The Lafayette gazette. [volume] (Lafayette, La.) 1893-1921, 1898-04-09

| entire State. The people looked to
the delegates whom they had chosen
to purify the election laws to adopt
some wise system of political thera-
peutics that would give them a
clean, intelligent and just electorate,
that would eliminate as far as pos
sible, under constitutional restric-
tons, corrupt and unworthy voters,
and still more venal and corrupt
methods of manipulating the cleo
ton returns.
Iberville South: Notwithstand-
ing the adverse report of the COM
merce committee, Henry Demas re-
M aims in the naval office and Hanna
has promised to stand by the black
St. John statesman. 1t is authora-
lively given out that !Vimberly will
be appointed collector Of the port.
Mckinley is making rapid strides in
building up respectable Republic
can party in Louisiana. The negro
vote in the national nominating con-
ventions is the thing that counts
and Republican politicians will al
ways stand by Sambo.
Natchitoches Enterprise: 1t con-
tains some admirable features,
which, there is ground to hope, will
prove a vast improvement over the
present law on the same subject.
We do not think that it merits the
violent denunciation which the press
and the people of the state have in
dulged in toward it. Nor do we
think that such denunciaticn is
either good policy or good taste.
However faulty it may be, it is the
work of the Democratic pcrtv. 1t
represents the work Of the ablest
and most patriotic body of men
from every section Of the state that
has ever assembled in Louisiana.
1t is an accomplished fact. No
amount of discussion or criticism
can change it now. 1t is or soon
will. 1e part of the constitution
the organic law of the land-and it
seems to US that the better policy is
to accept it as it is, at least until
fair trial shall have confirmed the
prophecies Of evil with which it has
been greeted.
St. Mary Banner: Mr.. Walter
Burke, of New Iberia offered re-
solution recently in the Constitu-
tional convention exempting NUM-
cipal corporations from the pay
II, ut Of parish taxes We believe
it has met with great favor and will
pass. 1t is only proper that i:
should pass. When j town taxes
care of its own streets, pays its own
criminal expenses, and contributes
towards the support Of it's schools,
it has done all that can be asked Of
it by the parish in which it exists.
Receiving no benefits from the ex-
penditure of the parish money, it
should not be expected to contri-
butte to the parish funds.
Mler Rouge Democrat: a reader
of newspapers is often struck with
the foolish bills offered in our va
rious State Legislatures. One is
almost forced to believe that in
numerous instances counties send
their biggest fools to legislate for
them instead of selecting their
brainy men. Almost every Legisla-
ture has its crank who desires to
!egislate against football, horse
racing. or wearing tights on the
stage and numerous other such silly
actions. We can get at moments
notice waste basket full of dam
phool legislation. What we need
and cannot get are laws for just
and equal taxation, for the punish
ment of crime, for the protection of
honest, toiling humanity from trusts
and corporate greed. We already
have snrDlus of worthless laws: let