The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1868-08-12
An Aggressive Campaign-Mr.
Hendricks Speech.

lions were made at New York, the can
didates and the platform were assailed
by the Radical press and the Radical
stump orators with all the virulence
and malignity that prospect of defeat
could inspire. The Democrats set to
work to defend themselves, and from
the vigor and earnestness of their de-
fence one would have thought that the
Democracy was responsible for all
|the misgovernment since the war, and
that the Radicals were rightfully enti-
tied to assume the offensive in the an
preaching campaign. Now moments
reflection will satisfy any one that the
position of the combatants was unne-
cessarily reversed. The Democrats
have Tdone nothing which needs any
defence. They turned over the gov
eminent to the Radicals more than
seven years ago in a state of unexam-
pied prosperity, to carry ON which re-
quired only seventy millions of dollars
annually, sum which was not felt by
thu. people in any section of the coun-
try. Since then the Radicals have had
ample opportunity to show their ca
pacity for managing the affairs of a
great Republic, and at their door must
lie the responsibility of the good OF i'll
administration of the government in
that time. To them, and to their mis-
management, is owing the debt of three
thousand millions during the war; the
annual expenditure of four hundred
millions in a time of profound peace;
the anarchical condition of the South
ern States; and the prostration of the
energy and industry of all sections
These things should be charged home
upon this revolutionary party and they
should be held to strict account of
their stewardship during the time they
have had control of the government
For years all the odds and ends of the
opposition entered every campaign
with the leading idea that the Democ-
racy must be beaten that the interests
of the country demanded it. Now that
the Democracy has been beaten and
has had nothing to do with the govern
ment of the country for seven years, it
is for the opposition to show that the
country has been benefited by the
change, and that it will be still further
benefited by continuance of Radical
rule. Let the Democracy, therefore,
waste no more time on such insignifi-
cant questions as whether Seymour
was copperhead and Blair an aboli-
ZIONIST. Let us at once assume the
aggressive and drive the Radicals to
the wall from this until the day of the
election.
We were pleased to observe the eff
fectiveness of this style of warfare on
the delivery of the recent speech ofMr.
Hendricks in the Senate, which we
published in our last and which we
hope has been read by every one. Mr..
Hendricks is the Senator from Indiana,
is the Democratic candidate for Gov
ernor of that State, and received
large vote in the Democratic Conven-
ton for the Presidential nomination.
Soon after the nomination he delivered
the speech in question, which, though
short, went straight to the point, and
spread CONSERVATION throughout the
Black Republican camp. The speech
was unanswered because it is nnan-
swerable. The able Senator would not
descend to personal abuse of the can
didates, the usual weapons of weak
opponents who have weak cause
He was willing 70 admit that General
Grant is distinguished soldier, and
Mr.. Colfax distinguished civilian."-
He dealt only with the platform on
which they stood and with the party
which put them in nomination. He
asked good many questions with re-
gard to the acts of that party, which
he wants answered, which the people
want answered, but which the Radicals
have as yet been unable to answer in a
manner anything like satisfactory
Burying the misdeeds of the war, he
confines himself to the three years of
peace, and calls upon this great party
to tell the people what good they have
done during the time when they have
had q two-thirds majority in both
branches of Congress. The Radicals
found the Southern States almost or
ganized under President Johnson's
plan, and the Southern people content
ed with complying with all the de.
mands that the North had required Of
: them. The Radicals having undone all
; this work, Mr.. Hendricks says the PEG.
pie would like to know what was gain.
ed by it. He says they want to know
why it takes four hundred millions O.
money every year, wrung by taxation
from an impoverished people, to carry
on a government in time of peace
when it cost only twenty millions {