St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1883-09-15
THE CANVAS FOR GOVERNOR.

given to several considerations which
in our opinion, are sufficient to con-
denim the present State administration,
and to cause thinking men to oppose
the candidacy of Governor McEnery.
We put aside all charges against the
Governors personal integrity, and ex-
press the belief that he has taken no
share in the speculations and abuses
which have been going on in the land
Office. 1t is enough for the people to
know that the Governor had to get HIS
information of these abuses from the
public press and that the force of public
opinion drore him to every step taken
to protect the interests of the State. Tt
is we think, a sufficient condemnation
of the executive of a State, that he does
not know what his immediate appoint
ees in the State government are doing,
and far worse, if, after he finds out
from the newspapers what is going on
around him, he should have to. be
driven by the press to take measures to
protect the interests of the State against
the maladministration Of an officer APP
pointed by himself to one OF the most
responsible offices in the State Govern
ment. Neither blindness nor obstinacy
befit a Governor. He should be quick
to discern wrong doing by any member
of the State Government, and prompt
to suppress it, especially On the part OF
those whom he has himself appointed
to Office. The constitution devolyes
upon the Governor the duty of execut-
ing the laws. If he is incapable, or un
willing to do it of his own motion, he is
not the right stamp of man to be COVER
nor of the State.
But it is not of the land office matter
that we intend to speak. That might
never have taken place, and yet our OBJ
jections to Gov. McEnery would have
been insurmountable. His administra-
ton has been despotic and atndemocratic.
Under the pretext Of party necessity it
has not only violated the Constitution,
but has actually taken away from the
people the right of local self. govern
ment. 1t is true that the Governor
could not have effected what has been
done in that direction without the coop
Grafton of the legislature, but the latter
body is not now upon trial. The Gov
ernor must answer for the exercise of
the prerogatives given him by the Con-
OF mt hn i,,fn ~
veto power to arrest vicious or uncon-
stitutional legislation, and if the objec-
tional act approved by him be of that
class which confers upon him personally
unconstitutional powers and preroga-
tives, then there is no possible excuse
for him consistent with right reason
and right purposes. His approval of
such acts makes them his own, just as
much SO as if he had lobbied them
through the house and senate. OF this
we shall have no doubt, when We con-
slider that the Governor is a candidate
to succeed himself, and that the meas
ures presently to be alluded to were in
tended to be powerful anxilliaries in
the State election. We refer to act
number "a, approved and signed July 5,
1882, authorizing the Governor to APP
point police jurors throughout the
State until the general election OF 1883,
and act number 101 relative to elections
passed and approved at the same ses-
sion. Both of these acts are inexcusa-
BILE and outrageous peryersi0ns of COM
mon right and elementary constitutions
al principles, acts which in the history
of legislation in the State of Louisiana
find no parallels except uner Warmoth
and Kellogg. We know that while
General Nichols was Governor, author
ity was given him to appoint police ju-
rors, but it was for brief period, and
att time when the rightful govern
ment was in q crisis, struggling for ex
istence and recognition. 1t was sort
Of war measure, justified perhaps, by
the State of instruction then existing,
and intended to be discontinued as soon
as the pressure was over. When these
later acts were passed however, July
1882, the Democratic party had secure
tenure of power for years to come. No /
party necessity called for such meas i
lres, and they can be explained upon j
no theory except that they are part Of {
! selfish, scheming and INSCRIPTIONS t
policy, planned by certain controlling !
spirits, who intended at all hazards to /
'ide into power again by the aid Of such {
nstrumentalities. If the Democratic s
,arty is not constitutional party, if t