The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1883-11-14

THE LAST STAB AT THE GOV
ERN0R,

The most ungenerous, unjust and
cruel stab we have ever seen made at
the reputation of an honorable citizen
has just been made against Governor
McEnery by persons interested in his
defeat for the nomination before the
approaching Democratic State Conven-
ton.
1t has been evident to our mind,
from the first, that the main object of
the Governors enemies was to keep his
friends continually on the defensive.
We have never believed they had the
remotest idea that they could defeat
his nomination by legitimate means,
and, as last resort, they determined
to follow one charge with another of a
plausible character in order to poison
the public mind and to force his friends
to notice these charges and combat
them.
There is exactly where we think the
administration Democrats have erred
They should never have condescended
to place themselves on a level with the
dirt throwers who hoped to ride into
political power by smirching the fair
name and character of innocent citizens
who had been honored with responsible
public trusts by the Democratic votes
of Louisiana.
We believe the mud-slingers, from
the highest to the lowest, should have
been treated with silent contempt, and
that the candidacy of Governor McEn-
cry should have been alone presented
upon the highest plane of party dignity.
His detractors should have been treat
ed as so many swapping, snarling and
growing wolves, whose only object
was the prey Of office.
They have been shown too much
courteous attention, and their utteran-
ces have been given entirely too much
prominence and weight-far more than
they deserved.
We recognize the right of every
American citizen to have and to exer.
else his legitimate ambition, and we rec.
ognize the right Of every Democrat tc
have and to exercise lis preference 70,
the party standard bearer in any and all
contents for public Office, but we en-
phat cally deny the right of any man
to attempt to advance his own political
fortunes at the expense of the good
name and private character of another
We believe Gen. Ogden would
spurn with contempt a nomination that
had been obtained for him by his sup.
porters through such unworthy means,
and it is to be hoped, ere it goes too
far, that he will call halt OF
the contemplate manner in which
some of his supporters are. waging a
merciless war of vituperation, misrep.
resentation and outrageous fabrications
against his peer and competitor, Hon
S. D. McEnery.
For our part we do not pretend tc
offer any defense of Gov. McEnery
against the recent charge brought
against him by correspondent Over
the nom ne plume of Apol yon, because
we do not consider any defence neces
sary. In 1877 when the Congressional
Commute were in New Orleans hold
ing an inquest On the Packard corpse
one of the members of that body ask
ed Chief Justice Manning what arg1
ment he desired to present to sustain
the establishment ofthe Supreme Cour
over which he presided. Man
ming replied that the conrt over which
he presided was an established fac
and would not admit of any discussion
as to its establishment
That is exactly our view of Gov
McEnery's administration. Its repre-
sentation for integrity, for its man.
public benefits and private virtues ant
Straightforward Democracy is so vel
established it does not admit of an,
discussion.
| In conclusion it will suffice to sa,
that in all Of their wild charges tn
enemies of Governor McEnery la
failed to fasten single act upon hin
that can be reasonably condemned
II Sugar Planter.
-"D1D your husband consider da
he was gwine ter die? inquired al
Austin colored parson of recently be
reaved widow of the same complexion
"Did he consider dat he was gwine tie
die9 Wal / should say he did. II
was the most considerate husband | eb
Der had. De night he passed away
was done worn ont. / had been 81,