Year: 1878

move III pOlltlcS pears stAc lEnOmlnlOnS
imputation of personal interest and self
ishness. There may be some who Will
oppose the measure from honest convic-
ton, but we ask all such to be wary of
the company in which they find them
selves.


AS for ourselves, we regard 4 cOnStitn-
tional convention as absolutely necessary
to the re- establishment Of tho principles
of Democratic governm ent in this State.
We held that these principles cannot
find full and free expression under the
fundamental organism of the State as it
now exists. This was the view Sena-
tor White took in his able speech, which


was carefully prepared and given out as
Il virdi alton Of the last Legislature.
This was the apology he offered for the
slight and Unsatisfactory relief that had
been afforded the people by that Legis-
lature' He claimed that the powers of
the Gen raj Assembly in the direction Of
reform and economic al 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 fur
ther than it did, but, in reg ard to the
retrenchment of public expenses, i'll the
reduction of the number of officers, and
all things appertaining to the expensive
and cumbersome governmental estab-
lishmeDt, Senator White was altogether
right. 1t will be argued that the amend
ments submitted to the people cover
these very difficulties, and that in other
matters the Legislature can act efficient
ly.


We do not believe this. The existing
constitution is, from beginning to end, q
perversion of republican government by
the people, for the people, to the robbery
of the people by their officials, and Tor
advancement oc individual and monopo-
ly interests. That constitution Was l."
spired by evil and is 100 dangerous a
document to be trit1ed with. Its basis is
bad and wicked, and all the tinkering
that may be done upon it canDot fit it
for honest purposes. 1t must be wiped
out absolutely, in order that the theory
upon which it is constructed may be
cradle atcd. More than this, the Demo
cratic party stands solemnly pledged by
it's most earnest pr0testatiOns in every
campaign since it's adoption in 1868 to
repeal it the very moment that party got
into power. This promise has been the
slogan of four campaigns and through
eight long years the people have held
that promise to their hearts and looked
! forward to it's redemption as to a new
evangel. Will the party refuse it to
come when the promise may be redeem
| ed9 We hope not; we believe not. The
present constitution is sign of disgrace
and iGncminy upon our people, left upon
them by the VaGabOndS. who brought us
the strange and shameful cvangel of car
pet-baggery. It is not an expression of
the free and honest will of the people,
but the cdict of u military satrap, thrust
| upon us against our will, and not even
! by our participation. Let us wipe it out
| for the sake of honor and manhood. Let
| this question be made tho test in every
nomination for the Legislature, and let
! only those be placed on the ticket who
are pledged to tho calling of. constitu-
| tional convention. The Baton Rouge


convention may think it incxpedicnt to
submit tie question directly to the pco-
| pie, but let this circumstance have no


weight. Whatever the action of that


convention may be, let the people deter


mine the question for themselves and Sc


Legislature men who will carry out their
| views.