St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1884-05-31
General Disintegration.
Baton Rouge Truth. May o.

BdLOn Rouge 1FuGn, May 20.
The public will not fail to observe the
significance of the admission made in
Saturdays issue of the Capitolian-Ad-
vocate, whose editor has probably the
best means of ascertaining the views of
the Governor, and the best right to
speak them authOritatively. "FOr he is
blind, arhO does not see that the body-pO-
tic IN our State IS on the eUe of diSYuD-
tion," says the CA: No completer vim
dicatiOn of our CRITICISMS on the Admin
istrative policy could be furnished than
this; and the most bitter and obstinate
partisan must now be convinced that
/ the Truth has been governed, not by a
mere blind resentment, but by a just
perception OF the dangers to which the
State is rapidly drifting.
| But we do not use the admission in a
mere spirit liberalization at the justiti-
cation of our charges; we refer to it for
| the purpose of adopting it as the basis
of debate concerning the practical
measures to be adopted. We do not
see how the abatement of criticism, as
suggested by the CA, can have a sal
utary tendency for the correction Of the
abuses complained of. Unless we have
clear diagnosis of the disease, there
can certainly be no clear perception of
the just remedy to be applied. In fact,
government rock bound in public con-
fidence will gain from the most severe
examination OF its policy, and nothing
could be more injurious to a fair ad-
ministratiOn than d disposition to eyade
and suppress the most exhaustive ex-
animation OF its purposes and princi-
pies.
1t is in this spirit merely that we
Svrr1fH IlkA tn Jnln nUF pouf rapSA in n
amicable discussion as to the causes OF
the prevalent discomfort and of the de-
DlOrable tendencies in our public affairs.
On this point we think that public Opin-
ion has correctly sounded the difficulty
and suggested the proper remedy. The
government of a State by one party
composed Of one race is in the nature of
things most arduOus task, and. we do
not know that a Governor ADLER and
wiser than Governor McEnery could
administer it without getting on the
rocks. But defects, peculiar to the sys-
tenn adopted by our Governor, have be-
come especially manifest within the last
few months, in carrying out the practi-
cal operations of the election law. A
personal party has thus been formed to
a "my policy" Andrew johnson plan of
administration. They are gradually,
but clearly separating from the great
body of the people; and as a natural
they are growing more I'M
popular every day.
This personal party has thus the most
influential motives for supporting each
other as against the great mass of the |
people. We do not refer to this fact with |
that vulgar defamation against ''ringsn |
which we hear SO much about. Our OBJ |
ject is to make severe and unimpaSsiOn-
ed analysis of the situation to show its |
defects and to point out its dangers.
The greatest damage is the absolute |
up of the Democratic party.
The people feel that a great strain has
been put on their federation of abuses,
to which they have consented in order
iuries and scandals. But the DISPOSE
ton now widely prevalent is to make
any coalition or adopt any policy that
may tend to a change. Especially is
,his feeling intensified by the evident
policy to suppress investigation, which
t properly directed, would bring to
light many scandals, of which we are
hearing the reports in gener-
Il terms.
Another danger is one that is only
about now, that isrepudiation
# the State debt. People sometimes
,ring on themselves dire calamity by
obstinate persistence in the belief that
10 danger threatens. No one can have
more vivid apprehension than the
Truth of the dire results of such a Ca
amity. But we see it coming in the
storm of Indignation against
he administration. The danger can be
Verted by an open manly course but
ibDes are being prepared for this wild
nd revolutionary expedient.
We shall certainly try to help the
Governor in fighting off these dangers,
ather than embarrass him by mere
aptious opposition, We DO not believe
hat his errors are absolutely iFremedia-
lie; but they require prompt remedy !; :
nd hesitation and delays are leading
. dangerous complications.