The Louisiana Democrat., 1891-05-20
(" FIRING THE SOUTHERN
HEART"

campaign. Ihls IS the rlght OF tue
citizen to vote just as he pleases at the
primaries or the election, without be-
ing subjected to villification and to
threats of the shot gun.
Of late years this abuse has grown
from bad to worse, and, during the
last campaign, it seemed as if Asia
Minor had turned loose all its bowling
dervishes upon Louisiana. Villifica-
ton knew no bounds, and bad blood
was engengered to such degree that
rioting was barely ayerted. All this
was done ostensibly to give the peo-
pie a reform government. Now, after
it has been thoroughly tested, the
name is legion of the good people
who, knowingly, couldn't be worked
up to the pitch of making such anoth-
er fight as they made four years ago,
to proloug the lease of power of quite
number of present incumbents. AS
the reform card cannot be successfully
played twice in succession, some other
slogan had to he raised by the reform
chieftains " ho reaped the fruits of the
last fiery campaign. The lottery
question, about which they had abso-
lutely nothing to say when the Legis-
lature that was to pass upon it was
being chosen, offered the only theme
with which an excitement could again
he raised for the next campaign. How
it has been utilized thus far to "fre
the Southern heart" is we'll known to
our readers. Had the reform leaders
been successful in their. desperate ef-
forts to keep this question from going
to the people for final solution, they
could then have urged upon the pco-
pie opposed to the re-chartering, the
necessity of "a rally upon that issue to
prevent the election of a Legislature
favorable to constitutional conven-
ton or to the repassage of the lottery
amendment, and of Governor 10 ac-
cord with such Legislature. = Now,
q moments reflection will disclose
clearly the fact that since the lottery
question goes directly to the people
for final action at the polls, there is
nc good reason why,,sthis question
should influence the nomination or
election of the next State, parochial
or municipal officers.
Properly viewed in that connection,
the lottery question is but false is
sue, and the people should take good
care that it is not used as blind, as
the cry of reform was, by aspirants to
Office who could not persuade the peo-
pie to elect them on their personal
merits. When the lottery question
comes up for action at the polls, all
the party nominations will have been
been, and every voter, at his option,
will have the opportunity to vote for
or against the proposed amendment,
on the very same ticket bearing the
na les of the candidates for the va
rions Offices.
And, as the lottery question will be
finally decided, one way or the other,
simultaneously ly with the election of all
State aud parochial officers, it is very
clear that none of these officers can
exercise any control whatsoever over
the question after their induction into
office. Therefore, the strenuous ef-
forts in certain quarters to use this
side issue to again plunge the State
into turmoil, are groundless and un.
justi0able, and it is to be hoped that
the good sense and independence of
the people, will promptly frown them
down.
The discussion of the lottery ques-
ton and the independent action of the
voter upon it, at the polls, is one
thing, and the nomination and cleo
tion of the public officials is another.
1t will make precious little differ
ence with us, in view of the status
that the lottery question now occupies,
whether the candidates for Democratic
nominations, or for election on the
Democratic ticket, which is the ticket
that we intend to support, are "pros"
or "antis," particularly if they are
men sufficiently broad in their ideas to
recognize the right of every man to his
opinion on any public question.-Lou-
isiana Review.