Year: 1878

| laVlShly and without stint all the
means of corruption that have constit-
uted for years the familiar methods of
the party. We have every reason to
believe that extraordinary exertions
will be made to carry at least two dis
trfcts in this State. There are many
party exigencies which lead us to this
belief, and not the least of these is the
desire Hayes must feel of striving to
vindicate himself in a measure against
the charges Of fraud and corruption
with which he has been overwhelmed,
| and of substantiating tho charges of
murder and intimidation by which
Sherman and his co-conspirators have
sought to justify their crimes. But
| this very consideration should, and
doubtless will, arouse our people to at
least equal exertions, and induce them
| to place in nomination in the various
districts their very best and strongest
men, in which event there can be no
doubt of the character of our next dele
cation in Congress.


The elections are certainly of great
Importance, yet the real, vital issue,
| the issue that must absorb all others, lis
the question of a constitutional conven-
ton. This proposition is not placed
directly before the people, as it should
have been by the last Legislature after
it had itself refused to call a conven-
! tion, but it will be before the Baton
Rouge convention, and by it submitted
| to the People.


Whether or not the question of a
constitutional convention shall be sub.
| mitted to the vote of the Democratic
masses at the next election will con-
stitute about the only matter of discus
sion and difference in the party con-
vention at Baton Rouge, and it will
doubtless be urged and opposed with
equal earnestness by those who favor
and oppose the proposition. The char
acter OF the contest may be predicted
from that which has recently transpir-
ed at the selection in Ouachita of dele
gates to the Baton Rouge convention.
After an unusually exciting canvass
and a thorough discussion of the ques-
ton, the Democrats of Ouachita pro-
| nounced against constitutional con-
vention, and instructed their delegates
to oppose any such proposition. Upon
this question we believe that Ouachita
will stand alone among the parishes of
| N orth Louisiana. We know that in
the parishes west of Red River the feel
| ing is unanimous in favor of Il constit-
utional convention. In this city there
will be made bitter fight in opposi-





same interests and by the same unscru-
pulous means that contributed to de-
feat the measure in our last Legisla-
turc. 1t will be made by the lnonopo-
lies, the stock gamblers and such per-
sons whose every move in politics
bears the ignominious imputation OF
personal interest and selfishness. There
may be some who will oppose the
measure from honest conviction, but
we ask all such to be wary of tho COM
pany in which they find themselves.


AS for ourselves, we regard a constit-
utional convention as absolutely nee
essary to the establishment of the
principles of Democratic government
in this State. We hold that these
principles cannot find full and free cx-
preston under the fundamental organ
ism Of the State as it now exists. This
was the view Senator White took in
his able speech, which was carefully
prepared and given out as a vindica-
tion of the last Legislature. This was
the apology he offered for the slight
and unsatisfactory relief that had been
afforded the people by that Legislature.
He claimed that the powers of the
General Assembly in the direction of
reform and economical legislation had
been exhausted, and if the people were
disappointed, as he confessed they had
n right to be, they must not blame the
Legislature, but the organic law by
which they were restrained. We do
not believe all this. We think that
the Legislature could have gone much
further than it did, but, in regard to
the retrenchment of public expenses,
| in the reduction of the number of Off
GERS, and all things appertaining to the
| expensive and cumbersome govern
mental establishment, Senator White
was altogether right. 1t will be argued
that the amendments submitted to the
people cover these very difficulties,
and that in other matters the Legisla-
ture can act efficiently.


| We do not believe this. The ex-
isting constitution is, from beginning
to end, perversion of republican
government by the people, for the
people, to the robbery of the people
by their officials, and for the advance
ment of Individual and monopoly
interests. That constitution was in
spired by evil and is too dangerous a
! document to be trified with. Its basis