The Lafayette gazette. [volume] (Lafayette, La.) 1893-1921, 1899-08-19
THE CRY AGAINST FOSTER.
The LAFAYETTE Gazette has never

duAhiISI Oh tnat gentleman ana It
does not endorse all his political
acts. He has done much that is
commendable and some things
which are reprehensible. If we
wrote that Gov. Foster has been an
ideal executive and we believed him
patriot ana a statesman we would
be writing ourselt a hyPocrite and
We would do violence to our con-
science. Therefore when we saw
that his administration Of the affairs
of this State has been clean and
honest, We say what we believe to
be the truth. The indecent and
vulgar attacks upon his administra-
ton by a hostile press and spu-
rious gang of bowling reformers is
sIckening to US and should be so to
every fairminded man. Among
his most severe critics we find men
who were the unblushing partners
of Kellogg and Warmoth during
the dreadful days of the scallawass
and the carpet baggers. These
worthless who helped to .perpetuate
the rule OF venality and ignorance
and dragged the fair name of Louis
lana into the very mire, have now
the cool audaCity to speak to US of
pure politics and an honest ballot.
A fine set to talk about bossism and
ring rule! Gay birds to preach
morality! Sweet-scented geraniums
to pirate of an honest administration.
The whole gang boiled down and
analysed would not give one thimble
full of the genuine stuff.
Place them in power and in less
than six months the people of the
State would be in the throes of a
bloody revolution. Give them the
reins and in less than a month the
devils OF reconstruction would be
PreyiDg upon the yitals of the old
Pelican with their insatiate hunger
of former days. But the most hui
initiating feature of it all is that
these old time enemies of the De-
mocracy are not alone in vilifying a
Democratic administration. Thew
havn been joined by a few discon-
tented Democrats whose fierce de-
nunciation of the present State adj
ministraticn seems to be inspired BY
hatred and prejudice. We repea:
that we are MOI partisan of Gov.
Foster and are not willing to uphold !
all his methods as the embodiment |
of political wisdom and lofty states !
manship, but as the editor of a |
Democratic paper we are certainly |
not willing to join the enemies of !
the party In announcing a Demo-
cratic administration which has
been singularly free from any scan
dals and which is conceded by its |
leading opponent to be honest,
clean and economical. 1t were
folly, absolute folly. to attempt
to defend certain abuses which
have been committed during the
eight years of Gov. Fosters admin
istration, but it is criminal to try TO
hold him alone responsible for
them. He is no more responsible
for them than any of his Demo-
cratic predecessors. He was
simply an heir to system which
was made necessary by the
rasc allty of the carpetbaggers and
the impudence Of the negroes
Those methods which he employed
were the inevitable results Of
African rule. They were used to
Gust Kellogg and his gang from
power and to keep them out. In
1ue time laws were passed to
eliminate the negro from our cleo
lions and we feel confident that
The Democratic party will so
arrange it that every mans vote Will
De fully protected and fairly
IT there is going to be
any reform it will be done by the :
Democratic party. 1t will be done
within the ranks. Not outside.
Oeserters have never reformed an
army nor stragglers won battle
Democrats who are sincerely in
favor of reform will not accomplish
lnything by joining the Repub-