New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-12-02
ADDRESS
TO THH
PEOPLE OF LOUISIANA.

| Rooms OF THE DEMOCRATIC STATE CENTRAL }
| Committee.
. New Orleans November 50, 1871. }
! general meeting of the State Central Commit
). tee OF the Democratic party of Louisiana was con.
voked at New Orleans on the tweuty-secoud o,
November instant. The meeting was largely at.
tended by delegates from all portions of the State
The committee has anxiously and patiently con.
sdered the attitude of parties in this State with
reference to the Reform Movement. They have
unanimously agreed that the paramount issue OF
| the day is the redemption of Louisiana from mis-.
rule and misgovernment, and that. to achieve that
purpose, It Is necessary to maintain the integrity
OF the Democratic organization. stunning all poll.
| teal alliances with either wing of the ruling party
| OF Louisiana.
The Democratic party is not responsible for the
| maladministration of our State government, and.
to day it is as deserving Of public confidence as it
was in the memorable canvass Of 1868. When il
suceumbed under the reconstruction measures OF
Congress, it left the public finances in healthy
condition, without having resorted TO burdensome
taxation. The party in power is alone respons ible
for the increase of taxation beyond all precedent
and the treefold increase of the State debt result
ing mainly from wealthy and speculation and evil
IDENTITY tending to the eventual coaiscatioa of the
property of ali Impoverished people.
To illustrate the extent OF our financial e,bar-
easements, and the urgent need of re iorn, consider
that the annual interest, alone, the bonded debt
OF the State exceeds the of one million dollars
Under the existing revenue laws, fifteen per cent
OF the amount OF taxes collected will barely
the expense necessary to place 1t i'll the vaults OF
the treasury. The constantly decreasing value of
property; the increasing deficit in receipts com
pared with current expenses the annual payment
OF this enormous interest account; the impaired
credit OF tie State the incompetency Of our fnan.
cal agents, together with the depressed condition
of trade and the unlavorable aspect Of agrcul-
t'iral interests-plesen 10 the intelligent ard
Thoughtful financial prospect calculated to arouse
the most serious approximations, and to stimulate
the most apathetic 10 earnest and persistent
action.
The very warrants of the State notwithstanding
the heavy taxes wiring from the people are h..wked
aoolt the streets at fifty cents the dollar as if
possibly the State YVES the verge of bankruptcy
and repndlation-the very idea of VIII ch was once
80 repu!sive-Las become a familiar WORT with
people hose credit and good faith proveIb.al
under Democratic administrations.
Cider these circumstances, any proposition to
soand the ouly party eXtant actively engaged IN
battling against the perpetual of such system
attic corruption, is illtimed and frausht with dan
ger. The aim OF adversarIes is 10 confuse and
dI,intt CRATE the conservative elements which
make the strength Of the Democratic party Whose.
aspirations are for an honest and economical al.
nlinistration of The government. With this view
twin factions, as bid Tor pubic favor. propose at
this lat hour 20 repeal, amend or modify some of
the laws which weigh so heavily the body polite
How sincere they in these new p1etensions,
time will reveal; but without toubt-and they are
conscious of it-thcy would benefit by disruption
a.. he ,..tI IL and -aJ,I.
fusion and weakness resulting from Il transition 10
third or Reform Party, still in the wont of time
The Democratic party is now. as heretofore es
sentinlly party OF reform. IN the coming canvass
1t will chiefly and vigorously agtate the para.
mount questions OF reform in our State and local
administrations. Il viii confidently rely for sue
cess upon the active cooperation of all coEseTva
tive citizens whatever may have been their politi-
cal anteeedents and predictions.
Prominent among needed measures of reform
/. The revision of the registration election and
constabulary laws, which, at ruinous expenses de-
feat, instead of affirming, the will of the people at
the baot-box.
g. Tie revision of the printing laws as. first, |
TO shield the press against the demoralizing power
OF partisan venaty, and, secondly to cut down |
this item of public expenditure which, at present |
dollars annually, TO the amount heretofore spent |
under Democratic administrations, which was less |
than fifty thousand dollars.
3. The revision of the Metropolitan Police laws |
under which the public expenditure is threefold |
larger than in former times, or than is warranted |
by present circumstances, and their amendment |
SO as to restore the police OF New Orleans to its
legitimate sphere of action. instead of its being
made a political instrument in the hands of the
Executive.
T. The repeal of al laws and ordinances taxing
abor by means of licenses, and the revision of the
revenue laws the State, to the end that all taxes
and licenses shall be levied uniformly, equally at
reasonable rates, and in accordance with 4le pro-
visions OF the constitution, and that their col
ection be effected for a compensation reduced to
'ne-ha # of the present plotigate charges.
We therefore earnestly urge III on all the Demo
,ratic and Conservative citizens of Louisiana to
organize themselves thoroughly with a view to
uccess in the approaching canvass Let them at
nee elect parish and ward committees through. |
ut the State so to insure concert of action Let
IS be united and ready, one man W hen the time
ONES to hold a convention, and select our standard
bearers, i'll order that best and purest citizens
nay be placed in the field. and our triumphant
uccess-tLe success of the people-be eifectually
chieved. HENRY b. OGDEN President
IHoM.s STEEL. Secretary.