The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1886-05-26
The State Administration Opposed to
Mr.. Blanchard.

Mr.. Blanchard's course in Congress ha
not met the appreciation of the State ad
ministration, and the powers that be hav,
determined upon his defeat. 1t is salt
that every means will be resorted to to Sc
I cure his defeat, and send some one thai
suits the administration better, to Con
gress from this District, this fall. Per
haps it has not occurred to the authorities
at Baton Rouge, that the people of the
Fourth Congressional District sent Mr.
! Blanchard to Congress, and that lie is res
ponsible to them for the manner in which
he has discharged his duties as their re-
preventative. Now, if the people of this
District desire to replace Mr.. Blanchard,
by some one whom they believe to be a
better man, they have a perfect right to
do so, and if they are certain they can get
better man, it is their duty to do so i;
but the point we wish to emphasize is
this, that the people of the Fourth Con-
gressional District arc fully competent to
select their own representative in Con-
gress, without any suggestions or advice
from New Orleans or Baton Rouge-and
what is more. they propose to do it
Nearly six years ago Mr.. Blanchard was
nominated after a spirited contest. over
some Of the best men III the District. The
only objection urged against him then,
and one which caused even his warmest
friends some misgivings, was that he was
too young and inexperienced. He never
theless went to Congress, and at the end
of two years, although there were several
men in the District who wanted his place,
and wanted it badly, the people wanted
Mr.. Blanchard, and his was the only name
before the nominating Convention. He
remained in Congress two years longer,
and in 1884 he received for the second
time the unanimous nomination from the
Democrats of this District. Since that
time the people have heard of no charge
against him; on the contrary by energetic
and intelligent performance of his duties,
and careful attention to the interests of
his people, he has deserved and won re-
ncwed praise from them, and unless some
stronger reasons for his retirement are pre-
sented than that some one else wants the
place, and that Mr.. Blanchard does not
suit the State administration, they will
send him back. The Democrats of the
Fourth Congressional District are going
to manage this affair, and the politicians
and wire-workers might just as we'll I'M
derstand it now as later Natchitoches
DemOcratlc REVIEW.
The above article is too good to pass I'M
noticed, and we have thought proper to
it in it's entirety for the editica-
ton of our readers and of the members of
the Legislature now in session at one of
the very places where our Natchitoches
contemporary alleges that deep laid plot
is being Matched to dispossess Mr.. BIan-
chard of "his place." The expression is re-
ireshing indeed in the face Of the old De-
mocratic theory that public place was
open to free competition, and that the
man who could unite the most votes was
entitled to hold it until the majority saw
fit to give it to somebody else. In other
words, that public places belonged to the
to individuals. But it seems
that since the new evangel of Civil Ser
vice Reform has come in vogue, the public
places have decided to it's disciples in fee
simple. None other need apply. There
can be no disputants of the new theory,
save the supporters of the State Admins,
tration-''the ring" Hence, the alarm
has hecn sounded by the Reri,G, to head
off any aspirant to the Congressional seat
of the Fourth District-Mr. Blanchard's
seat, that is. Stamped in advance as a
henchman OF the State Administration,
bold will be the candidate who will enter
the lists where Mr.. Blanchard's friends
will have massed the cohorts of the oppo-
nents of Gov. McEnery in the last cam
paign for the gubernat0rial nomination
Is not this bugle blast Il warning that
the war Of factions is again to be revived,
md that Mr.. Bsanchard's nomination is to |
De proclaimed as triumph of the oppo-
lents of the State Administration We !
submit that there are many Democrats in !
,he Fourth District who opposed Gov. Nc
tncry's nomination, as well rs Democrats !
Who favored it, who are positively aycrsc
% the perpetuation of the allignments of
ss4 in the Democratic party; and that
hose Democrats who regard the unity of
heir party as a paramount consideration
viii not be led into movement, that |
While it may enure to the advantage of /
Or. Blanchard, will pave the way to the |
reatiOn of a political bedlam in the DEM
cratic household in 1888. Happily the
representatives of every Parish in the
'ourth Congressional District are here,
nd they are in good position to ferret ont
he piottcrs against the whites" and Mr..
blanchard, whom the Reric,c has located
t Baton Rouge. Will not our esteemed
contemporary give them the cue and whis-
cr in their ear, the names of the conspir-
tors and where they hold their secret
onclaves, to lay the plans designed to dcs-
oil Mr.. Blanchard Of ''his place. [Capi-
Our article in the last issue of the Review
n the above subject, has created some
that OF stir among the adherents of the
tate administration; who would no doubt
Ike to see him beaten in the coming Con-
resslonal contest. We expected such
'onld be the case. Our esteemed contem-
orary OF the Capit0lian- 4drocate takes lis
0 task after its usual vigorous but entire
good natured style. In speaking of the
ontests in the three last campaigns, the
wo last of which resulted in the unani-
IONS nomination Of Mr.. Blanchard, we
lid that although there were several
zen in the District who wanted his place."
nat the people wanted him, etc. The
observation-disclosures picks out the two
'or1s CHS place." in our article, places
hem in italics, and then by inference !
'eks to imputc to us the theory that for
'me reason or another, the position of
representative from this District belongs
right to Mr.. Blanchard, that it is "his
lace" 1t says: "rhe expression is re- .
'eshing indeed" etc. ,
Our confrere of the CapitoHan- 4drocate,
18th his usual fairness in such matters ;
nd we say this in all sincerity-before ,
on our article, published it
full, otherwise we would feel called up
to disown in the most emphatic man ,
er, the above ln0nstrous doctrine which
c seeks to place at our door; this hob i
oblin which his own always fervid, and :
'metimes, tevercd fancy, has con jured ,
p. Our article expressly stated that if
10 people of this District desired to re-