The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1879-02-14

MONROE. La. FEBRUARY IA. 1879.
"NO MORE STORMY CLOUDs.''
One of the encouraging features of
the existing canvass for delegates to
constitutional convention Is the alacrity
with which our brethren of the press,
lately not overly much In love with Q
constitutional convention, are coming
forward in support Of q change In the
States organic law. We not only de-
rive great pleasure from this change Of
thought and sentiment, but we have
been Instructed no little by these con-
temporaries Of ours In what constitutes
the defects and rotten places in the
aware, until quite recently, that that
instrument was stuffed so full of odious
and execrable provisions, or that the
people of Louisiana were so sadly In
want of a new Constitution. True, we
had thought Of the matter for some
time, and had crossed out few Articles
in the present so-calted Constitution, but
the extent of its inflrmities we were
unable to grasp, or comprehend. 1t Is
impossible to enumerate all the
changes our late recalcitrant brethren
of the quill have suggested. It Is
enough, perhaps, for present purposes
to say that the suggestions, aggregated,
convince US that there is necessity
for an entirely neeo Constitution. Patch.
work will not answer the multiplicity
of changes now demanded. And this
demand of the hour Is enforced not
simply by members of the press-the
small country press included-but there
arc many leading and prominent citi-
zens of the State who have exhibited
an agility and such a profusion of need
full reforms in the organic law of the
State, but who until lately thought
few amendments would suffice, that It
can be no longer doubted that there is
a pressing need for a constitutional re-
demption of the State. Some of these
distinguished gentlemen in other por-
tions of the State-patriarchs in Israel,
as it were-go to the very verge of the
yawning precipice upon which
Louisiana has been standing, and
declare they are willing to jump
in, Curtius like, and save the State
by helping to frame new Constitution.
There is need of such talent and
self-sacri0cing ambition, Mt this time,
and has been for many a long weary
day. The recent development of the
sources of supply augurs we'll for the
mining resources Of the State. But the
fact Island we arc unable to disguise
it-the TELEGRAPH has become just a
little jealous. We have been set back
ten years-thrown in the shadc-spelled
clear down foot. Where are we to look
now for bonanza of thunder? Once
but few weeks ago-we were
happy; but where are we now?
1t appears, we may answer, that the
second adventists have captured us,
and, all pleasantly aside, the capture,
like that Of a risky miss, Is willing
one; and if we now stand at the foot
of the class in spelling, those ahead
must not get to nodding.
The unanimity with which all classes
of the people agree that fundamental
changes must be made in our State
government places a weighty response
biIity upon the trainers of the new
Constitution. The people are depressed
and Respondent, and all their material
interests-the very source of States
prosperity-barely keep them out of
the poor-house. 1t might be said, as a
matter of fact, that the whole State,
with exceptions here and there, is in
itself "a labyrinth of poor-houses, since
there is either poverty or want all over
the State. This condition of affairs
must be reached, and changed other
wise, the wisdom OF legislation will
turn out tragedy.
The contest in Louisiana is a very
simple one-a contest between intelli-
gence and ignorance, the two nearly
equal, numerically. There is very
plain plan Of battle in this unnatural
strife. There are laws interdicting In
sane people, and laws placing danger