to adjourn and
return home without further expense to
the State. But it is not true that the
whole or the greater part of the res
possibility rests upon the Democrats.
Thore has been unfortunately woeful
lack of unanimity and agrcssiveness
amongst them. But the Radicals have
been chiefly instrumental in thwarting
the work Of the session.
The House of Representatives is very
evenly divided, and the Radicals, under
the astute leadership of Warmoth, rein-
forced hy {" few lottery members, have
used their large power to defeat every
wise and proper mcnsnre. The single
purpose Of Warmoth, ono of the most
consunmate tricksters in Southern poll
ties, has been to bring Il Legislature COLI
tanning majority of Democrats into ridi-
cnle and odium, by thwarting the ma
jority in attempting to carry out every
pledge of reform they have made. There
Is ADLER and better leadership among the
Democratic members, but their want
of unity and experience has contributed
largely to the success of Warmoth's
shrcwl and dishonest scheme.
Tho past sixty days, we believe, with
their attendant failures aud humilatious,
have inspired the real Democrats in both
q Iafo nd %<>
act some beneficial measures and also
tended to mite and consolidate their
power. If, therefore, the proper meas
measures for consideration are taken hold
of we are hopeful that the extra session
will adjourn amidst the plaudits of the
people, instead of the roproaches which
were hcaped upon the closing days of the
regular session.
If our Democratic friends W ill not deem
us impertinent. we would suggest that u
strict caucus be organized that the
most important bills be discussed there !;
that the most skillfni parlamentarlans
be put in the lead, and that, when they
meet III session, every man abide by the
decision of the caucus and force the re-
form bills to an issue by the most Wig
orous and summary proceedings. The
diliatory tactics of the Republicans
should not be permitted to interfere with
the great work which ought to be done
in the next few days the tricks of War
moth should not be permitted to tn Hart
the measures required for the relief of
this 1ong-sufering State. Let the
: speeches OH the Democratic side be made
and the differences of opinion among the
reformers healed IN the caucus, and the
, voting promptly done in session. The
| Democratic members must bear in mind
| that the fate OF the Democratic party in
the next canvass and from their stand
poins, the good of Louisiana, depend op
tle record they may make in the next
| fifteen days. The failure and humilia-
| tion OF the last sixty days must be re-
deemed by vigilent, brilliant and thor
| oughly reform legislation in the extra
session. Warmoth fully realizes this
| fact, and he will move heaven and earth
| to defeat or delay every reform measure
that comes up ; and he has followin.
| sufficient to ACCOMPLISH his end, unless
the strictcst dicipline DC observed in the
Democratic ranks. Had tho legislature
| adjourned last night he and the other
Radical chiefs, in fact every man who
wishes harm to the Democratic party
would have been greatly rejoiced. Tho
extra session is their defeat. Let tho
Democrats see TO it that they do not con
vert that defeat into another ard tc
them more glorious victory.