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The Weekly Messenger. PUBLISHED EVERY SATURDAY. -AT ST. MARTINVILLE, LA. ALBERT BIENVENU, Proprietor. LAIZAIRE BIENVENU, Manager OrFIrAr. JOURNAL OF THE TOWN Ow "ST MARTINVILLE AND ST MARTIN PARISa [7'::uhscription $1 a year in advance. SATURDAY JUNE 15, 1895. SINGLE TERM HISTORY. In a recent issue of the MESREN ERn, we said that rotation in pu blie ofices, in former days. was considered a sound democratic principle, which if applied to the executive of the state would great ly contribute in ridding the elec tions of the many frauds, which are a menace to our form of go vernment, would secure a better administration of public affairs and would preserve harmony and unity of action in the democratic party and prevent it from being devided into factions. The political histocy of Louisi ana and of the democratic party in this State, prove that the one term for Governor, has al ways been considered a wholesome policy favorable to good govern ment, to an honest administration of public affairs and to the pre servation of party organization. Now for the proof. The first go vernor of the State was W. C. C. Claiborne, elected in 1812; he ser ved one term; there was no at tempt made by him or by his friends to make him his own suc cessor in the office;-if there were it failed. The patrotic Jacques Villere, succeeded governor Clai borne, he also served one term, and Thomas B. Robertson, suc ceeded him; he also served one term. then followed Henry John son, Pierre Derbigny (who died. during his term,) Andre Bienvenu Ror an, who was elected in 1831; both Johnson and Roman served only one term each; Edward D. "'White succeeded Roman, Gover nor White served one term, and like his predecessors, made no at tempt to succeed himself in office. In 1839, A. B. Roman was again elected governor. Johnson, Roman and White were whigs, their several admin istrations gave general satisfac tion, and judicious and impartial appointments to public offices of good and competent men, kept the whig party united and in power in the State until 1842, when Hen ry Johnson, who had been gover nor in 1824 to 1828, became again the candidate of the Whig party and Alexandre Mouton was the candidate of the democratic party, the election was hotly contested; but Mouton was elected, and was inaugurated in office in 1848. He was the first democratic governor of the State. Although his term was cut short by the adoption of the State Constitution of 1845, he was eatisfied with it, and made no attempt, nor did the democrats, made any to nominate him as their candidate for re-election, Alexandre Monton retired to pri vate life on his plantation, in the parish of Lafayette, acquiescing iu the wholesome policy of A Sin gle Ternm for the office of gover nor, as established and observed by all his predecessors. After Alexandre Mouton up to 1860, inclusive, there were five governors of this State, every one of whom was a democrat viz: Isaac Johnson. Joseph Walker, Paul O. Hebert, Robert C. Wick lifle and Thomas O. Moore, and every one of them served only one made by any one of them nor by their friends to re-elect one, as his own successor in the office. Not that the democrats were dis satisfied with their adminuistra tions; but that the policy of Sin !Il(, 7Teri, adopted by the people, since the organization of Louisi ana as a State, acquiesced in by the whigs, and accepted by the democrats, was considered whole some to good government, .and wise as a means to consolidate po litical parties, preserve that unity, of action without which, there can be no success. The adherence of the democratic party to this poli cy secured its maintenance of power in the State government from 1843 to 1864, twenty one years. The war of Secession, as it is called, came,- defeat followed, and Louisiana ceased to he a State, she became a conquered province, ruled by proconsuls, like the Ro man Provinces of old, under the names of militar5 governors. Un der these, the Province was pilla yed and the people were oppress ed. In 1868, Louisiana was re constructed a State by the State Constitution of that year, framed by that menagic convention presi ded by the Sable Cesar Cains An toine, which delivered her in the hands of the carpet baggers, scal lawags and negro amalgation. Under this oderous regimen, Hen ry Clay Warmoth was elected or counted in Governor of Louisiana, in 1868, he himself did not at tempt to be his own successor in office; his chum William P. Kel logg, was his successor. This State of things lasted until 1876; but the indignation of the white people, had reached the point when forbearance ceased to be a virtue; they rallied under the white banner and General Francis T. Nicholls was elected over S. B. Parkard the candidate of the car pet baggers and negroes. The magic machine was put in motion by William P. Kellogg and Pack ard was counted in. The copse quences were that the governor elected by the people and the ad venturer coqnted in, by use of the machine, backed by federal bayon nets, claimed the office, and dual State governments were organized which brought the State on the very brink of oivil war. It took the prudence of a Statesman and the courage and pluck of a sold ier, to avert the danger, unseat the usurper and rescue the State from the grip of the robbers, with out incurring the risk of a revolu tion. F. T. Nicholls was inaugu rated Governor, he was recogniz ed as such by General Grant then President of the United States, (God bless him for that) and Louisiana resumed her proud poe ition in the galaxy of the Ameri can States. This was a great ser vice rendered the people of Lon isiana by General Nicholls, one that entitled him to their grati tude. The first thing to be done after the installation of Governor Ni cholls, was to rid the State of that *mongred constitution of 1868. A new State constitution was adop ted in 1879 by which his term of office was cut short. For the first time, moved by feelings of grati tude for the great service render ed the State by General Nicholls, his friends presented his name be fore the Democratic nominating convention for re-election, as his own successor in office. If ever there were a man in favor of whom an exception, could be made, that man, was General Ni cholls, yet the convention refused, and nominated Louis A. Wiltz, who was elected in 1880. Gover nor Wilts died during his term and then the Lieutenant Gover R,·. P P. Mt'Elrery. It'ec~nc go..l vernor for the unexpired term. In 1884 he was nominated as the democratic candidate, and was elected Governor. Iin 1888, 'the friends of Governor McEnery did like the friends of Governor Ni cholls, and presented his name befori the Democratic convention to be a candidate for re-election; the convention did not like what they had done, when the name of Governor Nicholls had been pre sented for re-election in 1880, they refused him, the nomination and Governor Nicholls was nominated and was elected a second time Go vernor. Thus we see, that during a period of three fourth of a cen tury, twice the attempt was made to get a Governor to be his own successor in office, and in both in stances it failed in the nominating conventions of the party. When such men as Nicholls and McEnery, could not get the democrats to re-elect them to suc ceed themselves as governor, we hardly think that, when the next democratic convention will meet that they will disregard the long established usage and policy of the party to make an exception in favor of the present Executive of the State. BALLOT REFORM. Capt. Allen Jumel of Iberville parish was in town last week feel ing the sentiment of the politi cians and the people, with a view of stimulating the movement of ballot reform and to have the peo ple organize 'ballot reform' clubs. The politicians who were ap proached by Capt. Jumel at this place did not look favorably upon this move and gave him no en couragement; this was probably because the movement is directly and openly opposed to the present state administration. The ballot reformers will have a grand convention in New Or leans on the 20th of July next to effect an organization, which they claim will be within the Democra tic party; if this be the case it will become a faction, and we may ] expect a campaign similar to the last lottery fight, when perhaps the purists will turn to be rascals as the present administration is Four years ago Foster and his horde of politicians posed as saints and purists, and today they are classed as corrupt and a dis- 4 grace to the state; and a crusade is organized tsooust them out of I the control of the state, and the greatest fear of the new move ment is that the once saints will stuff, defraud the ballot, turn the crank and have the machine do the dirty work; when this work is done the reformers are left out and the rascals counted in by the famous machine. Ballot reform sounds well, the move is certainly a worthy and commenable one if there is any sincerity in the men who are at the head of it. If the leaders of the ballot reform movement, are honest and spotless citizens the movement will certainly become popular, but if they are defeated and dissatisfied office seekers, the people will not be fooled with their talk of reform. The MESSENGER favors reform of all kinds, and desire to see ho nest and honorable people Ill all offices, and for one term only, but will not be the champion of any party or faction for the benefit of any set of politicians; when it will esponse a cause, it will be with a view of benefitting the people, be cause it will believe in the hones ty of the movement it will espon se, and in the integrity of the head of the movement. * CIREAT BATTLES are onthi. naly going on in the human sye. tem. Hood's 8armaparilla drives out di· scE snJ Reotores Health. SUMMER! SUMMER ! t ALL KIMDS OF SUMMER GOODS ... JUST RECEIVED ... THE LATEST STYLES OF LADIES .. . SCARFS ALL DESIGN ... WE HAVE JUST RECEIVED AN IMMENSE ASSORTMENT OF DRY GOODS AND NOTIONS. VISIT MY STORE AND SEE FOR YOURSELF. L. J. GARDEMAL, The Cheapest Store in Town. A. V. FLEMING, CARPENTER, BUILDER AD XANCUFAURER OP HAND MADE CISTERNS. HAS ALWAYS ON HAND A FULL SUPPLY OF COYFINS AND UNDERTA KER:'S GOODS. Iverythlng New And At PRICER I"P'isng C(or'tntition. - . ,- , , .I- . . . _r - . . ." . - / _ - Grand Tournament. The board of trade at a call meeting Monday last, decided to celebrate the Fourth of July this year by a grand tournament, the profits of which will go to the Mar di Gras funds. The committee in charge of the tournament will commence the work of the program pt once. We trust that our people will help them and give them every facility to make a pleasurable and finan cial success of this enterprise. Some time ago I was takes eLk with a cramp in the stomach. followed by diarrhoea. I took a couple des etof Chamberlalu's Colic. Cholera and Diarrhoea Remedy and was immediately relieved. I consider it the beet maedi cine in the market for all such com plaiute. I have rold the remnly to ,ithere and every one who uses it speaks highlyof it. J. W. Strickler, Valley Center, Cal. For sale by T. J. Labbe. REAL ME k I'I is tn. character istic of tlod's jiarsaparilla. J' cures even after other preparations fail. Get IIood's and ONLY HOOD'S. Mr. Gilbert Bienvenu, aged 41 years, died at his residence in this parish, Friday morning the 7th inst., after a short illness. He was buried the same evening ft four o'clock in the Catholic ceme tery at this place, followed by a large concourse of sorrowing rela tives and friends. Mr. Bienvenu leaves a widow and six children to mourn his un timely demise. The Entertainment of the Pupils of the Convent School will take place in College Hall on Sunday. June 30. at 7 P. M. Doors open at 6 p. m. Admlssion 25 cents Children 13 cents. Charles Guteknnst, SURVEYOR -AND CIVIL ENGINEER. Oln!ce AT ST. MARTIL.N!.!, !LA. LOST. ]N'? of Zephirin Pitot. to order of Fd ward imnnto. dated 1th of January 180I, duo 1st of JaHulary 1+95. for $10I). 3i)-d. EDWARD SIMON. W. L. Douus t @UUA io+ ~~roT. $3 H E SA Nn. p. CORDOVANe. 3.PionIY ossea tt ear. hIWORr t4 *Reh; *'I PINh l' `A. " LADIES* Over One Mfulse Pheole wear Wha W. L. Douglas $3 & $4 Shoes AN our shoes are equly atllactesr They give the beet value or theo meer T e - al raseam S yMes . -o t. r s e d weed. S. to $.; save ever ether awkes. Srdealer cantot mspply yn we can. Sedb Dealer. wllhose name will shortly appsea here. Agentt walted. Apply at once. AND aLSOUWmIY SAVE Theest SEWA MOtNEY A MAOD WE OR OUrs DEALERS ieas e you machines cheaper thon yo esm get elewhere. The NELW 33N3E b our b.esta butSwmalk ehkeaper eeeh o tohe OLI AX, IDEAL m other Hilh Arem Iall Rek! tj Sewle Rlachiaem fier $11.00 ad Call o oun ear agent orwrt ime, want youer trades and I prise, tewtr a are uu illl wil, ws wl _r.e as e nlea the world o Lerlae iar $I0.00, or a better P* lowing a ekh le lt $50.00 SthanlFr eaa buy rn us, or our Auea " THE I11 HOl SKIIING ICIBIK C FOR SALE BY GUSTAVE SEEGERI, General Agent --roe- LOUISIANA, I 7o Canal street, l~IW ORLEANS, .LA.