The Lake Charles echo. [volume] (Lake Charles, Parish of Calcasieu, La.) 1876-1898, 1880-06-12

q II
i Morning Star and Catholic Messenger.l
The South has but one interest. in
the Chicago Convention, which is that
Grant be beaten. There arc other re.
publican leaders, notably Conkling,
q who hate the South more than Grant
{ does; in fact we are under the impress
! sion that Grant does not hate the South
at all. There are, also, other repnb-
licaH leaders who are as utterly unscrup-
ulous and selfish as Grant, notably
! Sherman. But there is not another
, who can trifle with the Constitution
with the impunity that is permitted,
we may say appropriated, to Grant.
The man who led the Union armies
through the latter and successful por-
tion of the great struggle has been viz
tually conceded the position of Dicta-
tor ever since. People at the North
have been unable to separate him from
the supreme power which he welded
at one time, and with which they be-
came so accustomed to identify him.
For the republicans, at least, he is still
the General-in-chief, still the despotic
autocrat of nation under martial law.
If Grant had been dead, Hayeswould
never have been President. Although
the third term principle had rendered
it expedient for cyen the idolized leader
to give way for the time, yet the spirit
of contempt for law and indifference
to the Constitution found refuge
under his flag. Wherever Grant was,
whatever he did, it appeared to an un-
reasoning majority that it was still the
flag of the anation" that covered him
and his doings.
But in all this broad land there is no
other recognized individual proprietor
of that flag than be. Grant may carry /
it wherever he pleases, but no other
man can, not even for the republicans.
Every other must be content with leav
ing the American flag just where the
has placed it, instead of
shifting it about as part of his per-
sonal baggage Blaine can make fiery
speeches about the bloody shirt, yet
that tattered garment does not belong
to him. But, as to Grant, it is actually L
a part of his wardrobe.
If Grant then should be elected again,
it would be direful event for the
South, especially the debatable States,
like Louisiana, not because he has more
inclination than others to Cypress and
Ininre our section but because he and
he alone has the power. The Consti-
milton protects ms; Grant, and no one
Else, IL practically Independent Of the
lie cares not an atom
for that document, nor, indeed, appa- Il
emily for any other that docs not en- i
mate from military headquarters. If
t suited him, at the solicitation of his
,arty or the instigatioB of some vcnal
iatterer, he would not hesitate to clear. !
mt our Legislature with the bayonet
md install Kellogg q Co. again. No Z
me else would dream of attempting |
his; Grant could do it with security, 4
md would, if he chose. =
Ihe South IS now commencing toj !,
e-establish its material prosperity and /
eorganize its labor system, Something /
Ike a feeling Of security is beginning :
0 develop itself, and in proportion /
herewith sentiment of Federal Union Ee
) gaining ground. Shall everything 3
e thrown back into chsps? Shall AMI
Their impetus be given 10 that great
acknowledged var where the arms
re all on one side, which has lasted 2
yer since Lee surrendered, and which I I
e have been considering as Yirtaa.!.,T ! :
yer? y
We can well afford to have our de- p
'ocratic nominee for President beaten p
Chicago will only give Us any other 81
anne than Grant. m