The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1879-04-02
COED FAITH III POLITICS.

I / he title OF thlS is suggested W Ho
because Of the effort of some few pol
iiicians to have an immediate eIec
tion for all officers under the new
Constitution when submitted for rat
iication. The Democratic C)nven
ton in Baton Rouge in 1878, ex
pressly committed the good faith o.
the party to the policy of non-inter
ference with the tenure of office O.
any state officers. The pledge was
then given that all present officials
should remain in the discharge o
theirduties until Tie expiration of the
term for which they were elected
Many of the office holders were Tho
most active and jealous Democrats
we have in the country, and contrib
uted largely to the success of the
party in 1878.
All were then satisfied with the
! pledge of tile party, and but for that
no doubt, the amendments to the
Constitution would have been rati
fed, and the move for a Convention
defeated. We hold that the Consti
tutional Convention, with q large
majority Of Democratic delegates
should keep good faith in this mat
ter and provide for no general cleo.
tion of officers until November 1880
Besides, the elections are already
too frequent, and should we have an
election this year, on merely local is.
sues, there is great danger of the dis.
Indignation Of the Democratic party.
Disconnect we say, the ratification OF
the Constitution from all other is.
sues, and leave the present Legisla-
tive body to put into operation in
January, the provisions of the Con-
st;tution.
Now, the various reforms that will
be provided for, and the certain
changes that will be made in our ju
dicial system, will not be self-acting
in the Constitution, as they will re-
quire appropriate Legislation to put
them into force and effect. The leg.
islature will not meet, if elected next
November, until January, and in the
meantime all officers will remain in
office until the proper legislation is
effected, otherwise there would be
great confusion, and almost an inter
regnum. To provide the needed leg
is!ation would require two or three
months, which would retain the pre-
sent system until next year in March
or April, so there would be only a
few months more left to the present
officials. Therefore, on the score OF
economy, we would not gain any,
thing as we would be compelled to
hold an election any way in Novem-
Der 1880, for members Of Congress
and Presidential electors. Economy
political and party interest, as well
as good faith requires that We keep
immaculate the pledges made ir
1878, by the Democratic Convention
The more so, when we remember
how the Constitutional officers have
been treated by the State Govern
ment, in failing to pay their salaries
Most Of those who live remote from
New Orleans, have not been paid ,
cent since March 1878. Forced tx
borrow money at ruipous rate o
interest, or to discount their war
rants in the market at great loss
there are few indeed who have no
suffered losses by being public off
Gals. Let US be just to them, ant
try and provide for their payment
| and let them serve the time 70
which they were elected. This may
in q measure compensate them TO
7 the losses they have sustained.
! ~-o~-~~-r-'s@~.s~~~-~~~
The New York Wall Street
correspondent of the Baltimore Su