Louisiana capitolian. (Baton Rouge, La.) 1879-1881, 1880-04-24
THE FOURTH BRANCH" OF CUR
STATE GOVERNMENT.

| udu tIIO lunVlOuSV "uu WV w
complain of the brcakneck unscrupu
lousness that has been shown by .he
political necr0mancers who have
managed to clutch the controlling
wires of the Democratic party of this
State.
Of course, it is treason, to call the
attention Of the Democracy to the
fact that the General Assembly and
the party conventions, after they
have been "well shaken," are inva-
riably completely "taken" by the
crafty and over greedy "head cen
ters !"
Our voice is that of "the profess
sional grumbler," sayeth the Demo-
crat, with perhaps an extra touch OF
personal bitterness thrown in
What if it was-could any one find
it stranger
We understand exactly our con-
tcmporary's hint. 1t refers to our
candidacy for State printer before the
General Assembly. IT'S true that
we were exhibiting great presump-
ton in dreaming even to compete
with the Democrat D.! COuntrymen,
though, show their greenncss SOME
times. But, you see, we had been
spoiled by seeing another country
journalist succeed in obtaining tho
printing Of the constitutional c0nven-
ton, which, by-the-by, was shared by
the Democrat 4!
We had served our State in the
field, and in our humble sphere around
East Baton Rouge had, in every cam
paign through defeat aud success
never failed to stand by tho Demo
cratic party; wc had nererbecn '..fshy"
for q single minute /!
For these reasons, we were simple
minded enough, as country men gen.
orally are, to believe that we had the
humble right of competing with 9TH
ers for performing a printing contract
to be awarded by the Democratic
Legislature.
We were not long in discovering
the absurdity of our pretensions!
The State printing was taken from
the Picay,ne early in the session, and
a Mr.. Brandyo, ''for gallant and mer-
itorous services at Cherubusco and
Resaca de la Palma or somewhere
else, as we suppose, was appointed
Printer by the Governor and prompt
ly confirmed by the Senate. We
found out very soon whore the print
ing landed atm the good old bag
the Democrat !
And we didn't get rs much as a
smell. From post to pillar the print
ing bill passed around the Legislative
halls. After it had been tossed about
for ninety days it went where the
woodbine twineth. Mr.. Brandyo aud
tho Democrat can sag how all this
came to pass
For the blessed two years to come,
as no printing law was passed, the
Democrat will reap the golden har-
vest unmolested by competitors, who
are choked off beyond hope. And if
the Legislature of 1889 does as well,
the "sugar PLUM won't melt until
1884!
Lucky indeed was the press of the
State that the "Sweet judicial Bill"
didn't pass else the Official Journal
system of the palmy days of Republic
can rule would have brought more
"lilthy lucre" to the Golfers of the
Democrat. A narrow escape it was,
indeed !
But we ought not to grumble of the
Legislature; nor of the late Conven-
ton of tho party either. You see we
have now in Louisiana Four distinct
branches of Government, to-wit:
The Judiciary, the Legislative, the
Executive--and the Democrat.
The Executive and the Legislative
did full justice to the Democrat.
1t was right and proper that the
Democratic party should have given
due recognition to the Fourth Branch.
And it did.
The chief editor Major Burke and
the proprietor Mr.. Houston, 'cere both
elected delegates to the Cincinnati
Convention thereby obtaining for
the Democrat as much representation
as an entire Congressional District.
And still the Capitolim is not hap
py. What q shame!
1t thinks that Generals Nichols
and York, were perhaps lcetle more
entitled for past services to the State
and the party to be sent to Cincinnati
in LEW Of probably two of the four
distinguished citizens who were chosen.
IT'S true that Gov. McEnery, Sena-
tor Parlange, Secretary of State
Strong, and the Hon. Patrick Meallie
are entitled to the confidence of the