The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-06-18
A CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION.

a In two respects che coming election in thi
Q State will be most important one There
but one State officer to be elected, and th
place he is to fill is comparatively of little In
portance. The questions of real interest to tn
people, and upon which they will be called {
act are the Congressional elections and tn
constitutional amendments, involving Incl
: dentally the question of q constitutions
convention. In regard to the forme
we only wish to remind the peopl
of their unusual importance. The Republi
can party realizes that It's only chance Of sal
walton as national organization lies in Sc
, curing majority in the next House of Rep
resentatives, and to obtain this 1t will bend 1t!
every energy and use lavishly and without
stint all the. means of corruption that have
constituted for years the familiar methods
OF the party. We have every reason tx
believe that extraordinary exertions will
be made to carry ct least two districts
in this State. There are many party ex.
igencies which lead US to this belief and moi
the least Of these Is the desire Hayes must
feel Of striving to vindcate himself In q meas.
ure against the charges Of fraud and corrup.
ton with which he has been overwhelmed
and OF substantiating the charges OF murder
| and intimidation by which Sherman and his
| co-conspirators have sought to justify their
crimes. But this very consideration should.
and doubtless will, arouse our people to at
least equal exertions, and induce them to
place in nomination in the various districts
their very best and strongest men, in which
event there can be no doubt Of the character
OF our next delegation in Congress.
The elections are certainly of great i'm
portance, yet the real, vital issue, the issue
that must absorb all others, is the question of
a constitutional convention. This proposition
Is not placed directly before the people, as it
should have been by the last Legislature after
1t had itself refused to call convention, but
1t will be before the Baton Rouge convention,
and by it submitted to the people,
Whether or not the question Of q constitu
tional convention shall be submitted to the
vote Of the Democratic masses at the next
election will constitute about the only matter
of discussion and difference In the party con-
vention at Baton Rouge and it will doubt
less be urged and opposed with equal earnest
ness by those who favor and oppose the prop
osition. The character of the contest may be
predicted from that which has recently trans |
pired at the selection in Ouachita of delegates |
TO the Baton Rouge convention.
After an unusually exciting canvass and
q thorough discussion of the question |
the Democrats of Ouachita pronounced |
against constitutional convention, and
Instructed their delegates to oppose any
such proposition. Upon this question we
believe that Ouachita will stand alone
Gmong the parishes Of North Louisiana.
We know that in the parishes west of Red
River the feeling Is unanimous in favor
II constitutional convention. In this
dty there will be made bitter fight
n opposition to it, but it will be made by the
'ame interests and by the same unscrunulous
means that contributed to defeat the measure
n our last Legislature. It will be made by
he monopolies, the stock gamblers and such
'ersons whose every move In politics bears
he ignominious imputation OF personal in
crest and selfshness. There may be some ,
Who will oppose the measure from honest ,
onyictton, but we ask all such to be wary of
he company in which they find themselves I
AS for ourselves, we regard a constitutional :
invention as absolutely necessary to the re- :
"
overnment in this State We hold that these :
rinciples cannot find full and free expression
nder the fundamental organism OF the State :
s 1t now exists. This was the view Senator .
White took in his able speech, which was care
lilly prepared and given out as vindicaton G
the last Legislature. This was the apology
@ offered for the slight and unsatis-
actory relief that had been af-
1rded the people by that Legislature. +
lie claimed that the powers of the General /
ssembly In the direction of reform and 4
legislation had been exhausted.
nd II the people were disappointed, as he =
onfessed they had a right to be, they must r
OF blame the Legislature, but the organic u
w by which they were restrained. We do +
Of believe all this. We think that the Legis- q
ture could have gone much further than it n
ID, but in regard to the retrenchment of r
lbllc expenses, In the reduction OF the num- 6
er OF officers, and all things appertainng to I.
10 expensive and cumbersome governmental r
Establishment, Senator White was altogether =
ght. 1t will be argued that the amendments
lbmitted to the people cover these very diff q
lltles, and that in other matters the Legis- .
ture can act efficiently. \
We do not believe this. The existing con- l.
tuition is, from beginning to end, a perver- h
on Of republican government by the people, n
r the people, to the robbery of the people by c
eir officials, and for the advancement of in G
vidual and monopoly interests. That con- h
tuition was inspired by evil and Is too dan n
'rous document to be trified with. Its "
sis is bad and wicked, and all the tinkering q
at may be done upon it cannot fit it for honest f.
lrposes. Unjust be wiped out absolutely, O.
order that the theory upon which it Is con- m
ructed may be eradicated. More than this NJ
Q Democratic party stands soIemnly k
edged by its most earnest protestations in r;
cry campaign since its adoption In 1868 to q,
peal 1t the very moment that party got into
Wer. This promise has been the slogan
four campaigns and through eight long tt
ars the people have held that promise to pl
cir hearts and looked forward to it's re- al
mption as to a new evangeI. Will the la
rty refuse 1t to them now that the time has Ar