The Louisiana populist., 1895-05-10
Foster and FitZpatriCk-Frater
et Erater.

y
State of Louisiana, Murphy j.
Foster, in a public speech, with
much scorn of lip and virtuous up
turning of eye, removed John
Fitzpatrick from the pale of hon.
orable recognition among men, by
branding the present chief execu-
tive of this city as ''self-cOnfess-
ed spy" Since then, times. and
men, too, have changed. Spies,
albeit self-confessed spies, occupy
the tent and share the bed and
board of the gubcrnatorial gene
raj, planning the confidential de-
talls of campaign which is to de-
liver over to the Roman of Baton
Rouge and the Carthagenian of
New Orleans the province of Lou
isiana for further political ravages.
Turk and Christian now he in
the same bed, eat from the same
table, hold confidential converse
within the non-echoing walls of the
room that tells no tales. Why is
this thus! Or, is it really thus!
Let us see.
In May, 1894, the State Lcgisla-
ture of this political province
the subject of controversy is the
''self-confessed spy" era-met at
Baton Rouge. His ''COmbine"
excellency, the chief executive of
Louisiana, had appointed Donel-
son Caffery and Newton c. Blanch-
ard United States Senators to fill
existing vacancies. These two dis
tinguis,led gentlemen were the
Foster" candidates to succeed
themselves. What spectacle was
presented in the vote for Sena-
tors! Ev.~y member of the city
ring, dominated by John Fitzpat-
rick, the ''self-confessed spy," vo-
ted for the men whom Murphy j.
Foster, with an ipse dixit that
brooked no restraint, had declared
should be Louisiana's representa-
tives in the upper house of the ma
tional legislature.
The Hon. Charles j. BOatner,
few brief moons agone, was John
Fitzpatrick's personal and political
friend. Every consideration of
fidelity dictated that with Boatner
a candidate against Blanchard,
John Fitzpatrick's support should
go to him freely and without stint.
But when the ''man from St. Ma
ry" said Blanchard, the ''me, too,"-
Of the Crescent City boss was heard
to resound through the Legislative
halls and corridors at Baton Rouge.
Had the ''self-confessed spy" learn
ed to love the ''hero of the levee
or were these Damon
and Pythias statesmen measuring
BY quid pro quo yard stick? Does
John Fitzpatrick give something
for nothingl Does Foster give
something for nothingl No. Each
has what the other must have.
The Registration Ofice-the Zach
arie department of the State gov
,rnment, with its marvellous pow
,r of sudden transformation from
he India rubber man towards its
political friends, to the man of
ron towards its political foes-is
within the control of that execu-
i've from whose lips came the
'self-confessed spy" only some |
hirty months ago. This rsgistra-
ion Office is his to give-his sense
# ownership is such that he may
it to those who come af-
er him. And John Fitzpatrick
Why, he will deliver delegates,
more or less, in the next Democrat
c State Conv ention. And are not
|ohn Fitzpatrick and John Brew
ter even now making the fight of
heir lives for Fosterl
His gubernatorial excellency is
wise man IN his day and genera
ion. A system of telegraphic
odes and signals, the mysterious
vhisperings of ''Go-Between"
;mth-he, too, of St Mary-has
cen devised. The "sef-confessed
py" does not HE himself to Baton
souge. Damon does not 90 to
'ythias, nor does Pythias visit
)amon, unless it be officially and
nown of all men. But Smith
|. D. Smith, who '.goes between"
he it is who links together these
wo political brothers by ties that
re strongest-the ties of mutual
enefit, the ties of cold-blooded
usiness. Smith swaps the regis
,ation horse for the delegate mare,
nd perhaps he gives something
to boot"
But tho people of this city will ,
'e to it that municipal misrule and /