The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-09-24
THE o0NTINENoE OF soIp1o.

/
THE CONFLUENCE OF sOIPIo.
~. Pagan, ex-criminal sheriff, who admits
that he emerged from the office Of criminal
sheriff few years ago with only 1921 $50 re-
celved as due him by the city, is most vlrtu-
ously and periodically exercised against all
me present ofiicehoders. He thinks that they
ought to be disowned, and excluded from all
right to engage In any Of the discussions and
controversies Of the party-not only the in
cumbents OF these offices, but their deputies.
When reminded bya good Democrat, who has
never had the felicity Of being candidate for.
much less Of filling, any such rich offices
as Mr. Pagan has with the rich re-
suits stated, Mr. Pagan replies that the
city discounted his receipts % largely as to
Yield him only 20 per cent Of his lawful
charges, and that the city owed him about
$4,000 when he retired from office. The rate
OF thls discount he appears to regard as the
measure OF his patriotism and bis confluence
Since Mr.. Fagans warrants were so ruth
.iessly shaved, why should the exact and over
historical Mr.. Kohl impute to him any IN
que appetite for, or enjoyment Of, ofIiclal
spolls and patronage. Should not a man who
was subjected to such q shave be ever after
wards regarded as q patriot OF the first water.
one who In fact never held or sought an Office?
What better qualification for the presidency
q the eleventh ward club than such self
sacrifice?
Who can with more consistency and force
protest against the claims OF other Demo-
Gratis, who, holding important offices, either
decline or under the law escape this shave
and manage to realize the full amount Of their
fees2 Are not these the oppressors Of the peo-
pie, men whose conduct is ''the subject of
loud complaint and denunciation?"
There would be more force and point In this
Indignant remembrance of Mr., Pagan. \ It
could be shown that or this shave bene-
fitted the taxpayers and the oppressed
people; but inasmuch as the whole undis-
counted amount OF his two years receipts of
S23l, 800 stands charged against them In the |
city's budget, and that 1t has been made up |
OF Items which quadruple the amount charge /
able under our new constitution, the people |
will be embarrassed to discover the large relief |
TO them from Mr.. Fagan's generosity. The
buyers and holders OF the warrants shaved
have far stronger reasons to regard him az d
S1AA
does not appear In his second card to object
SO much to public officer or his deputy
for election to the presidency
OF Democratic club, as he does to the
alleged oppressive exactions and enforce
ment OF the laws by certain officials whom be
seeks toproscrlbo and wage war against.
This is strong point If properly backed
up With proofs II any public official is
ia the oppression OF the peo-
pie. Or guilty Of illegal exactions, 1t is
the duty OF SO patriotic citizen and
true Democrat to denounce him and
bring him to justice. As an ex-official Mr.. {
fagan Will not confound the efficient and I
vigorous enforcement Of the laws enacted by
Democratic Legislature with oppression. {
We feel assured tina. when he was criminal "
sheriff he was never chargeable with such v
confusion OF ideas, and that Mr.. Pagan him {
elf was good exemplar Of this sort Of o. d
preston 10 the prompt vigorous and literal s
execution OF the laws when in two year he held b
close custody within the bars of the b
'arish Prison two Thousand victims of this d
oppression" n
Doubtless these two thousand victims re-
.arded themselves as grievously oppressed. n
tut they would not regard Pagan as their o. Il
ressor and refuse him their support for pres D
dent the eleventh ward club on that account. il
lay not like plea avail the present officials, 1t
those conduct is "the subject of so much h
omplaiut and denunciation 2" Certainly 30 =,
God Democrat, and SO conscientious an dt
Hcial as MIR. Pagan, would not justify a re- OF
Ixat1on or delinquency on the part Of pub az
officer 10 the enforcement Of the laws.
hose laws may be oppressive; but il they IA
Q laws, it Is certainly a duty OF all Demo he
attic officials to enforce them It Is due to the M
,ople that they should be enforced 10
Is very hurtful and censurable Inv
which applauds or encour- 90
res any inetficiency or relaxation 81 ~
lty On the part Of public officials. When mi
lckson enforced the revenue laws against an
9 citizens Of his native State, he doubtless
mpathized with his fellow citizens In their m,
mplaint OF the oppressiveness Of these
We. but, nevertheless, declared, with an en- -
asis which had more than the force OF a
RI facids, THE laws-they must and shall
executed" We never heard that Jackson's da
was ever questioned on account an
this utterance and Its vigorous illustra- So
u. ---- biz
an
A TRUE DEMOCRATIC PAPER. on
de
dr. g. n: VanPraag. agent Of the New Orleans sci
.les called nc our office the first Of the week he,