The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1883-11-24
LETTERS FROM GOOsEQUILL

LETTERS FROM GOOSEQUILI.
Our Correspondent a Prisoner-The Com
mittee of One Hundred Undismayed by
their First Dcfeat-Tears For Beaten Ben
The Straw Bond niqu'ty-The Fine
Arts Exhibition, Etc.
PHILADELPHIA, Nov. II. 1883.
| EDITOR CHIEF:
Since writing to you have tried two diff
ferent roles in this life's drama. That Of q
tramp and that of a prisoner. / consulted
DR.. Vim. johnson, the great ocullst of
Philadelphia, and was ordered to turn idler.
Well, 1 did. I roamed about the streets,
looked into shop windows until I knew
them by heart, watched out sor pretty girls,
went into art galleries, schools, colleges,
every place of amusement where there was
no gas-in fine, did everything possible to
slay time, until I was wearied with the
world, with people and particularly with
myself. I drew the conclusion that the
seeker of pleasure, just for the pleasure, has
a very difficult pat to perform; that the
only real pleasant thing to do, the only
thing renumerative in the highest sense, is
work; some SORT of regular, systematic en-
ploymenf. In the midst of regrets at being
denied the privilege of pen and books, a
more serious inalady took possession of me
and banished me from the promenade, the
drive and the delicious air and sunlight
into close confinement. In fact, it was
really solitary confinement, for as the NAL
aday was thought to be communicable,
friends were forced to absent themselves
and leave me to battle alone for the re-
covery of health. Then the text came to
mind, "The last state of that man shall be
worse than the fist" l thought, too, of
the poor sweet birds; how sweet, liberty
seems, when they find themselves hemmed
in on every side by the immovable wires.
And just here, methought, the moralist
no matter what is allotted to you. If ii is
bad, be thankful it is no worse.
| Well, the bosses prevailed at the election
in this city after all and E. Harper Jeffreys,
| the doubtful, got the Comptrolership over
S. Davis Page, the we'll tried officer. Many
were surprised at the course things took.
| The Committee of One Hundred, composed
Of Republicans, announced their intention
| in the beginning to work against Jefreys.
Not objecting to him personally, but to the
fact that he was III ring, and that he would
| be the tool of his leaders, Rowen in parti-
cular. The members of the committee de-
clare themselves strictly unparrisan and
| will support any man who is capable, and
outside of rings, no matter what his poll
tics. They therefore let the rest of tho
ticket alone-the other Offices were not so
important and the men were not under
| whip and spur of bosses. The committee
had plenty of money and worked hard.
Turned $4,000 votes, but after all we've de-
feated by one thousand. a report got out
to the effect that the committee, in despair,
would break up. Not a bit of it. There
has been a meeting Of the whole as well as
of the Executive Board. There was gen
,l,ar Of
speeches were made and the unanimous
voice was for a continuation of their Gu
deavors to introduce reform into our focal
politics. SO far from feeling discouraged,
the members are satisfied with the work
they have accomplished during the few
years of their organization. There arc
numbers now in the penitentiary sent there
jor Phipps would still be practicing fraud
in the eAlmshouse. Through them the Re
corders act has been repealed; tax office
thieves have been punished, and they have
until now kept out of power a miserable,
unprincipled set Of ring politicians. They
are not quite decided to give it up so this
time either. They believe Mr.. Page was
elected by 5000 majority and think they hold
abundant proof that fraud of various kinds
was practiced by the Republicans to justify
them in contesting Mr.. Jeffreys election.
So, within two weeks we may see some
lively times over the investigation of an
election that seemed to pass as quietly as
the gentlest zephyr.
Poor Butler! He finds himself indefinite
ly postponed. No walk-over next year to
the Presidency. For that much | rejoice.
Apart from that my sympathies a1e with
the poor man, ogre tho he may be. The
pulpit and the people are against him, at
least those whom the newspapers are pleased
to call the decent people of Massachusetts;
but he has madea good Governor and would
again, no doubt. AS for the Presidency,
there are few men, in this our day, fitted
fo- that position. There be plenty suffi-
the art of government, but very few strong
enough in all the characteristics that go to
make up perfect man. The White House
is, as it wore, the topmost peak of the
United States. No man should go into it
unless he can go with clean hands and a
pure mind and heart. He should send party
to the four winds SO that from that peak he
domain, feeling himself ruler over all, not
a part; feelirg an anxiety for the welfare OF
all. not part; saying unto himself, 1t is
all one-all rights are to be respected-jus-
tice must be the award of each and every
portion. Prejudice, hatred and indifference
must give place to equitable, fair rulings"
Would Butler be that man? Granting he
would reach the ideal as near as any, could
he be elected? Could the South ever be in
fiuenced to vote for him; to forgive and
forget what she remembers as bitter, bit
ter past? No. No! Butler must turn his
attention elsewhere. He will never be
President.
Judge Ludlow did good thing the other
day when he passed sentence on man who
pleaded guilty to the charge of perjury in
entering bogus bail in an appeal case to the
or,rf I0r1h 20
man s first sin in that direction. He said
it was, and brought reliable testimony to
prove that his reputation had been good.
He said he had done this thing under the
influence of liquor and was over persuaded
by man whom he did not know. The
Judge had good deal to say On the subject
-dwelt long on the seriousness of the orime
and on the fact that it was a crime often
practiced by men who were looked upon as
of the highest respectability and held posi-
tions of trust. He was moved to compass
sion in the case and while the law.warrantcd
him in giving seven years he made the SEN
tence only two years. The Judge spoke
truly when he said straw bail was often
given. There are men to be found ut every
turn, who would swear they were worth 80
much money, or real estate, when perhaps
they were at that very moment perfectly in
solvent: and plenty, too, who will sign their
names to any thing if somebody, perhaps a
tricky lawyer, tells them It is only a mere
form, you know; it is not intended to de-
fraud anybody; it will only give a little time
and will not at all impede the course of the
law" Another case was where an appeal
was taken to the United States Supreme
Court. A bond had to be signed by parties
good for the whole amount involved-about
S20,COO. One of the bondsmen was per-
fectly insolvent-owed for his stock in
trade. The second was almost as bad
living on a small salary-and the third could
never have realized half the amount on all
he possessed. One of them acknowledged
that he stoned his name as q mere form