St. Landry democrat., 1885-09-05
Louisiana Politics.
PUTS THE CASE CLEARLY.
ST. Bernard Eagle.

st. Bernard Eagle.
Bro. Hingle is hearty, honest fellow,
unfortunate only in his choice of adjec-
tives. The Weekly Observer, pub
lished at POinte-a- -Hache, has gained
reputation under his management,
and in many respects that reputation is
creditable to it's editor. We have
rather distinct remembrance that, be-
fore this seasons rice was planted, our
excellent exchange was complimentary,
if not laudatOry, in its reference to
Naval Officer Kernochan and the Demo
cratic Wing. Of late, however, it es-
chews mention of its parochial prOmi-
nences Gibson aud KernOchan, and
their allies) and cOquettes with the OPP
posing faction. The Observer has an
indefeasible right to avow political Opt
MONS, and to alter them as often as 1t
pleases; bnt the Observer should be
thankful instead of angry when it's we'll
wishers point out its liability to commit
gorgeous mistakes as we'll as typOgra--
phical blunders. If the Observer had
read the original text of Gov. McEnery's
i" lesson on constitutional law to the
editor of the Item," we are confident
that Mr. Hingle, whom we suppose to
possess some knowledge of equity from
his advertised acquaintance with the
law, would have modified his spOnta-
neOus enthusiasm. From the columns
of the Observer, and from conversation
with residents in its place OF publlca-
ton, we understand that PlaQuemines
parish has suffered from the detalca-
ton of its officials. Surely our. con-
temporary will not maintain that a
Governor, cOgnizant OF the facts IN
those instances, would have acted
him olf alOcn1V fn
the letter of his authority. We reject
as absurd the imputatiOn that Gov.
McEnery was personally aware OF the
rascality of Sheriff Powell, for example;
still, it was as much his duty to inquire
into the cause of his annual delinquency
to the State as it is the duty of auy
manager of a business to look after the
collection of the debts of the concern.
His only valid excuse is that careless
ness or sickness interferred with his
supervision of this particular depart
ment of public affairs. Mr.. HiDgle
knows how ignorant the masses OF the
people are Of the financial condition OF
their administration, and the State ex-
chequer is absolutely barred from in
vestigation. Witness the difficulty with
which statistics are obtained by great
daily papers given to the publication OF
facts ana plain comments. w EeSdIu
it as more important than the drawing
of gubernatorial salary, that the in
cumbent of that honorable office should
strive to do justice to those who entrust
him with their government. A word
from the Governor to the president of a
police jury must result in the impeach-
ment Of derelict official, OF a removal
of those police jurors and the, appoint
memo Of others-a power that the Cover
nor has exercised with weaker incen
tive. He is not called to exceed his
powers, but to act intelligently as the
pilot of the vessel of state. What
would be thought of the pilot who
would rather wreck his ship than follow
the spirit of his meagre instructions
instead of constituting them literally.
We refrain from assailling all the
weak points in the Observers brief.