The Opelousas courier. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1852-1910, 1870-08-20

y
which they write down the infamy OF
their own party, they SOLICIT Il continu-
anee of the support of the people under
the pretence that honest men are to be .
nut forward in The future. If the sal +
vation of the party depends on that tt st,
it must inevitably share the fate of the
cities of the plains, and ITS requiem VIII
besung in November next. But this is .
not only our own, but the verdict OF all
good men, endorsed by MIR. Durant him
self, who realizes how much better 1t Is .
for his ignoble party to be defeated than
survive longer under the leadership OF
such corrupt political adventures as
now at1lict our beloved State.
The pernicious consequences OF the
acts Of the Radical party throughout the
State have been severely felt by AL
classes, white and colored, native and
foreign born. All have been plundcred
deceived, oppressed, and rcstrictcu lff
the enjoyment OF rights guaranteed oy
every law. human and divine. ln order
therefore to redeem our State, ana re-
lease ourselves from the grasp OF lnehh-
cicnt and corrupt men, it becomes US TO
unite us one man, without regard to race,
color or previous condition, and hurl
tllvm FROM place aud power, and I'LL the
Offices with honest men and patriots.
The interests of both white and black
men are Identical in this struggle.
Whatever rights and privileges either
enjoy under the Constitution are sacred,
! and it is the duty OF every citizen to see
that thew are maintained. Tho Demo
cratic party has always upheld and de-
! Tended the Constitution of the country,
and will now, us ever in the past, pro-
/ tect aud defend every citizen III the full
and free exercise of all rights guaranteed
! by that instrument. At the last election
| iii New York, SO triumphant 1Or the
! Democracy, the only charge brought
against the party was, that 1t favored
| the colorel citizens in their cOnstltu-
tional privileges. The colored people
of this State, therefore. may be assured
that the Democracy will ever continue
to live up to the grand principles that
have so long characterized it.
AS the greater part of our nlistortnnes
are charyeaLlc to the last Legislature.
it is in the power of the people to remedy
much of the mischief by the election OF
true and tried men to the coming Leg
islature, tho members of Which are to
be chosen i'm November next. In this
way we may vet save the State from fur
ther financial ani political ruin. TO
that end let the Democratic and Conser-
vativc voters put in nomination their
best men for the Legislature, and use all
laudable and honorable efforts to secure
their election.
besides Legislature, a State Auditor
and Treasurer are also to be elected.
nah, nf 1,H
form; to rid the State of it's enormous
debt; reduce taxation ; have our lcvees
rebuilt; restore confidence and promote
harmony between capital and labor be-
tween the colored man and the planter ;
between the latter and the mere hant ;
to induce immigration, and to develop
the vast agricultural wealth of the State.
For the accomplishment of these pur-
| poses we ask the cooperation OF all good
citizens, under whatever name associa-
ted. We believe great triumph is
, within our reach. Republicanisln has
: produced its bitter fruits, and in them Is
+ written its own condemnation its days
arc numbered in Louisiana! A party
that publicly pleads the cause OF corrup'
s ton: tEat seeks to return to office mel
: who have earned an indelible infamy
h whose watchwor,ls have been fraud, dis
, stimulation and false promises to q ere
/ dulous consistency; WHO ridicule pri
L vatc morality; who publicly proclaim
r that the ruling motives OF their leg1si'
0 ton are spoliation and oppression, can
# not confront the voters of Louisiana ant
4 successfully demand their support.
s We earnestly urge upon the peopl
y throughout the State to organize for tn
0 work at once. The committees OF tn
u several parishes are requested to con
O yene their clubs and elect their dele
Y gates to the Convention, and report tn
G names of such delegates to the Secretar
Il of this Committee at the earliest datt
j. The Committee beg to call the atten
: ton oe the people to the address issue
c by the Democratic members of Congress
j. and especially to that portion recon
e mending the selection of the best me
= for Congress, and only such as can tax
,e the test oath and are under no disabil
): ties imposed by the Fourteenth Ament
d ment. 4 Radical Congress has declare
that those who cannot take the test oat1
=. or who labor under the imposed disabil
a. ties, shall not take seats in that bod.
, We may not stop to inquire into ii
ps pOllCy VA SaIluitJ "a tlic avs VI SohSASs'
N experience teaches US to elect men wi
N are not disqualified. What the Sta
tv needs is representation.
~ With efficient and honest men to f
m our offices Of trust; with wise and tait
he ful citizens as legislators. there can
Va no reason why our people sho uld u
. again be prosperous and happy. v
q have soil that is unparalleled for fl
,;s tility climate that is geuial, aud gre
natural advantages and RESOURCES. L
us be true. to ourselves, and j futu
m oii awaits us of material prosperity rs graz
en aud unexampled as the past has be
ruinous and disparaging.
u, The basis Of representation in t
u State Convention, as revised and fix
by the committee. will be one delegs
e. for every three hundred, and for eve
fraction over one hundred and fifty De
an ocratic votes cast at the last gene
er. election. Every parish shall be entlti
sef at least to one representative. I.
the rule applies to each new parish.
hts All papers friendly to the purposes
On this address are requested to publish
he F. II. HATCH,
tit #~ President Democratic State
Central Committee
sp- THOMAS STEEL, Secretary. --.