The Lafayette gazette. [volume] (Lafayette, La.) 1893-1921, 1896-02-15


where the appointee was not Of d
same political faith as the one a,
pointed. Gov. Claiborne may ha,
been Democrat, however, but IL
: TACT OF his appointment by Jefferso
is not proof that he was. If y
d mistake not it was in 17o7 that M
Jefferson withdrew from the cabin,
of Washington and laid the POUNDS
ton of the Democratic part,
Hence, the conclusion is evidep
that in 1904, when Claiborne wa
appointed governor, party lines il
|, Louisiana must have barely existed
as 1t was in that year tina
the first territorial legislature met
nor is it reasonable to suppose tina
the parties were organized in 1919
when the constitution was adopted
Mr.. Flanders may think that he ha.
made a startling discovery, but in
our humble opinion he is mistaken.
He is simply talking through his
millinery when he attempts to en-.
tighten the present generation upon
the political complexion of the con-
! vention of 1812.
1t is known to everyone that the
first Democratic governor elected
on the issue of universal suffrage
was Alex Mouton; that universal
suffrage was embodied in the consti-
tuition of 1345 under Democratic
administration. Whether Wings fig
ured in the constitutional conven-
ton of that year or not, as a partv
measure, under Democratic adj.
ministration, the principle of uni
versal suffrage was adopted and be-
came priciple of the party.
Mr.. Flanders desires, also, to lee
ture the editor of this paper on
party fealty. 1t is true that we have
stated heretofore, and repeat it now.
that Democrat should support
party nominees, but that does not
obligate us to support the suffrage
It is established that
he right of self-preservation is para
mount in social, political and nat
lral law. No one can be bound to
'lolate that universal law. Such Z
you'd be the case if every Demo
rat were bound by the suffrage
latform. It is we'll known that ,
aany Democrats do not know how .
D read and are not assessed at 5000. +
low can a party make any of these
ersons vote for law which would =
lsfranchise themselves? The right h
self-Preservation asserts itself and Ii
'ys to the party, '*you can not O
rec US to destroy ourselves polit- n
ally. " The attempt of any party -
do tina: can bind no one. -
Mr.. Flanders tries to be sarcastic fe
ID says that he is not surprised tc
at our knowledge of history goes tt
ck no further than the election of -
ov. Mouton." The gentleman has n,
identity as poor an estimate of our W
owledge of history as he enter m
ms of our Democracy, but as he We
not recognized authority on a.,
her, his opinion is entirely un- M
lclted. However, we will say pr
It it is pity that we can not us
X back over the history of Louis &c
a without eliminating from it ~ ~
se pages which tell of that dark M
when the Kelloggs and the War bu
tbs and their negro allies robbed be-
white people and disgraced the en
tie by their shameful plumbers. 49,,
can afford to look back with the
lie at the history of the Demo- Of
nc party in this State, but I'M tc
unately when casting a RETROSPECT use
glance we are confronted with tn uo
dark period of negro-Repub- Ev,
n misrule and robbery which sur,
the reign of the partv leae
which Mr.. Flanders is a Jealous IS
erent. ~
hat the gentleman can not see S
virtues in the Democratic partv Req
re not to blame; but if he is fa1tl
to detect any virtues in the par
llite-Sugar-teat- negro combine moi
o not wish to intrude upon him at t
disturb his sweet dreams and Its ]