The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-01-28
THE LEGISLATURES.

is the mere mouthpiece of the Bourbon Dem
: oorats. These vicious and abusive attack
J. have been provoked by the fact that tn
: Legislature, by m overwhelming majority
passed a bill calling a constitutional oonven
: tion. Nobody, according b these two sheets
represents the property and business inter
ests Of the State except tho Times and Plea
. yune; and yet we have shown that aftel
nearly every nominee Of the Democratic
| party for the Senate and House
! had declared himself In favor oil q
, convention those papers supported the
. straight Democratic ticket. When this ques-
ton was before the people-the voters Of the
J city and state-for their approval or disap-
prevail the Times and Picdyune, the candi-
dates OF the Democratic party, and the ma
jority Of the voters Endorsed the convention
movement But the popular sentiment In
favor OF constitutional convention was not
confined TO these. The Citizens Conservative
Association, body of gentlemen who certain
ly represented a large portion of the wealth
and business interests Of New Orleans. had a
Legislative ticket In the field. Representa-
tives Of the DEMOCRAT also interviewed
those gentlemen, most Of whom were Of the
purest Democratic antecedents, and almost
without an exception they pronounced them
selves IN favor OF constitutional convention.
Thus the candidates Of the two great wings OF
tho Democratic Conservative party, repre-
senting the wealth, business and intelligence
OF the city. fully and emphatioally declared for
constitutional convention. There was no
party with any pretensions to represent
either the Democratic or Conservative people
OF the city which had any candidates Of con-
sequence In the field who were not strong.
earnest and ardent advocates Of a constitu-
tional convention The only hostility to a
convention which existed was among the mo-
nopolists. rings and spectators. The Demo-
cratic and Conservative candidates OF both
wings OF the Democratic and Conservative
people were convention men. With what
show Of reason or decency then do the Times
and Pcayune assail the Legislature for It's nc.
ton And with what sense or courtesy do they
charge that the country members bulIdozed
the city members into this measure2 The
people Of the country all over the State
elected representatives In favor OF oonven-
tion; the Democratic and Conservative
citizens Of New Orleans voted almost en-
masse for candidates who were pronounced
advocates OF convention. Ii Ia clear there
Tore that the Legislature has faithfully repre-
sented tho people who elected them and that
In passing the convention bill they did pre-
cisely what the wealth, business and industry
Of tho State desired and demanded. The only
parties whose wishes and views have not been
represented are the bondhoIders, the monop-
olists. the rings and their newspapers.
With a singular malevolence ono Of the
morning papers Of this city stops at no mis-
representation or falsehood In It's defamatory
attacks upon body Of gentlemen who have
declined to obey Its dictation or respect It's
corrupt opinions. In its issue yesterday
morning II charges that ring Of fifty-six
country members had been organized before
the meeting Of the Legislature. and Ii now
controlling the Legislature Of the state by
systematic bulldozinR. There Ia not d word
Of truth In this story There is no such ring
and there has been none such. The country
members Of the present Legislature have
shown patriotic purpose to legisIate for the
good Of the whole State. There are few Of
them whom we do not know personally, and
we have found no antagonism amongst
city. Indeed, without an exception they
feel pride and an interest In every thing
that concerns the prosperity Of New Orleans
They feel hurt and chagrined at the brutal
and unjust attacks the Times and Picayune
have made upon them, but they understand
and feel that these papers do not express the
sentiments Of the people Of New Orleans
toward their fellow citizens of the country
parishes.
The country members OF this Legislature
are the representatives Of their people, and
they desire to serve the best interests OF the
whole State Many Of them may be unin-
formed as to the needs and wants Of the city. |
But they are not to be informed OF our needs |
or coerced into supporting ring measures by |
the billingsgate Of ring newspapers. In calling
\ convention the country members knew they |
were representing their own constituency, and
having read the expressions of the candidates |
Of both the Democratic party and the Citizens
Association, they believed they |
were representing the s,of the people Of
New Orleans. That they did do 80 we know. |
Nevertheless 1t Is extremely CALLING to these
gentlemen to be day after day assailed with |
abuse and blackguardism for doing their duty |
and disappointing the ends OF the rings.
In passing the convention bill the Legisla-
ture has covered itself with honor; 1t has |
discounted the rings and monopolists, and
inspired the people with hope. 1t Is tho |
greatest bill that has been passed In this |
State for seventeen years. 1t means that we |
are to shake the dust Of reconstruction laws
and constitutions from our feet, and return, |
after SO many fluctuations, to the ways OF our |
fathers. When the Legislature which passed |
the convention bill shall repeal the charter |
Of the Louisiana Lottery Company it WILL be |
the duty OF the free people of this State to |
fund to rear monument In its |
honor In one OF the public squares Of this |
city.
EQUALIZATION OF ASSESSMENTS.
Once more we appeal to our Legislators to |
turn their earnest attention to the all-im-