The Louisiana Democrat., 1891-07-29
THE PROMISES OF 's7.

CanpdlSu WulCu ouoCoOu0u Ill P'"oihS
the present State administration in
power was begun. Gov, Nichols
had been brought out as candidate
by number of shrewd politicians who
appreciated the strength that his Con
federate record and his Identification
with the defeat of the Republican
party in 1876 gave him and them.
Gov. Nichols himself inaugurated
the campaign, TOOK the stump at
Zacharie, and attracted the people by
the profuse promises he made of the
good and thoroughly Democratic gov
ernment he intended to give them,
These promises won them over, and
Mr.. Nichols was chosen Governor,
and was given an excellent opportu-
nifty to carry out the policy which he
laid down for himself. He has been
more than three years in the Execu-
tive chair, and that the people are
disappointed and that the pledges, or
at least promises, he made have not
been kept, no one who feels the pop
ular pulse to-day can doubt.
When Gov. Nichols took the
stump in his own behalf it was to re-
gret the lack of harmony in the Dem
ocratic ranks, which he attributed to
the undemocratic methods of Gov.
McEnery and his administration. He
dwelt on this point again and again
that the party had been harmonious
and united under him, but that the
politicians and Office holders had de-
stroyed all this pleasant feeling since
he left the State House, and he insis-
ted that he alone could restore it,
while his lieutenant, Judge White, in
no uncertain tones, dubbed him the
harmonizer of the Democratic party.
Gov. Nichols himself announced at
his very first mass meeting the follow
ing as his purpose in entering politics
again:
My object in so doing is to attempt
to unity and hold together the Demo
cratic party of Louisiana, which is
now greatly divided, and in which l
scarcely recognize tho working, active
Democratic party of the past.
Has he acted as a harnonizer9-
And what has been the effect of his
attempt "to unity and hold together
the Democratic party of Louisiana?'
Have not he and his followers stirred
up bitterness in the party ranks
never known there before? Have not
the men who applaud him INDUCED
in the most virulent abuse of their
fellow Democrats, and has there not
been wild talk of bolts, third parties
and revolutions, "dire, bloody and
terrible" among those who follow and
admire him, and whom he has hon
ored with ofiices9 If, as he said, there
was lack of harmony in the Demo
cratic ranks in 1887, how much great
er has he made the dissension by the
course he has pursued in the last three
years toward the leaders of the party?
He did not hesitate to charge that be-
cause there was dissension then it was
due to Gov. McEnery and his admin
istration. How would he like to be
judged now by his own rule and held
responsible for all the bitterness and
dissensions existing to-day within the
Democratic ranks?
And he is responsible for them, for
he has broken the very rules of action
which he announced as necessary to
restore true Democratic government
in the State. In his Zachare speech
be said:
| am opposed strongly to personal
government | recognize the propri-
ETY. of selecting ones political adher-
ents within certain limits, but there
should be Judgment brought to b.ar
in that matter. The good and unity
of the party aud the wishes of Demo
cratic constitution shonld be consulted
and needed. My Judgment may 60
wrong, but none the less it will be
my own Judgment based on my own
investigation, and you may rest as:
sured that the determining factor with
me will be not the interest of individ
uals, but the welfare of the State anC
the unity of the Democratic party
the success and perpetuation of which
no I hoya lofora ct.tad oorc;1, =,