The Progress., 1892-03-26
THE PROGRESS
GAL D. HCKS. Editor.
SHREVEPORT, LA. MARCH 26, 1892.
DisturbinQ Elements

DlSIuI DING Elements
For more than eighteen months
the Democracy of Louisiana has
beon engaged in civil strlfn. The
contest has been long and bitter
and has left rs mementors III feel
iug7 which time may never erase
The cause of all this has been
the lottery question which,
IN it4 multitudiuous forms haz pre-
scented itself n a foe to all that
was pure, wholesome aud just in
the body polite, and was. there
fore fought in all It's shapes
aud grlises by those who favored
better government II is to be
hoped. however. the fms has been
reached, that the fight ended with
tuesdays primary. That il to say
that for the present both sidos can
lay aside their arms and again on
ter the peaceful pursuits Of their
general voCatlons, and no doubt
all will be glad to do so. The
scenes which our State has passed
though have been trying ones and
the old commonwealth has been
shaken as by volcanic eruption.
Her peace and quietude has
been greately disturbed aud pub
lie feeling has suffered seriously
IN consequences. A spirit of gen
eral depression prevailed among
the people, and at one time the
outlook was far from encourag-
ing. The cause has now been re
moved for the present and no
doubt better spirit would prevail.
but for another common foe which
* rearing its serpentiue head to
take the place of the lottery which
has been crushed for awhile. and
that is the saloon politics. This is
likewise disturbing element
which is almost ls formidable a.
the lottery. This Is equally a.
bold aud unscrupuIous; equally
~ avariciUus and heartless I:
equally rs corrupIing and defiant;
equally as ruino to good gov
ernment, and left . itself. will in
a few years, be equally as power
ful in Legislative and judicial halls.
The struggle of Tuesday was
participated in by some of the
best of our community on
either side. On that one issue the
best men differed, but on the sa-
loon polititics there should he a
union of all those who favor hon
est politics, for with that gang in
control of the party machinery
Justice, honesty and decency
will no more be heard or seen in
our councils. Arrogant and vim
dictive. the dram shop political
bosses seek to elevate themselves
INTO positions Of honorable prefer
ment and then dole out to their
betters such crumbs as they see fit
to cast to them. They and the
sycophsntic demagogues, thirsty
for promotion. set up depotism
in the party which Honor will not.
cannot endure, which Fair Play
will not submit to. Unless their IN
iluence is curtailed. INSCRIPTIONS
officials will hold the reins of gov
ernment and Dishonesty and cor
ruption will sit in judgment upon
the rights of our people. The lot
terry and dram shop rule are twin
sisters in vice, and pollute any pol
itics that they touch. We have for
the once eradicaied one evil. now
let Us combine all the forces of
good government against this
other element which threatens
the same disturbing influence
which has recently caused such an
upheayal in our State: let the best
people of both the McEnery and
Foster faction combine forces
and crush it before the States pur-
ity is prostituted and ruined by
It.