Lake Charles Commercial

Why We Will not Support McEnery for the Nomination.
[Natchitoches Democratic Review.]
Our opposition to Gov. McEnery is based on no personal grounds. If we believed that the man whom we, in common with our fellow citizens, had elevated to the highest position within the gifts of the people, and who occupies that position to-day, was, as a man, devoid of honor, the love we bear our native State, and our solicitude for its reputation abroad-would make us loth to admit it.
We will not seek the political elevation of any man, by the personal abuse or degradation of another. Such a course, would, in our opinion, be far beneath the standard of respectable journalism.
If we can not win in a contest where principle is the issue, and fair play the watchword, we will accept defeat, and keep our self respect.
In the first place, we do not believe that Gov. McEnery's nomination would secure that harmony in the party, and confidence from the people, which is so essential to good government.
There is a wide spread belief, nay, almost a conviction, that he is the candidate of the politicians, who have combined together in the interests of the monied corporations, and monopolies, and that the interests of the masses will be disregarded.
As an evidence of this fact, the very men who are more deeply interested in the perpetuity of the several monopolies in the State, such as the infamous Lottery Company, Fiscal Agent Bank, Penitentiary lease, &c., are loudest in their praises of him, and most zealous in their efforts to secure his nomination. It is hardly consistent with common sense to suppose that they are working against their own interest.
This was not always the case with him. There was a time when S. D. McEnery was regarded as a champion of the people, and a foe to rings and monopolies. This was the record upon which he was elected as Lieut. Governor.
As soon as he becomes Governor, and was placed in a position where he might practice what he had preached, his enmity to the Lottery and other monopolies, either ceased entirely, or assumed the mildest type.
These rings and monopolies are the out-growth of the corrupt Radical government which cursed our people for so many years. The Democratic party pledged itself to reform, and to the work of stamping out these iniquities. We are sorry to say that it has not redeemed these pledges.
The present administration is more directly responsible for this failure than any other. Gov McEnery, as its head, and fully identified with it, cannot escape the condemnation of the people who have seen their interests sacrificed to those of rich and powerful individuals or corporations, in almost every contest which has been made between them.
Again, there have been some ugly charges made against the present administration in connection with the infamous act 93, and the McEnery land grab.
These charges have not been satisfactorily refuted. On the contrary, the Attorney General of the State, in a recent authoritative opinion has said, in reference to the land contract, that it was in violation of the law under which it was executed. While even the most reckless friend of the Act 93, is silent on the subject.
We do not wish to be understood as intimating that Governor McEnery was personally implicated in either. We do not believe he was.
But the stubborn fact remains, that either originators and beneficiaries were, and are still his warm friends and supporters.
While he may not have been implicated himself, it was his solemn duty under the constitution, to see that the laws were faithfully executed. He should not have been content to keep the law himself, but he should have seen that others with whom he was closely connected, also kept it.
If for no other reason, we think the want of confidence from the people is a powerful argument against his nomination. The Democratic party cannot afford to go into the vindication business just now.
No, the party cannot afford to blunder now, and drive from its support the masses, or weaken their confidence.
A temporary success would not compensate for such a loss.
If Gov. McEnery has been wronged, let time, and the sober second thought do him justice as it has done in the case of Governor Nicholls.
Let us nominate some one, who, like Francis T. Nicholls, would be popular with the people, and at the same time, possess the strength of purpose, and iron will, sufficient to purify the party, and around whose standard the old guard, that rescued the State in 1876, could rally.
Let us work for the party more, and for men less.