The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1909-08-24
SENATOR S. D. McENERY.

of extreme partisan zeal, to appreciate
the time and the space being wasted in
some newspapers in defense OF United
States Senator Samuel D. McEnery and
his so-called Democracy.
Any one not his champion who is at
all familiar with his record and being
a Democrat in keeping with the mean
ing of the declaration of the party, has
long since realized that Samuel d. Nc
Emery while liveried as disciple OF
Jefferson and of Jackson, has been
guilty of perfdy, and therefore he is no
longer entitled to the consideration OF
the people who, through their represen-
tatives in the General Assembly OF
Louisiana, have honored him with the
Office he fills.
He was elected to the United States
Senate as a Democrat, but he has In
yariably answered the beck and call OF
the Republican leaders whenever his
vote was necessary to the interests of
the protectionists.
During the recent session of the
Senate he was close ally of Senator
Aldrich of Rhode Island, who from his
action and his vote he delighted to serve
in fostering legislation inimical to the
common people.
Who of the most ardent of McEnery's
apologists or champions will deny that
he as good Republican as Aldrich?
AS other politicians of Louisiana, he
was foisted into eninence over the feats
of his brother, John McEnery, who was
leader in fact during the days of Re-
construction. It is true that Samuel
d. McEnery did his part, but he did no
more than hundreds and thousands of
others, who risl1ed their lives in resist
ing the attempt at the Authorization of
the State and in the maintenance of the
rule of intelligence and of White Su-
premacy.
AT this date, when men are not
moved by the passions and the preju-
dices which intensified them in their ac-
ton, as in the days of Reconstruction,
the negro can no longer be held to ter
rorize political alignments, and there
fore men who were prominent, as actors
ana as factors, in retaining Louisiana
from the clutches Of political adventur-
ers and vandals have the right of ex-
preston in their criticism of Senator
McEnery and his Democracy.
There has been much sentiment vast
ed on s. D. McEnery in the past. To
him has been ascribed the accomplish
ment of things which should be credited
sto others. 1t may be recalled that for
years he posed, or was posed by some
bf his friends, as "the great levee Gov
ernor." This was when the levees in
Louisiana along the Mississippi and the
Red rivers were weak and the system
which prevails today had not been matt
gurated. Indeed there were miles of
river front unprotected by levees, and
the annual foods involved many in
utter ruin. If Samuel D. McEnery is
entitled to some credit for whatever he
may have accomplished, there are 9TH
ers who should be given ten-fold
credit for what has been done.
In all earnestness, is it not about time
to check this twaddle about McEnery
and the days Of Reconstruction? Has
not McEnery been more than repaid for
whatever he has done for his State
during the days of Reconstruction and
during his term of Office as Governor?
Is it not time to drop the niger and
let him rest?
Why should McEnery and the mig
ger and the Reconstruction days be
linked as reminder of the past, when
ever there is wanting an excuse for his
per6dy to his party when he has voted
with Aldrich?
Throughout the State there are thous-
ands of good men and true who have
done as much and more than Stmuel d.
McEnery either as soldiers in the Con-
federate armies, or as civilians resist
ing the encroachments of the aliens and
the nlercenary politicians. and all these
have been and are true to the teachings
of the past and have not and are not
aligned with Aldrich and his party for
the sake of little rice or little sugar.
It is senseless to attempt to excuse
Samuel D. McEnery for his perfdy to
his party and his associates. He can no
longer bear the honorable and the dis
tinguished title ''the old war horse of
the Democracy OF Louisiana. Having
aligned himself with Aldrich and the
Republicans who stand for the trusts
and the combines, he can no longer be
cIassed as a Democrat. It is unfortun-
ate that Louisiana IS represented in the
United States Senate BY such . Repub-
lican as Samuel D. McEnery. His cleo
ton to the United States Senate is the
result of political combinations which
should have been made impossible. As
Hanxns.raf az nrnflounrsd and radical