The Lafayette gazette., 1903-11-14
SENATOR
FOSTE
DRESS

DRESS.
Senator Foster has issued an
address to the people of Louis
lana in which he announces him
self as a candidate to succeed
himself as senator from this
State. His attendance at the
extraordinary session of con-
gress precludes his taking an
active part in the campaign pre-
ceding the primary, and he finds
it necessary to state his views
on public questions through the
medium of written addresses,
he had hoped to do so
from the speakers stand. The
Gazette would gladly reprint it
in full but it's volume is such as
to render it's publication in a
country weekly difficult. Never
theless white democrats of the
parish should carefully read the
paper and give it due consider
alton.
The senator's address is an
admirable exposition of condi-
tions that obtain in the nation,
the solution of which must re-
ceive the full scope of his energy
and ability in the performance
of his duties as senator.
He analyses aptly the republi-
can misconception of govern
mental functions which threatens
to play havoc with the established
order of things, in the following
language.
"Recent years have witnessed a tremet,
dous movement of all governmental powers
Of the republic toward the center Of a circle
within which special interests have congre-
gated for mutual advantage. BY united ac-
ton these interests able to influence the
several agencies Of government to their own
profit to the detrment of interests op-
posed to themselves. The influence is, per-
haps, not perceptible in the beginning, but
by persistent pressure it becomes irressti-
BILE by the time it is recognized and, then,
unhappily, the government and a large pro-
portion of the people, from familiarity,
have become reconciled to the conditions it
has Produced--at least, are nonresident.
This process of lodging the most vital pow
in the hands of central agency is
subtle and increasing. So subtle is it that
the peace of our governmental system re-
mains unchanged, but SO certain is it, tina.
the controlling spirit is different from that
which animated our Constitution at its birth
aS fF0n
scheming behind it. How often have we
realized in these recent years that the gov
ernment we feel is not the government we
see; that the actual government is particu-
lar interest concealed behind the forms of
government fashioned by the Constitution.
Witness the Cuban reciprocity treaty, pro-
pounded measure to benefit the Cuban
planter and American consumer, and ex-
posed machination for the further en-
richn,ent of the sugar trust and the Eastern
re6ners. Witness the imminent failure of
the isthman canal, demanded by the grow
ing commerce of the nation, necessary for
its speedy and perfect development of the
Mississippi Valley, yet thwarted for twenty
years by the insolent prohibitions of the
transcontinental railroads.
He makes true and graphic
picture of the manifold bless
ings which have fallen on our
State in the last fifteen years,
during which time the democra-
tic party has vigorously worked
to ameliorate the awful results
of carpet-bag misrule, period
within which has been accom-
plished a final cleansing of the
electorate cf the negro, and the
cOnsummation of all that bids
fair to insure continuance of
the prosperity which now smiles
upon the fortunes OF the State.
Spurred by the unwarranted
attack which Ex-senator Jonas
has made on him, Mr.. Foster re-
plies in these words.
''Morose and sullen, he sat nursing the
fierce envy that burned within his breast,
spicuously honored by his people, remaining
quiescent and apathetic, while the intelli-
gence and patriotism of Louisiana's man
hood was graphing with the supreme prob
lem of safeguarding forever the citadel of
cur civilization by removing the constantly
negro menace from political af-
fairs. Call the roll Of all the distinguished
men of the State and we 6nd them every
one in that crisis, aiding by suggestion, by