St. Landry democrat., 1883-09-08
WHY We Will Not support Me-
Emery for the Nomination.

would make us loath to admit 1t.
We will not seek the political elexa-
tion of any man by the personal abuse
or. degradation of another. Such, al
course would, in our opinion,t be far be-
meath the standard ,ef respectable
journalism.
IL we cannot win in a contest whore
principle is the issue; and fairsplay the
watchwosd, we viii accept defeat, and
keep our self-respeet.
In the Erst place, we do not believe
that Gov. McEnery's nomination would
secure that harmony in. party, and cou-
fidence from the people, whicha is 50. es-
sential to good government. II
There is-a widespread belief. nay J, al
most conviction, .thathe. is the candi-
date of the politicians, who have COM
bined together in the interest @of the
~moneyed corporations, and .mORepolies,
and that the interests of the 4masses
swill be disuegarded.
As an evidence ofthis fact. the very
ainen who are more deeply interested in
the perpetuity Of se~eral.monoposies. in
the State, such as the infamous Isottery'
Company. Fiscal Agent Bank, !Peni-
Tertiary lease, etc, are loudest in their
praises of hiHa, and most Jzealoasfto Sc
cure his nomination. Tits hardly con-
asistant with common sense to, suppose
that they are working against tlejf own
interest. Urea
This was not always the ease with
him. There was time when RS. ID.
McEnery was regarded as a champion
of the people, and a foe to rings and
monopolies. This was the record sEpon
which he was elected as Lieutenant
Governor.
As soon as he. became Governor, land
placed, in a position where she might
practice what he had preached, his EN-
nifty to the lottery and other monqpo-
lies ceased entirely, or assumed -sthe
mildest type.
These rings and mon opsolies are sthe
outgIoWth of the Radical Government
which cursed our people, for SO many
years. The. Democratic party pledged
itself to reform, and to the work sef
stamping out these iniqui tics. We .are
sorry to say that it has met redeemed
these pledges.
The present Administra fSon is anore
directly responsible for this: failure than
any other. Gov. McEnery, MS its head,
and fully identified with it, cannot est
cape the condemnation of people who
have seen their interests S. aeriiced to
those of rich and powerful individuals
or corporations, in almost every contest
which has been made between them.
Again, there have been S oEe ugly
charges made against the pre- sent AID 1
ministration in connection wit. the in Il
famous act SO and the McEn,My land
grab.
These charges have not beeIl salts
factorily refuted. On the contrary,
the Attorney General Of the. Stat Z, in a
recent authoritative opinion. has said
in reference to the land contract, hat it
was in violation of the law under which
it was executed, while even the most
reckless friend of the act SO is Silent on
the subject.
We do not wish to be understood as
intimating that Governor McEnefy " as
personally implicated in either. we q o
not believe he was.
But the stubborn fact remains, that |
their originators and beneficiaries were
and are still his warm friends and sup
porters.
While he may not have been implica-
ted himself, it was his solemn duty AN
der the constitution to see that the Laws
were faithfully executed. He should
not have been content to keep the law
himself, but he should have seen that
others with whom he was closely con-
nected also kept it.
IT for no other reason, we think tile
want of confidence from the people is
nation. The Democratic party cannot
afford to go into the vindicati0n bust
ness just now.
No, the party cannot afford to blum
der now. and drive from its support
the masses, or weaken their confidence.
A temporary success would not COM
pensate for such a loss.
1t Gov. McEnery has been wronged,
let time and and the sober second
thought do him Justice as it has done in
the case OF Gov. Nichols.
Let us nominate one who like Fran
els i. Nichols. would be popular with
the people, and at the same time pos
sess the strength of purpose, and iron
will. sufficient to purify the party, and
around whose standard the old guard.
Enf rnc <1tD o., 4 cr<Sp i