St. Landry democrat., 1883-10-27
noes G0v.mcENERY BELONG TO
A FACTION
New Orleans, Oct. 20. 1888.


The Observation-Disclosures, speaking of the
manner in which COY. McEnery has dispensed
the patronage of his Office, attempts TO
show that he has i'll every case consulted the
will OF the Democratic party, without regard
10 the interests OF his friends or the interest OF
factions.
IT says. the charge that Gov. McEnery has
thrown himself in the arms OF Il faction, Is not
sustained by a single TACT and THAI his ''patro-
mage has been bestowed i'll utter DISREGARD OF
factiunal lines In every case
the general sense OF the Democrats party has
been consulted, and never was there an All
ministration i'll Louisiana where there has been
so little criticism OF executive appointments.
Where the sense of the party was evenly d.
yided, he has even gone so far as TO submit
the appointment ton primary eiectlon, SO great
has been his desire to dispense his patronage
without regard TO previous affiliations OF ap-
plicants for position.
We lappen to know that the above is not the
case. as lar as this parish is concerned, and
we submit the following statement OF facts to
prove 1t.
Some time in the latter part of June, 1882. the
citizens of this city We're startled by the an
nOunccnent that our city government had been
removed by Gov. AicEnery, and Il new one APP
pointed in its place, and that the commissions
of the new officials had arrived.
At first the statement seemed incredible.
The then City Council was composed of pro1ni-
nent citizens we'll us true Democrats. They
had been unanimously nominated by q Demo-
cratic convention, and unanimously elected
against them. On the contrary, it was uni
versally admitted that it was by far the most
able, satisfactory and successful government
the city ever had. telegram was immediate
ly sent to M. j. Cunningham, from this dis
trict who was then in Baton Rouge attend
ing session of the Legislature, asking il the
report was true He called on the Governor
and ascertained that 1t was, and that the Off
Gals had been appointed at the request of a po-
litical friend of the Governor backed up by n
petition, which purported to come from the
s.citizens OF Natchitoches and taxpayers"
This petition contained no charges against
the then incumbents. 1t simply alleged that
the constitution of this State, adopted in 1879.
| rendered vacant tho offices OF Mayor and City
Councilman OF the city OF Natchitoches, and
that said offices were then filled by officers
elected in 1875 and holding over in default of an
election which should have been held on the I'd
of December. 1879, and upon this state of facts
the signers OF the petition asked the removal OF
officers elected by the Democratic party, whose
competency, honesty and fidelity lad never
been questioned. At the time there were about
300 hundred voters in the city, and the corpoI-
alton tax amounted to s43a9
The petition was signed by only thirty-fve
persons. who altogether paid a corporation tax
amounting to only SIS "A.
AS to the political standing Of the signers, we
| will state that fourteen were known and pro
! nounced Republicans, eight of whom were ne
groes, including Shedrick Brown, one OF the
worse negro Radicals that ever lived. There
were four Greenbackers and one independent
making a total of nineteen anti-DemocratS.
Thus is presented the anomalous spectacle OF
n Democratic Governor removing Democratic
officers at the request OF asmall number OF men
a majority of whom were enemies of the Dem
oeratic party
Wedonot cite these facts in a spirit of un
| friendlness to the parties who signed the peti
| ton, bnt to show that not only was the will
lof the Democratic party ignored but
also that Of the citizens, who. being owners Of
| property, are entitled TO some consideration in
matters SO important us the election of mum
| cipal officers.
And then the whole thing was q gross viola
| ton of law, which would have been inexcusable
on the part of any one, much less d man of GOV
McEnery's legal knowledge.
Granting for the sake OF argument, that the
offices were rendered vacant by failure to hold
an election Mt the propertime, the city charter
fully provides for such cases, which is by cleo
| ton.
| The indignation Of orr citizens was manifest
| ed by an earnest protest to tile Senate against
| the action of the Governor. 1t was signed by
! fOur-ffths of the representative men OF the
city. and sent with the hope that the Senate
| would refuse to confirm the appointments.
The Governor, however, held that confirma
ton by that body was unnecessary, and the
| only mode left by which the people could re
sist this outrage upon their liberties was a con
test in the courts.
Sustained in their position by the almost
united sentiment OF the people, as well as the
letter and spirit Of the ne, law they were never
In fact, so great was the outrage, that foul
out Of the seven gentlemen who We're appointed
absolutely refused to accept the appointments
hands Of q small faction, who were the pofitica
friends and supporters of the Governor, the
control of our city affairs, failed on account o
its own wickedness.
We are aware that the above charges arr
grave, and unless we were able to prove, WI
would not make them.
Three candidates for district attorney for the