Louisiana capitolian., 1880-02-07
VOLUME TWO,

| I'D Tile OatLIcS IL HIS IOuHUts VIC bty
this because of the generous support
We have received at the hands Of the
public, as also, because Of the friendly
words of welcome and tl,c1 endorse
ments that have been addressed the
CAplroLlAN by it's brethren Of the
press.
When we started the lMper and
gave 1t the name it bears, We were
moved by an impulse that every hon
est heart must at least respect.
We came to Baton Rouge in June,
1865, . parolcd soldier Of the lost
cause, a stranger in fact, TO earn a
livelihood and cast our lot among it's
good people. We remained and strug-
gled with them through the days of
gloom and adversely.
For years we passed close by and
occasionally visited the hlackened
walls of the once proud edifce, in
whose chambers the honorable repre-
sentat,ves of happy and prosperous
Louisiana framed and discussed the
laws which governed so well its in
habitants
Identified with the community by
all the ties that bind Il soul and body
to q given spot, with our friends, we
mourned over the great loss that war
has inflicted upon our lovely city.
1t is true that the diadem had been
transferred to the keeping of our
brethren of the Crescent City. Not,
however, by the command of the pop
ular will. The change had been
effected after the guns had been hash
ed which Breckenridge's men had
carried to within four squares Of the
Capital of the State, in the attempt
to plant on its towers the "stars and
Bars" under whose folds marched
the boys in gray. %
In the month of December follow
ing, the dastardly hand of the incen-
diary applied the hellish torch that
rendered the beautiful structure a
classical ruin!
And when Banks organized the
mockcry of n civil government in
Louisiana, a chorus sung by the hus-
ky voice Of q battery of hostile can
non, proclaimed on Lafayette square,
that Michael Hahn, by the grace of
God rather, the devil-was the
Governor and New Orleans the Capt.
tai of the "frst returning State" as
the placards Of the day boastfully
showed.
This decree of the army bummers
was consecrated by the motley crew
that styled itself the Convention OF
1868.
When the day of deliver;n,cc and
disenthrallment came, after: the in
stallation of the Nichols government,
backed by the earnest wishes of the
people Of our city and parishs besides
those of other portions of the State,
we engaged in the movement to re-
gain what belonged to BatoA Rouge
by the voice of God!
And we fought in righteous cause,
as it was our duty to do, for the dear
est interest of friends who had hon
orcd us by every march of confidence
within their gift.
A constitutional amendment restor-
in the Capitol to Baton Rouge was
passed by the General Assembly and
adopted by the majority at thc polls.
Then q Convention was called.
Firmly impressed with the belief that
its members would not reverse these
unmistakablc Instructions, in: Febru-
ary last, after we had determined to
re-enter the field of journalism our
first love-the name Of CAr1ToLIAN
occurred to us, and though. it was
urged by many that we were" count
ing the chickens before the eggs were
hatched," we boldly planted shis title
at the head of our columns With
number after number, we appealed to
the people of the State to see that
their expressed will should be faith
fully carried out.
The new Constitution SAYS that
"the seat Of government shall be and
remain at the city of Baton Rouge"
And the General Assembly is re-
quired to make the necessary appro.
priations III obedience with It's man
dates.
For all this, we ask the Indulgence
of our readers, when we say shat We
are just as proud as journalist can
possibly be of the title of this paper.
Besides the fight for the Capital,
our flag has borne the mottb DEMoc-
RAcY throughout every contest, and
our columns have preached 10 other
doctrine And nut word fnr II thny