The Caucasian., 1903-05-10

elected by the people.
| naturally assume that those who
permitted it in the constitution at the
last convention think otherwise, and
will print any argument IN tull which
would prove otherwise
How coy the machines logicians are
becoming of late, by the way New
Orleans Harlequin.
This is a direct assertion, forceful,
logical. which no honest man will at
tempt to controvert. Politicians and
time-servers the long feeders at the
public crib, may be inclined to evade the
issue, while cringing the knee or dane
ing ready attendance, or giving placid
obedience to their masters Wlll-the
few who would dominate through the
machine-but even ''the masters will
not gainsay the declaration in self
government there is no Office the people
are not capable to fill
To the citizens who expect no tavors
or reward or recognition political, the
citizens actuated by the highest sense
of duty and who are firm in their con-
viction that in democracy all author
ity should rest with the majority and
not the few who would dominate in the
spirit and power of an autocracy, the
simple alIusion or intimation that the
consent or the approval of this or that
man is essential to the success of an
aspirant to office is repugnant in the
superlative degree. And yet there are
some men in Louisiana who would not
venture on a move political until they
shall have secured, in some sense, the
ready acquiescence of the all-powerful,
who, it is assumed, fguratively carries
in his little vest pocket the entire popu-
1ation, niggers and all, and the Dem
ocracy, so-called, as well, not to men
ton the 6ooo more or less, luscious
pl,irns controlled through the appoilltive
power of the governor, which are for
distribution among the faithful and
true.
Is it any wonder that some men are
politically eInasculated in the cor1ten1-
piation Of such glittering, allurIng pos
sibilities? And Of these the assessor is
one of the most desirable, and of these
there is one for each parish in the State,
who is also the registrar OF voters.
1t will be conceded that such change
must be secured by an amendment to
the constitution, but there are others
which should be included, at least three
thousand of the six thousand of the ap-
pointments should be made elective, and
the remainder abolished "swiped'
completely from the book. The people,
the majority of Democrats who vote,
are tired of the appointive system
which prevails in Louisiana and ercour-
ages political parasites to feed and
gorge on the public revenues wrung
from taxation, and on this line the
Democracy of Louisiana is being mar
sl1aled for action The result in the end
must be pa4ent as the sun rising IN its
glory on a sair May morning, as patent
as was the crushing defeat of the lot
terry (not altogether from a moral or
sentimental view but because it domi-
mated the politics Of this State, when no
young man, OF any man, could crafty
an honest and laudable ambition until
he had subscribed to the dictates of the
concern The situation in Louisiana to-
day is as it was during the domination
of the lottery, and no young man, or
any man it would seem, can list in the
political arena of Democracy and con-
tend successfully until he shall have re-
ceived the approval Of the machine, so
called.
II is now time for agitation and for
action, and while the people have the
right to dominate, they must insist on
a change of the organic authority which
will enable them to elect directly not
only their assessors but all the officials
who are now appointive by the Gov
ernor
In opposition to this view it may be
cited that in Caddo parish, for instance,
the assessor has been in years past re-
commended for appointment on ma
jority of the votes of Democrats voting
at the primary, and as in each instance
the assessor SO recommended was in
FULL sympathy and accord with the State
administration and the local contingent,
the gentlemans commission was a fore
gone conclusion But assuming that one,
q thoroughbred all zuool and a yard
aide sSuy-baek aes,er-die Democrat
were, at primary election. endorsed
for assessor, and this Democrat was
not in his ways, views and expression in
full accord with the High Muckee Muck
would he receive his appointment as
assessor? II is the Caucasian's private