The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1871-12-09

ayes, r-anton is in this ho" G
~~1TsR THRe AZ Delnos1sxov visitors its,!s from
responsible for the maladminis-
tration Of our State Government
and, to-day. it is as deserving of
public confidence as it was in
the memorable canvass of 1868.
When it succumbed under the
Reconstruction Measures of Con-
gress, it left the public finances
in healthy condition, without
having resorted to burdensome
taxation. The party in power is
alone responsible for the increase
Of taxatio beyond all precedent
ard the three-fold increase of the
State debt, resulting mainly from
vcnality and speculation, and
evidently tending to the eventual
confiscation of the property of an
impoverished people.
To illustrate the extent OF our
financial embarrassments and the
urgent need of reform, consider
that the annual interest, alone,
on the bonded debt of the State
exceeds the sum of One Milton
Dollars. Under the existing Rev
enue Laws, fifteen per cent. OF
the amount Of taxes collected
will barely cover the expense
necessary to place it into the
vaults Of the Treasury. The
constantly decreasing value OF
property; the increasing deficit
in receipts, compared with our
rent expenses; the annual pay
ment of this enormous interest
account, the impaired credit of
tho State; the incompetency of
our financial agents, together
with the depressed condition of
trade and the unf;tvorable aspect
of our agricultural interests
present to the Intelligent and
thoughtful a financial prospect
calculated to arouse the most
serious apprehensions and to
stimulate the most apathetic to
earnest and persistent action.
The very Warrants of the
State, Notwithstanding the heavy
taxes wrung from the people, are
hawked about the streets at fifty
cents on the dollar, as if possibly
tho State might be on the verge
of bankruptcy. And Repudia-
tion,-the very idea Of which was
once so repulsive-has become a
familiar word with a people whose
credit and good faith were pro-
verbal under Democratic admin
istrations.
Under these circumstances, any
proposition to disband the only
party extant, actively engaged
in battling against the perpetua-
ton of such systematic corrup-
ton, is ill-timed and fraught with
danger. The aim of our adver-
saries is to confuse and disinte-
CRATE the conservative elements
which make the strength OF the
Democratic party, whose aspira-
tions are tor an honest and econ
omical administration of the
Government. With this view the
twin factions, as a bid for public
favor, propose, at this late hour,
to repeal, amend or modify some
of the laws which weigh so
heavily OH the body polite. How
sincere they are in these now
pretentions, time will reveal but,
without doubt,-and they are
conscious Of it-thcy would ben
eft by a disruption of the Demo-
cratic party and by the inevita-
ble confusion and weakness re-
sulting from Il transition to a
Third or Reform Party, still in
the wont of time.
The Democratic party is now,
as heretofore, essentially n Party
of Reform. In the coming can
vass it will chiefly and vigorous
ly agitatc the paramount ques-
tions of reform in our State and
local administrations. 1t will
confidently rely for success upon
tho active cooperation of all
Conservative citizens, whatever
may have been their political
anteccdents and predictions.
Prominent tamongneededm meas
urcS of reform, are:
l.. The revision of the Regis
tration, Election and Constabu
larry Laws which, at ruinous cX,
penses, defeat, instead of affirm
ing, the will of the people at the
ballot-boN
>. The revision of the printin.