Claiborne guardian. [volume] (Homer, La.) 1877-188?, 1882-03-15
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Those who favor On isdepsndeut politi-
cal movement contend that Ne vsrss ale |
ment Of the Democratic party 10 In the
ssoendaney-thst rings end c)iques, com |
posed Of once seeker, run the party, aad
that the wishes Of the masses Of the intel-
ligent constituency Of the party sre dis-
regarded and trampled under foot. sup-
pose this were trne, would On independent
movement be the wisest course to pupue
to remedy the evil complained on Would
IL not be better TO seek TO overcome this
element In the councils and conventions
Of the partyi Let the apti-ring element
come boldly to the front and take control
Of the machinery Of the party, and IL any
boiling Is " be done, let the ripg-wing Of
the party do 1t. Why should the best ele-
meut Of tho party abandon the old ship
tor . new onei There 10 prostsge and
power In the old which would be wanting
in the new. The best should not be snr-
rendered to . crew which are seeking only
place, power and pluuder. The element
Of the party which Ia In favor Of wise,
economical and just government can, and
should, muster strength enough to control
the party conventions aud bring forward
for place and position mon 10 wbose integ
rity and character the masses have un-
bounded confidence. There are men in
the party whose ability and Integrity are
beyond question, and who II placed In po-
sition would give Us State government
that would rut IN end to the possibility
Of any successful independent movement.
We fear the howl about bourbonism, and
the cry for liberal movement, 10 only the
growl 81 those who have failed to secure
. share In the spoils Of Office aud hope TO
do 80 by an independent movement. The
people will not 10 thus deceived. Politi-
clans 20 from one extreme to smother.
A few years since those Democrats now
clamorinR against bourbOnism werc ex-
trsms bouiSsus. Why this sudden ebsngei
We are proud 70 note the fact that our
United States Senator, Hon. B. =. Jonas,
had the courage and manhood to refuse 10
vote for the bill retiring Gen. Grant and
appropristing ten thousand dollsrs sunu-
ally to him for the remainder Of his natural
life. Mr.. Jonas also had the courage to
fcarlessly state the reasons which govern
Cd him In casting bis vote. We regret that
any Democrat saw proper to vote for this
bill. The reasons given by the Southern
Senators who voted for this bill are un-
tenable, fallacious and indicate very clear
" that some Of our dignifed Senators had
not the courage Of their convictions.
They say it becomes them to be mAgnani
nous. MHgnsni mous with the public mon
ey! That money does not belong to the
members Of Congress. They have no right
to give it away. They have sworn to ap-
propriate Il to certain specified purpose.
only. To pay II for the qualification Of
sentiment or admiratioa, 10 little better
than to appropriate II dishouessay. The fact
10 that those Senators who voted for this
bill had not the moral and political cour-
age to csst their votes - their Judgment
and sense Of right dictated, but were gov
erned by false ideas Of expediency. We
have had quite euough already If this ex-
pediency business, and II IL time our pnb-
lie men were governed in their ofi,iAl ca
pacities not by expedicncy, but by princi-
pie. We are glad that Louisiana had one
Senator who was ~ governed.
----~--
We arc not Of those who favor the call
ing Of . new Constitutional Convention.
The present Constitution 10 not free Of
faults nothing human 10; but it contains
some excellent provisions which might be
lost II another convention were called.
The defects Of the Constitution Of 1879
can be remedied by amendments 1t q
much lees expense TO the people Of the
State than the calling Of . convention
would necessarily involve. Tho conven-
ton Of 1879 was composed of the best men
the people could send TO frame an organic
law, and what assurance have the people
that IL another convention were called .
better Constitution than the present one
would he framcdi The chronic grumblers
hurl broad aud sweeping denunciatious
upon he convention Of 1879, but in no in
stance do they condesceud to point out the
terrible and fatal defects of our organic
law. Such abuse eau have no weight with
the thonghtful or Intelligent citizen.
There are people who never can or shonld
be satisfied. They are born agitators and
are always ready to attack everything in
general terms, but always fail to give any
we'll defped reasops for THAR di.aati Fl .