The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1870-08-13
To the People of Louisiana.

them, respectfully report the toIlowln
ADDRESS
To their Constituents and the Public
A conference with the press of tn
State, together with their OWL observf
ton Of the state parties elsewhere, liza
satisfied them that the principles en-
bodied in the platform heretofore pui
lished Oh the behalf OF the Peoples pa
ty are rapidly spreading tbroughou
the Southern States Of Virginia, Mort
and South Carolina, Georgia and Ala
bama, and that even increased domesti
reasons exist for an immediate activ
and permanent organization in Louisi
ana.
While such has been the gratifying
reception of the movement, it woul,
argue its insignifcance if it met with nt
opposition. The Peoples party ha
been assailed on two grounds, L. Tha
it abandons the opposition heretofore
made by the South to the fifteenth
amendment of the Federal Constitution
2. That the present situation demand:
rather the organization of an old party
than the formation Of new one.
In regard to the first objection, those
who have inaugurated the Peoples par
ty are perfectly willing to compare rec
ords with any who may malign thei,
motives; but as the objection to the for
nation Of a new party results in the
minds of many of our citizens from ar
honest doubt of its propriety, it deserves
at our hands respectful consideration
The formation of the Peoples party
has found favor in Louisiana from nc
love of innovation or appetite for power
It has been impressed by the necessities
of the situation and the failure of all
other remedial resources to relieve them
Let us enumerate some of these necesi-
ties
l. The occupation of supreme power
within the State by those who seek to
perpetuate the sectionalism of the Union
and the political antagonism OF races.
2. The permanent organisation OF
the colored majority against the Demo
cratic party as the alleged advocates of
a repeal of the fifteenth amendment.
8. The organisation Of a military
State force without any necessity, and
at great cost, tending to arm and dis
cipline the colored people, and thus
compel military organisation among
the whites.
4. A fragrant corruption in every
department Of State and municipal gov
ernments, imputed unfortunately to
both the political parties which have oc-
cupied authority.
S. The creation of large public debt
without adequate consideration. with
the corrupt grant of public franchises
in personal monopoly
6. The continued exposure of the
agricultural interest to the annual over
flow of the Mississippi.
7 TIE want Of an adequate outlet to
the sea for the domestic and foreign
commerce of the Slate.
A consideration of these necessities
will show that the principal evils com
planned of are essentially domestic.
They require immediate and indepen-
dent State action. They cannot be re-
fieved by any distant party operating
from the leverage Of national organi-
satiou. The abuses complained Of are
chiefly perpetuated by rapacious adyen-
turers and Southerna renegades. The
one acting in the name and upon the
perverted authority Of tie colored peo-
pie, the other protesting an equality I'M
and counterfeit authority
from the Democratic party. This COM
biDation has made raid upon the State
and city treasury; which the people of
Louisiana have had no power to resist.
AS this infamous coalition involves the
character and credit of all who love or
ler, who pay taxes, its defeat will re-
Iuire the cordial union of all without
'espect to past party or personal condi- |
ion. The other evils mentioned are
uch as have grown out Of the great prop
'rty changes occasioned by the war,
md are of such character that legiti-
nate aid from the national treasury
viii be indispensable to their relief:
We propose to demonstrate to those
Who still cling to the belief that party
from abroad can protect
louisiana from this array of evils, that
uch Intervention will be futile. In
loing SO we shall neither arraign the
principles Of one or the other of the
Id federal parties, which have hereto
ore divided the country. A simple
tatement of the present national condi-
ion Of these parties will show that
aeh is alike impotent for any effectual
in our behalf.
The whig Party /
Vas founded by true patriots, aetuated
y sincere regard for principles
'hich they deemed essential to the free
ON of the people and the limitations
{ the Government: At the North it
las been absorbed into the Republican
arty, while at the. South it has here
ofore fallen in, and fought under, the
Democratic banner, Il has, then,
eased to exist as national organisation,
nd no aid can be expected at its hands.
The Democratic Party
Held its last national assembly ait
charleston, in 1860. It divided under
pposite constructions of the common
Cincinnatil platform. It adjourned to
Baltimore. where this separation was
aade formal and final. It presented
we Democratic candidates for the Pres
ieney, each an exponent of these con-
icting constructions. Both were de-
lated. One candidate gave his adhe-
ion to the Federal Government for the
esolute prosecution of the war against
he " rebellion while the other distin-