Louisiana capitolian. (Baton Rouge, La.) 1879-1881, 1879-05-10
THE State CAPITAL
A POLITICAL TRICK,

| NSI huONu VIM VtR pNovS tSN"Na"'t
did not vote on these amendments ~
u whole, but feeling greater interest
In the location of the Capital, they
voted OH that question, and tho Off.
cial returns give Baton Rouge 'ovc1
six thousand majority. ~
Will the constitutional convention
ignore the wishes of Il large majority
OF the citizens Of the State in framing
" new constitution
We hope not Vienna Sentinel.
But your hopes have come to naught
At least u portion of the Convention
intend ignoring the will Of the people
AS evidence, Mr.. Kennedy, u member
from tho parish of Orleans, has intro.
duced u resolution proposing to sub
nit the question of State Capital tt
the people again.
Thus renewing question alread,
decided by the people in toto
The proposition at q glance seems
to contain just and equitable proper.
ties, but public interests are not tt
be disposed of with only slight ocl-
lar demonstrations. Opposition te
the matter would bring discreditablt
reflection too, if a casual eye must de.
eide the political purposes Of the
party so doing. But the proposition
is not fair-neitler is it just neithe,
is it honest neither is it the will OF
the people!
1t is u political trick-a vile scheme
tackled on to outward reason to dis
guise a hydra-headed attempt to de-
fraud the people
Wien left alone, the people of New
Orleans-we mean the legitimate tax
payers, not political bummers-recog-
nize the unftness of their city for
State Capital, and would not raise
finger to keep it there. But the pol
iticians, who have no other means OF
support, would lose their corrupt and
blighting grasp on the government.
Like Othello, "their occupation gone"
they must "iind other pastures green"
Consequently they would leave no
stone untumed to accomplish their
their purpose and defeat the will OF
the people.
The twenty-onc amendments which
SO obscured the vote on State Capital
last fall was u manipulation due ell
tirely to the professional politicians
of New Orleans. They knew that The
people would remove the Capital from
New Orleans if u fair election was
had--and large sums Of money, would
be necessary to avert this eli and
they adopted the "obscure ymend-
ment" plan as tho cheapest and safest.
One-thiTd of the voters, as was in
tended, did not understand the ques-'
ton, and failed to vote either way
but still, majority of six thousand
and more stand recorded to-day in
favor of removal.
Yes, it is another political trek
here's their plan:
With over six thousand three hun
dred majority against Now Orleans
and solid conviction of this fact in
minds of a majority of the Convention,
they see no possible chance to defeat
the people by q direct vote as to the
contest between that city and Baton
Rouge. Therefore they propose to
have u new ballot deal and a sham
election. Then, as in the past, they
manipulate first the tickets, then the
election, and last, but not least, the
election returns. They set political
traps at every turn for the unsuspect-
ing, which are sprung only for selfish
motives, always to the detriment of
the public.
Unless the country delegates are on
the alert, they will be deceived by
this outward show of impartiality,
and fall ignominious victims to the
scheme, soon to find themselves a
toyed spoke of "the wheel within a
wheel.' Lookout!
In a fair contest Baton Rouge could
again win the race, and with q square
vote, by an overwhelming majority.
But how can she secure a fair election
with the shrewdest wire-pullers
against her, who are backed by the
money of native brokers and foreign
bondholders 1t is impossible!
But this is not the only point to be
urged against the cunning PROPOSE
sition. The people have had an cleo
ton and rendered the verdict that the
Capital shall be removed from New
Orleans. They are sovereign, and
once they speak, there is no appeal.
But the expense of a new election on
this question will be great, and even
if the sovereign voters were willing
to repeat their verdict, they are fur
from willing to pay the cost.
If New Orleans will foot the bill
Oh the question submitted to the peo-
pie of the whole State, no one can
- ll,o. n,.l