The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1884-11-01
An oMfNoUs DTsAyOWAL

HOur respected contemporary tne
Dity ITEM sometime ago, addressed '
1 note ID his Excellency the Gov d
eFnbr Of Louisiana, indniripg as to $
lie AconFsc fhe latter intended. to
pursue in reference to an appeal |
made by the National Republican
Committee to The Governors of. tue
several Southern States to take
such steps as. within their power, to |
secure fair election, s'secnrIig 70
naII voters the representation and
"protection to which they are en- Z
ntitIed, and making theoresult one
IIssnch as good ipenih ll'parties will
|4.accept, as having been honestly
Ifeachednia AS one. ofthe means OF
securing this desirable end it was
Suggested the Governors should see /.
to it that intlle appointments cleo +
ton commissioners and other OIL +.
GERS having the direction OF the
election at each poll, there should
be at least one representative ofthe
Republican party.
+ The reason of this inquiry on part
! Of the Item arose from the fact that
whereas publicity had been given to
the reply Of severalot the Governors
4 none had been published from Gov
error McBneiy. aiN ah " Y
II Tie answer o. our Executive to
4 the Item exhibits not only another
Instance OF utter disregard of even
1.-THE prophecies Of official life, but also
an evident unwilingn IS that there
should be a fair election.
i After acknowledging receipt OF
( the letter written OH behalf of the
Republican National Committee re-
+ questinga fairelection, the Governor
SAYS lie did not answer it. What
not \ only was considered by Gov
|, eriors Of other States a. worthy OF
consideration and respectful reply;
what from bthe nature Of the in,
quifydeserved at least an acknowl-
Y edgem emit aof its receipt was not
s 4 even Noticed. This hack of an or
dinarX routine propriety was bad
d enough, and tea courteous constlt
e peiIcy Sufficiently humiliating, but
,al the, reasons fer which, given in the
!, answer totlie ITEM, is Of more serious
' Aonent, as It clearly evlnces there
:, is danger, so far as depending upon
y the highest lexecntiSe I fficer OF thu
e. State, ,tlat the diSgraceGNl pastis t.
bel repeated at the approaching
i. liggNe UnW A1hunH iNa feoia e
Z, eleGtlpn.fi mn. eo m4
b Essays Governor McEncry; "Idit
.o "not reply to his letter guarantee
Is "ing 4 fairleIeetion, BECAUSE to do 81
~ s'would be tOMdmit that Ihave cop
Y Sttol over the election in this Stat
switch disavOw.p ua9
a No control over the election, when
h: not only as Governor he is constitu
ID tionally bound to stake care that th
~ laws be faithfully executed,p bu
" under the election law, as helm par
"a acknowledges, he directly, or ind
on reetly,a can exercise entire contrC
of Oserp the whole state machinery q
re elections. ~ s.
rs EWho constitutes the election off
Il cials whereof Governor McEnery i
I'll asked to secure n Republican repre-
io sentations A returning officer fl
al, eachparish and three commissioner
Z, for each poll. Who appoints them
N The returning officer is appointe
at by the Governor, and the commi
Dr. sioners ad by the police jurie
ic Over the returning officer the Co
ernor, admittedly, has power of bot
- superintendent and removal. Unde
Of this power-to say nothing Of of
;ot cial iffaence--can any onedoubt 1
OF could, were lie DESTROYS. secure IL
=, appointment of Republican as o.
vs. ofdithe three commissioners, to |
=, appointed at each election pol
Use Aud this il all asked of him by ii
~ Republican National Committee.
it. The, latter partof his letter to tt
Ter Item, further unmasks the zeal i
nj tention of the Governor as to Il
sra approaching election. He says:
shave made nc. appointments sp
les "cially for this election, the office
The "heretcfore appointed continuing
49,. st4LE Al. al