New Iberia enterprise. (New Iberia, La.) 1885-1902, 1899-07-15

Il
if forsooth Governor Foster must be hel'
up to public scorn, his motives impugnet
and his honesty of purpose relentlessly as
sailed, let those undertake the assault wh(
have never sought favors at his hands o.
preferment under the system. Let not
those who have been the benefciaries OF
his grace or received the rewards of the
system they assail east the first stone
But if after all the distinguished pro
moters of this Independent movement are
recklessly determined to pursue the course
they have mapped out, unrestrained by
the counsel of those who have as deep an
interest in the maintenance of Democratic
| ascendancy as themselves we warn them
that they are rushing to party defeat and
overthrow. We de not seriously conceive
that a cause so weak as that launched at
Rayville can triumph against the sturdy
phalanxes Of the tried and unterrified
Democracy of Louisiana but if the uneX-
pected shall come to pass, after the long
and bitter struggle before us, and this in
dependent movement shall succeed again
in splitting the Democratic party, we have
no doubt that the candidate it may name
will 60 down with the party in inglorious
defeat in the general election. The Re-
publican party in Louisiana is not dead,
but sleeping. 1t waits on Democratic
dissensiOn for its new lease of power. All
the aid and comfort it can give will be
bestowed upon this movement. The acces-
sion to it of the sugar planters has given
it a brighter color and fairer complexion,
but it is the same old rotten and corrupt
organization that it was in the days when
it first planted its talons in the PROSTATE
form OF this fair State, and once again it
has retaken the breastworks from which
it was driven by the gallant hosts of the
White League, we shall long afterward
struggle in vain to dislodge it. Let not
the Democratic masses of Louisiana be
deceived in this campaign as were their
Maryland brethren when, to strangle an
obnoxious ring they encouraged a Repub
ments. Let us not have paraphrased in
Louisiana the coarse defiance of Repblican
Senator Wellington to his Democratic
dupes "No, sir we have taken the
Democratic breastworks. They are ours
and risk their loss again by allowing our
Democratic friends within them
We have no doubt that Governor Foster
will accept the challenge so defiantly
flung in his face and see clearly the duty
that comforts him. Not even his bitterest
enemy has assailed his wise and statesman
like conduct of State affairs His admin
istration stands second to none in the long
history of Democratic control in Louisiana.
1t is without stain. The breath of scandal
has never beat against it. Under his eight
years governance we have enjoyed period
of unbroken prosperity, in spite of sick
ness, shotgun quarantine and flood, of
financial panic and drouth. The taxes
have been efficiently collected and econo-
mically expended. The State institutions
have been managed with wisdom and sue
cess. Our credit has steadily enhanced in
the exchanges of the world and our bonds
have become securities eagerly sought by
all. Gov. Foster himself is not candidate
for reelection. He is nearing the close
of his second term and is preparing to hand
over the rein of government to his success
sor. But until he has fearlessly met and
repelled this attack launched at Rayville
against him and his administration, he can
not offered to lay down the cares of public
life. He cannot desert in Its hour of peril
the party that has SO generously favor
ed him in the past. His is now the post
of honor because the post of danger and
mrs urry uS cfcur ee- --ssss<ssssa..y--s...-
Gov. Foster must throw himself into the
breach in this new crisis Of affairs, and if
he leads his forces with the same masterly
skill and intrepid courage as he has in the
past, we shall be mistaken in our faith in
the manliness Of the masses of tho grand
old Democratic party, in the spirit Of fair
play that has always characterized them, if
they do not triumphantly vindicate his
splendid administration, crown with addi-
tional honors his public career and prove
themselves again an impregnable bulwark
against the assaults of the rapacious hordes
Of the Republican party in Louisana.-N.
O. States