Year: 1877

seated upon solid foundations the strongest
Of all being the great popularity which 1t en-
talent of It's editors. We Join our congratula-
tions 10 those already addressed by the press
to that journal, which is now enjoying
nought but the prosperity which 1t well de-
serves.


We tender our confrere, the DEMOCRAT, our
sincere congratulations upon the occasion OF
the second anniversary OF its foundation.
Since 1t has come into existence the DEMO-
CRAT has passed through many trying eSpe-
riences but IT has finally surmounted all
obstacles and Is now securely seated upon D
solid basis that assures IT OF long life. An en-
efgetiG champion OF the Democrat party, 1t
has largely contributed tn the SUCCESS Of the
electoral campaign of 1876, and since the ad-
vent Of our new government, the Independence
and talent of Its editorial columns have every
day Increased Its popularity throughout the
State We wish IL n continuation OF the pros
perity which iB shown by the appearance of
It's columns.


shreveport Timss


The Board Of Public Printing met In New
Orleans on the first Monday In this month
and selected Mr. Geo, W. Dupre, Of the DEM
oCRAr, to do the public printing for the ens,l-
ing year. This Is but o just compliment to
the DEMOCRAT for the fidelity with which 1t
has executed it's last contract, and for the zeal
aud ability with which 1T has defended the
best interests of the State.





TO get the board to lot out the printing to the
lowest bidder There IL nothing In the letter
or spirit Of the law which could possibly war
rant any such construction Of 1t. The board
Ia only required to contract with "guch person
as they may consider proper and responsi-
BILE, y "at unreasonable rate which rate is mot
to exceed the maximum fixed by the act" It
| will thus be observed that the board is vested
with just stich discretion rs It has exercised
1t might happen, as 1t doubtless has happened,
and will often happen. that the highest bidder
will be the most properan and responsible person
to entrust with these important duties.
The rates fixed by the act are extremely
low. In fact, If 1t had been the design OF the
last Legislature to starve out the eOnserva-
tive press 1t could not have hit upon II more
happy expedent. It has, therefore. been the
object of the united animadversatiOn OF the
whole conservative press. The laborer is
worthy of his hire no matter whether he
labors for the public, or for private individ-
ual. 1t is not the true policy of the state to
set the example Of getting work done below
its legitimate value The printing rates are
as low as the work can be done for, and II any
one offers to do 1t for less 1t is for some ulte-
rior purpose. It Ia either to drive out all
competition or else 10 lay the foundation for
a bill for relief before some Legislature, which
should. perhaps, become as liberal as the
Radical Legislatures have been.


But suppose that the object Of the board
was to sustain party organ, as has not only
been ipsinuated but openly charged. We still
hold that it's action was right and proper.
We assume that the principles OF the Demo
Conservative party are right and will
best conduce to the interests Of the tax-pay-
ers Of the State. If they are right, then they
ought to be propagated by all legitimate
means. Among these means Is the voice Of
the public press. The support of the party
press, by bestowing on it The public patron
age, has ever been considered by all polit-
| cal parties as perfectly legitimate. No one
ever thought of denouncing the Whig party
for making Mr.. Gales. or the Democratic par
ty for making Mr.. Ritchie printer to Congress-
The newspaper therefore, which the most
faithfully upholds correct principles should
receive this patronage, and no journal which
s unfaithful to them should receive It at any
price. We presume that no Conservative
would be willing to see the Republican public
printer, even If IL should offer TO do the print
Ing at much lower rates than those fixed by
law.


What the Democratic Conservative party
wants Is an organ that will advocate It's prin-
oiples In days that are dark as well us those
that are light 1t wants an organ that will
not run after this or that god whenever a
proper occasion offers. The people OF tho
State do not believe that there exists among
the New Orleans daily papers printed i'm the
English language any paper that comes upso
nearly to these requirements as the DEMO-
GRAFT. Hence they indorse the action OF the
State board. They would not indorse 1t If the
Legislature plundered the treasury to sup
port the DEMOCRAT as the Radicals plum
dered 1t to support the Republican. But of
this there is no danger under the act of the
Legislature which regulates the matter.