The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1870-05-14
A THIRD PARTY.
II gwes - g-u a@a. o.. @E
Called the "PeopIe's Party

held its second session in New Orleans
commencing on the 25th, and ending OIL
the 2sth of April. We extract from th
proceedings, the followina.which show
every th& of a general character, dom
by the Convention
The Committee to prepare business
for the Convention, through it's chair
man, Mr.. Burwell, presented the follow
ing report, whichsWas taken up section
by sectiopeand adopted as amended.
The 1ymmittee appointed to presen
TO thN&sociation such suggestions a
may be proper for its consideration, have
performed the duty entrusted to them
and respectfully presentgthe following
- u Il Report. ~. ss,.- .
The present state of affairs in Louisi
ana demands calm conference among
the people. It should belimited to the
peculiar ok gencies which surround her
In the Stat OF. Louisiana, a controlling
political power has passed into reckless
and Irresponsible hands. An immense
and Increasing debt is attended with en-:
hance( taxation. The great city Of New
ORean has become alternately the prey
| o@ predatory bands If partisan robbers.
She ha been checked in her growth by
reputation OF lawlessness and insolven'
cy with repels alike the immigration Of
numbes and of capital. The condition
of the State and city may be described
in the distinct and authentic charge
recently made by the Judge Abel, be-
fore ths sGrand Jury iof Orleans. He is
leportedto have said :sst"I am satisfied
that TIL officers sof the State 1ls and
city had Sby extortion, fraud, bargain
and intt le, robbed the State and peo
pie Of. .mH in the last year than every
thief inh State for FIVE years. all
from thes tchpole to the highest official
in the St and city, seem to have, with
few nols exceptions, been unmindfu]
that the glory fall States consists in
the integHy of agents called officers"
AS consequence of this situation,
our dometic affairs have been taken a.
way fronour citizens and committed to
strangers. and many persons wholly in,
compete1 to administer them justly
While mlny of our good citizens are dis
qualified by disfranehisemeut,s some
Southern Representatives unite in aug
menting he oppression of their country
men.
TlA RADICALS Control the Colorsd Vote
In thiI state of perplexity and oppres
sion ourcitizens naturally look around
for relief They find the chief cause Of
their evil to consist in the fact that the
largest prt of the vote of,the emancipa,
ted is concentrated in the hands OF their
Radicalantagonists. :"
That these voters should turn against
those whose interests are so inextricably
blended with their eown. can only be
explained upon one hypothesis 1t is
the apprehension eyinced by their Radi-
cal friends that some of the citizens OF
Louisiana mediate the repeal of the
rights accorded them by the constitution
al amendments. Upon this unreasonable
and unfotnded theory the largest part
of the ellancipated vote heretofore has
been wialded against the welfare of the
State. This fatalapprehension has been
productive in the great part of the evils
to which we have adverted. It is indis-
pensable that it shall be corrected and
removed. s.s ~ WV f MI
4 The Social ara Labor Questions. 4
Nor can we tonfne our comments to
the injury inflicted upon the political
rights of our people by this deplorable
state Of affairs The feud between the
two races causes state Of feeling unfa-
forable to productive industry, and to
domestic comfort. The antagonism. while
II promotes the interest Of the politician
Il destructive to those Of the planter. Il
iaoreoyeI keeps away an immigration
which you'd always side with law and
order, and would ldeveIope the mate
rial Interests Of The State. To relieve
ourselves OF these great evils requires the
restuation Of public integrity and ofso-
ciaI peace. To effect this object, two
mdes, have been proposed.
D Plans Of Relief
1. Toereorganixe tho fermer nation
al parties. hi Il 2His .sslsss III
3. To unite all the citizens interes-
ted ID restoring the welfare Of Louisiana,
without regard to their antecedent con-
dition, political Eor legal. II
Il is not the object Of this report to
condemn any Of the old parties. Each
Of them has becorns 90 complicated with
the present condition of affairs as to pre-
vent that cordial cooperation Of the
people which is essential to Our safety.
The .antagonism between these parties
may dispose the members of each rather
to remain neutral than to contribute to
The snccess Of either against ! comhion
and formidable enemy. In assuming,
therefore the political responsibilities Of
any former party; we commit ourselves
to a combat wholly defensive. We would
address ourselves to the principal propo-
sition. As the Radical party has ingra-
tiassd itself with the colored vpters as
the sole advocate Of their freedom, we
can only secure relief by demonstrating
that the. Radical party is inaincere and
corrupt, and that. the true interest Of
the colored citizen demands that the ad-
ministration Of public affairs should be
ID the most permanent and
men Of the State. This may
be readily demonstrated When, how
ever, we assail the corruptions Of the
Radical Legislaturs, they allege, in de-
fence, that some Of their most Hagitious
acts could not hare been carried without
The vote of Democratic members. H we