The Lake Charles echo. [volume] (Lake Charles, Parish of Calcasieu, La.) 1876-1898, 1879-07-19
perrlicious Delay.
IN. O. Democrat. |

The Convention has now been IN
session for seventy days aud yet
no settlement of the debt has been
agreed upon. The delay in bring
lug this important and agitating
mater to conclusion is not due
to any insurmountable, or even So
rious, difficulty peculiar to the sub
ieci itself. The bondholders are
ready aud aDxions to accept any
reasonable, aud just proposition.
The delay seems 20 be caused en-
iirely by the vacilation of mem
bnrs of the Convention who have
not the moral courage to stand
squar+Iy up and speak and vote as
their inigment dictates. We do
the Convention no injustice, and
they may exhibit their ind'guatlon
if they arr wounded by these re-
marks. For weeks and weeks the
settlement of the debt has been
nnder discussion. Every interest
in the State is suffering from the
effects of uncertainty and doubt.
Trade is nearly paralyznd. The
one single interest that has flour
ished and prospered with feverisb
and unnatural vigor uDder the per-
nicious influence of agitation aud
delay is stock gambling. One day
ore proposition commands the sup
port of \ member and the next day
he is pursuing a different line. The
votes in the caucus, ii they are de-
signed to prevent the adjustment
Of the debt, are little less than
criminal; ii they are serious they
display a vaciliatiop on the part OF
members almost disgracefnl, aud
when, to say the least, promises
little good to this State. For reck
less and rapid fopping we know OF
nothing to compare with the course
OF the caucus As indicated by the
| votes there on The debt.
We have had great faith in this
Convention; we have hoped fo'
,nucb good frotn il, and the pnblic
will bear witness that We have
done ali ia onr power to sustain
and support il. We have resented
reckless attack. upon it, and held
1 no its bands on oil occasions where
we could conscieHtIously y do 80.
But He iDnst confess that We art
disappointed, and that We are be
gi ming to entertain very great
teais that littfe or nothing OF behe-
fit to the people will be accom-
piisiied.
We are now far into July. Mem.
bers are growing weary, and there
is much serious talk of adjourn
ment until late in the fall. Ii the
settlement ofthe debt is longer
\ DELAYED, the chances are that 1t
will not be settled at all this year.
Aud in what condition, then, will
the State he left, and in what light
will this Convention shine before
the country? We will beleft with
the debt as it stands, bearing its
\ 7 per cent interest, to provide for
Which the five and half mills in
terest tax will be exigjbl4. The
present rate of taxation, i'll mills
will stand, aud the condition oj
doubt aud anxiety which now per-
yades every class ofthe community
and weighs down every public apd
private interest will be indefinitely
prolonged. As for the Convention
it will be denounced by our people
who are The sufferers. while il viii
be tho laughing stock of Other
States.
This yaciilation mnst end apd
1 some definite settlement OF the deb
reached without delay. The peo
pie require this and their require
} ment is just. they are hoping fol
relief from burdensome taxation
and agitation both, and if the OBJ.
iect o. their hopes is longer delayed
they will have good eanse for ~
dlgnation, and We shall DO our besI
10 give voice 10 their fresentment
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