The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1880-01-11
JOHN MoENERY FOR SENATOR.

reasons al lPDEtn, hHd we KNOW lull well tttAt
they have found an echo III the heart of every
true Louisianian--of every man who honors
courage and fidelity, or who keeps In his heart
place for gratitude. John McEnery's eer-
vices TO this people are not forgotten.
Though he would eeorn to parade them him
g elf or permit his friends 20 do 80 In his be-
half, the people realize and remember them
and there could be no more pleasing and ac-
ceptahle thing In their eyes than the bestowal
upon him of some llttirg and conspicuous
recompense Through tho four dark years Of
our bondage he WAS always at his post-not
with the faint hearted trimmer's servle bow,
but with the brave, outspoken, uncomproms-
Ing decision OF man who battles for the
right trusting In his cause and yielding moth
ing of Its integrity. In one sense he failed,
but such a failure ia far more glorious than
any triumph won by questionable means,
and IL has lost for John McEnery
no fraction OF the love and confidence Of his
fellow citizens. He stards before them, to-
day, q man against whose straight and law
leHs rectitude no whisper has ever been
breathed, against whose steadfa5t courage
and Infinite fidelity no doubt, however sbad-
owy, 10 cherished. II the memory OF his SER
vices and the recognition Of his worth seem
faint In public plaees, It is because he has
always been as incapable Of Haunting them
In mems eyes as he has been incapable Of
Sinking duty or shrinking from peril.
But faint or not In seeming, they are full Of
life Ii the great popular heart and they need
no fictitious Impulse. no loud, importnnate
awakening to give them force and eloquence.
We find Il difficult on the other hand. to
comprehend the policy OF Gen. Glbson's
fliends In this contest Our readers have no
doubt observed In tho Ftcdptne and ftrtes
the most extravagant claims set up for Gen.
Gibson. Not only editorially, but through
the Washington correspondence and In the
alleged reports of current opinion and
comment Is is asserted that Gen. Gibson
~ the only person who can titly or oredttably
represent Louisiana In the Federal Senate,
that on several occasions he, and he alone,
has saved the State, that to him we are In
debted for every substantial benefit we have
received through Congress-. And then the
Washington correspondents chime In with
assurances that congressional society is
nightly exercised over the matter, and that
nothing short OF Gibson's election will avert
gloom and discomfort from the aforesaid So
ciety. The latter element is easily disposed
of In view 81 the fact that the people OF Lou
isiana are choosing Senator to suit them
selves, and without any reference to the feel
ipgs or wishes OF Washington society, con-
Rressional or otherwise. We are glad to
know that Gen. Gibson is appreciated and
admired in the city In which he has had his
domicil for the last four or five years, but II
does not seem to us that we are under any OBJ
legations to regulate our political conduct In
accordance with public opinion In Washing
ton. Az TO the other aspect OF the question,
however, IL occurs to us that Gen. Gibson's
friends are betraying rather an excess OF
zeal We absolve the gentleman himself
from all blame. Gen. Gibson is man
of fine attainments, OF culture and
taste, and undoubted good breeding.
It IL impossible that he could have
encouraged any one to advance In his
behalf such preposterous claims MS are con-
being advanced for him. There is no
doubt that he has made an efficient Congress
man that he has represented us with ability,
with credit to himself, and benefit to the
but to say that he has been
the chief factor, or even among the chief fac
tors, In the redemption Of Louisiana, is an
exaggeration which we cannot believe he
would commit himself or suggest to Others.
We fully recognize Gen. Glhson's services to
The State: we have n lively sense OF the SER
vices which he may still render; but, with all
a ~ IN a mar atota
and Il public servant, we must continue to re-
gard as untenable and excessive the claim
that he deserves at the hands OF the people
Of Louisiana MS much honor and considera-
tlon and gratitude as belongs to John Nc
Emery.
This contest Is one which can and should
be- conducted to q conclusion without asperi-
ty on either side We, therefore, wish to be
understood as saying nothing and limiting
nothing in dlsparagement OF Gen. Gibson.
As we regard his claims, they are
On totally different plane from
those 81 Gov. McEnery, aud cannot, under
my proper discussion OF the case, be brought
IN contact with them. We support John Nc
Enery as the man who, throughout the dark
nat episode OF our struggle against Radical
sm, typified and upheld the cause OF Louisi-
sna who exemplied In himself the wrongs
md expressions Of his people, and who, from
beginning to end, exhibited a courage, a calm
ness, a prudence and flrmness which entitle
him to all the praise and oil the recompense
that can possibly be given him. or his fit
ness for the Senatorship, we need not speak
That he Is at least the peer OF any one aspir-
ng to that position, In ability, In integ
rtty, or In personal repute, we take
'or granted nobody will deny. His
qualities are not hawked about In newspa-
pers, his record Is not proclaimed at the
street corners but those who know him know
how well and devotedly he will serve Louisi-
ana, and those who do not know him may learn
from his deeds. Apart from the poetic justice
Of sending him to take the seat now fraudu-
ently occupied by the man who robbed him
Of his righteous dues seven years ago, It will
be to the honor and credit and advantage or
the people to have as their representative In
the national Senate so brave and true and