The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1870-07-27
Address of the State Central Committee

interests involved IN the election IN November, the
Democratic Staie Central Committee deem 1t lncum-
bent on them to set forth to the people the political
condition of the State, and to call earnestly upon every
Conserv tive voter to aid IN redeemlng 1t from the
hands of the corrupt men who have ruled 1851
The hour is suspicious; the future is full OF promise
We have but to unite, organize and march to victory
Other States have set US the example. North South;
East and West the foles and crimes of the Radical
partv have not only awakened the people TO sense OF
danger but filed their hearts with the spirit of reTlb-
uve Justice toward those who have made merchandise
of their To- ally, and betrayed their trusts Dlshon,
esty and ncompeency have controlled and perverted
national affairs until those WORDS have become but con-
verble terms for the very nsne of the Republican
party Oregon has responded to Connecticut, ana
New York has spoken through victory Of more than
,U0G majority not that Radieallsm must be, but Is
o7erthrown. 49,,
While it is not our purpose to dwell upon national
politics. it may be well to nde he unmlstakaole evil
dences of dissatisfaction manifested IN every section
against the present Federal Administration 10 the
people of the United States Capitalization is synony-
nous with despotsm, and the rapid strides IN that d-
recton made by Congress have justly alarmed the en-
tire country. With no deceit respect Tor the rights Oh
the governed States have been subugated represeh-
tation to Congress denied the voice OF overwhelming
maories disregarded, and as If to crown all these
acts Of nfamy aud usurpatlon, Congress has !ald ts
poIlued hands on the Supreme Court Itself. Under
the domination of the Radical party bribery and cor
rupton have grown respectable aud systematic plum
dering of the national treasury honorable protes-
sion taxation fearully increased IN the interest OF an
| Sot'SSSAoN3
grinding mOnOpoleS created that Cypress LABOR; ana
| under the fimsy disguise OF gifts me ofhces OF the
national government are sold tohe highest bidder, or
bestowed in obedience to an unhushng system OF nep-
otsm.
| If SUCH and similar evils of a corrupt party have
awakened the people of other Staes to sense OF the
dangers that bid fair to engult item shall IL De sala
that the people of Louisiana are less keeniy awe 10
the abuses that have grown up II their state govern
ment under the three long years OF Radical mlsrue,
and which, if continued, must inevitably drive LABOR
and capital from the stare ana ptlhg rum 'o every
| household?
1t will not be disputed that our last Legislature was
reproach to civilization and civil liberty 1t trampled
upon every virtue thai should ad0ru the character OF
honorable men and etvaed every crime 1t should have
sought to repress Ignorance, brazen lmpudence ana
vice qualifications necessary to seat on the Rad
cal side of that holy, and when the treasury was
robbed the people PLACED and legislative acts SOLD 10
the highest bidder TO greenbacks, these members ola
but reflect credit he trinity that brought them into
| official existence. =.
The length designed for this address will not permit
YOUR committee to ater into detail OF all the nta-
nous acts passed by that Radical Legislature with Ex-
| ecutve approval The public debt under Radical
hands has grow from twelve millions to eighteen mil
lions of dollars taxes have increased to 81 per cent,
| touching the limits of CUnIscatlOn; individuals and
corporations have been grated extraordinary and ex-
elusive privileges at viii free labor and tree capl
tai enormous sums have been granted to individuals
from suffering treasury fer trivial and unnecessary
services and useless and oppressive offices have been
created to make places forWanderng mendcants OF
the party who OBTAIN their HlHS W eAto!tihS hoheS
! from every species of homes industry.
In the hope of perpetuatIg themselves in power the
Legislature passed the registration, election and militia
laws, each receiving Execulye sanction, and when,
perhaps are the most odlRs unj ust and oppressive
measures that dsgrace the statute books OF any
State. In their folly and magnify they passed laws TO
enforce the social equality lot only OF different races
of men, but of the bad witt the honest and of the Ii
centous and abandoned VIII the pure and upright
In like folly they passed law to reorganze our once
magnificent system of pubt school inst uction, with
no higher motive than to degrade, as they thought
the white people of the Stall aud to create breach
between them and our coIfed population all these
measures, adopted uuder te pretence of regulating
commerce, traLe, the publ schools and the amuSe-
mentS of the people, being 1ay Intended to pave the
way to mlscegenation In short, the legislation OF
1868, 1859 and 1870 be joudensed and summed up
IN four words lGNoRANCg VENALIrY, MONOPOLY and
IMPRESSION
That 1t NAV not be said that these conclusions are
but the judgment of tbs enemies of Radcallsm, we
propose covct that pay OF all these grave otenses
III well chosen words utteeo by Its own champions ana
defenders. There is no Brighter hight IN the ranks OF
that party in this state pan Thomas }. Duran and IN
so tar as he may be rore candid than his political
friends is his TESTIMONY the more conclusive OF the
truth of what we haveaid. In his letter dated June
o. 1870 aud addressedo MI j. 5. Soudt, speaking OF
the Radical leaders inhs State, he says
There must be a absolute separation from the
dishonest and incompetent men who have ruled since
iS67''
This is strong lanuage, yet it is surpassed in
verify by Repubcn address just issued with the en-
dOrSetnent
- itrzens and Renblcans After an experience of
two years under y leadership of the most dishonest
an@ gt St Of 0 re- a 5a t9 z agfaesa RoIS
you are now caledpon to Rescue the State from the
hands OF the poIltn adventures a0h0 haze brought
on the 0erge OF bafa'uptcy!"
Thus it is seen lat verdict is approved by lead
ing men of the Reubic parry; and yet IN the same
breath in which icy write down the ntamy OF their
own party, they slc continuance of the support of
hnp fh
be put forward ithe future If the salvation of the
party depends onhat test it must inevitably share the
fate of the cities the plains and its requiem will be
sung in Novembenext. But this is not only own,
but the verdict otll good mea, endorsed by Mr.. Du-
rant himself whUeahzes how much better it is tor his
ignoble party to defeated than survive longer under
the leadership of lch corruP political adventures
as athict our eOyed state
The pernlclOus Consequences of the acts of the Rad
cal party throughput the STATE have been severely felt
by all classes wife and colCred native and foreign
born. All have cen plundered, deceived, oppressed
and restricted ithe enjoyment of rights guaranteed
by every law huan and divine. In order, therefore,
to redeem Sate, and release ourselves from the
grasp of iueticlat and corru men, 1t becomes us to
unite marwithout regad to race color or pre-
vious condition, nd hur then from place and power,
and fill the oticewith honestm and patriots. The
interests of bottH hite and black identical in
this struggle Whatever rights and privileges either
enjoy under the Constitution ar. sacred, and 1t Is the
duty of every clten that they are maintained
The Democratic prty has always upheld and defended
the Constitution the country,an VIII nov" as ever
in the past proee and defend erery citizen In the full
and free exercise all rights guaranteed by that in
strument at thelast election New York, so tr-
unphant for the Lmocracy, theonly charge brought
against the party 'as that it fapred the colored ct
Gems In their constitutional privileges. The coored
people of this Sat therefore, may be assured that
the Democracy vii ever contipe to live up to the
grand principles tlat have olg characterized it.
f As the greater pFt of our msortunes are charge
able to the last LEGISLATURE it IN the power of the
people to remedy mich of the mischief by the election
of true and tried men to the conng Legislature the
members of which to be chosen in November next
In this way may yet the State rom further
financial and oltca ruin. To that eud ct the Dem
ocratic and Conservative voters put IN nonnaton their
best men for the Legislature, and allRudabe and
honorable efforts to secure their election.
Besides a Legislature, State Auditor nd Treasu.
rer are also to be elected.
Our platform is retrenchment and retOTI to rid the
State of its enormous debt reduce axatp have our
levees rebuilt; restore confidence and pmote bar-
mony between capital and labor; betWeethe colored
man and the planter between the latter the mer
chant to induce immigration, and to devp the vast
agricultural wealth of the STATE For theccomplsh-
? ment of these purposes ask the coopttion of all
1 good citizens, under whatever name ass@ted. We
believe great triumph is within our reae Republi-
j canism has produced its bitter fruits, ann them is
written its condem nation; its days anum hered
in louisiana party that publicly ples the cause
of corruption; that seeks to return to OF men who
D have earned ndeble nfamy; whoseatchwords
have been fraud, dssimuat on and false 1mlses to
y credulous constituency who ridcue priv morality
who publicly proclaim the ruling MODS of their
legislation spollation and oppresson,nnot con-
front the voters of Louisiana and successy demand
: their support.
e We earnestly urge upon the people thEhout the
State to organize for work q commit