The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-01-15
THE CONVENTION.

| IneIe ID NO reason 10 suppose that the bi
providing for a constitutional convention
which has already passed the House by a
over whelming majority, will to-day fail :
pass the Senate by a solid Democratic an
conservative vote. The Democratic and Con
servative voters OF Louisiana pronounced Fl
favor Of constitutional convention through
their delegates at Baton Rouge and by a pop
ular vote In the late election, and their Repre-
sentatives in the present Legislature hav,
evinced q determination, regardless of tn,
ring and Radical opposition. to carry out the
wishes. To-day the convention bill will pass
the Senate; 1t will taen be sent to the Gov
ernor. who, we have no doubt, will sign 1t
Some necessary legislation Will then b,
enacted and the Legislature will adjourn
leaving the people to elect delegates to TIN
convention.
II is to be regretted that the opponents Of
the convention, both In and out Of the Leeis
lature, have shown 80 venomous an opposi
ton to this great measure. From the day
the Legislature assembled 1t was evident
that the passage OF the convention bill was
an absolute certainty; therefore there should
have been no opposition to it. An officer who
persists In holding an iudefensible fort
renders himself responsible for the blood on
both sides which may DO shed In the assault
ana capture OF it, and such reckless and fool
hardy commanders deserve the severest
treatment.
The opponents OF the constitutional conven-
ton, who have prevented the prompt passage
OF the bill by forcing the majority in the Sen
n IN In ptSvypst TO-
lays which can only be waived by the vote or
consent Of large majority Of the members,
stand on this question In the position OF d
foOlhardy captain who attempts 10 hold an
indefensibie position and draws upon himself
the responsibility for the needless loss OF lives
on both sides. The convention bill should
have passed both houses several days ago.
and the responsibility for the delay ard pro-
longation OF the session OF the Legislature,
with the needless expense to the people, is on
the opponents Of an inevitable measure.
To-day we assume that the bill will pass
the Senate. For weeks the Times and Plea
vs1se, organized and drilled by the rings of
this city, have been engaged in the most
furious efforts to bulldoze the Senate, and
force majority OF It's members to vote
against this great popular measure But
they have accomplished nothing. They car
ried with them one single member OF the
House claiming to be Democrat; but we
doubt IL to-day a Senator elected either as a
Democrat or Conservative will vote against
the final passage Of this bill.
The Influence Of the press Is great when It
ls honestly exerted In the true interests Of the
people; butt is absolutely impotent when ex-
pended In the interest OF rings and Inonopo-
lies. and to-day the Times and Hcawsne will
ind that their ferooious assaults upon the
country people, upon the Bourbon Demo
Gratis, upon the advocates Of a convention.
and upon the representatives OF retrenchment
Ind reform, have been utterly futile They
will discover that though the rings and
have captured and organized
hem into q sweet and loving brotherhood
against the people, their influence has
amounted to naught, and the great popular /
Measure Of the time-the constitutional
to-day be consummated.
Only good can flow from the early as
embling OF q convention. The reimbursement
Il the interest Of the State debt will alone
ave the taxpayers OF Louisiana from two
hundred and fifty Thousand to three hundred
dollars per annum. The reduction
1 salaries and the abolition OF useless offices
nd expensive machinery Of government will
ave the taxpayers an additional five hun
red thousand dollars per annum. Under
he present constitution Louisiana. the
most impoverished State In the Union, is the
most extensively governed and the most
cavity overtaxed. A constitutional eonven-
lon ought to make 1t the most cheaDly gov
rned Of all the States, and reduce the public
expenses at least one million dollars per an
UNI.
This is a oonsummation for which even
he much talked Of commercial interests of
be city and State can afford to stand the
hook of the excitement of an election or tive, |
his year. While the present cumbersome
nd expensive machinery Of government Is In
peration, there can be no prosperity In
4ouisiana. The constitution OF 1868 was
1rmed and enforced upon the State for what
Why taplunder the property-holders and in-
nstrial classes. and to enrich and fatten a
orde or array OF Office holders aliens and
lostile to our people.
So deftly was that bayonet edict formed
hat even honest men have found it impOs-
ible to administer it economically or even
Without Expressing the people. Sound
'olicy therefore requires that 1t be imme-
lately superseded by q now organic law.
We are threatened at this stage of the
by petition from a commercial
'ody against convention. We doubt IL
here is any intelligent and respectable CON-
nercial body In this city which would be will
ng 10 assume the responsibility Of defeat
ng this movement. We are certain that
my such attempt on the part OF any public
,Ody in this city would have an effect exceed
ngly detrimental to our commercial inter
ssts.
WHOSE BULL rs @RED?
Have our contemporaries, vino are 50 keenfy