The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1871-12-20
ADDRESS
TIE PEOPLE OF LOUISIANA.


Now Orleans. November 30, 1871.
A aeaerai meeting of the State CCn-
+,.I Committee Of thc Democratic party
ofInui.;ane WAS conv0krd at New o.
leans, on the twenty second OF A"vem
her instant: The meeting WAS largely
attended by delegates from all portions
of the State.
The committee has auxious'y and
natiently considered the attitude OF
narties IL this State with reference to
the Reform Movement. They have
unanimously agreed that the para
mount issue OF the day is the redenr-
ton of Louisiana from misInie anti mis-
ooyeTnnteit, and that. tn achieve that
purunse. it j. necessary to maintain the
integrity Of the Democratic "r@aniza-
tim. shunniug all political alliances
with er,hcl wing OF the ruling party of
Louisiana.
The Democratic party is not rcspon-
s;hl,, tor the NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. oi oui
State government, and, to-day. it is rs
deserving of public confidence as it
was in tie memorable canvass of 1868.
When il succumbcd under the recon
ssruction measures of Congress, it left
the public finances III Il healthy condi-
ton. without having lesoltpd to bur
densome taxation. The party in power
is alone responsible for the increase of
taxation beyovd all precedent and the
threcfolh increase of the State debt, re-
sultins mainly from venality aud
speculation, and evidently tending toy
the eventual confscation of the proper
ty ofan Impoverished people.
To illustrate the extent of our fuan-
cial embaraSsmcnts, and the urgent
need of reform. consider HAT the anna
al interest, alone. on the bonded deb,
of the State exceeds the sum OF one
million dollars. Under the existing
revenue laws, fifteen per cent of the
amount of tsxes collected will barely
cover the expense necessary to place it
in the vaults of the treasury. The
constantly decreasing value of proper
ty; the increasing deficit in receipts,
compared with current expenses the
annual payment of this enormous in
terest account; the impaired credit of
the State; the incompetency Of our Fl
naucial agents, together with the de-
pressed condition of trade and the I'M
favorable aspect of our agricultural in
terests-present to the intelligent and
thoughtful financial prospect calcula-
ted to arouse the most serious appre-
tensions, and to stimulate the most
apathetic to earnest and persistent ac-
ton.
The very warrants Of the State, not
withstanding the heavy taxes wrnng
from the peoplc, are liawked about the
streets at fifty cents on the dollar, rs if
possibly the State was on the verge of
bankruptcy. And reputiatior- h e
very idea of which was once so repul-
sive-has became familiar word with
a people whose credit and good faith
were prove, bal under Democratic adj
ministration.
Under these circumstances, any pro-
position to disband the only party ex-
tant; actively engaged in battling
against the perpetuation of such sys-
tematic corruption, is ill-timed and
frausht with danger. The aim of our
adversarieS is to confuse and lisin-
tegrate the conservative. elements |
which make the strength of the Demo-
cratic party, whose aspirations arc for
an honest and economical administra
ton of the government. With this |
view twin factions, is IL bid for pubic
favor, propose, at this late hour, to re-
peal, amend or modify some of the laws
which weigh sn heavily on the bod,
polite. How sincere they are in these
new pretensions, time will reveal bnt,
without doubt-and they are consci.als
ofit-tley would benefit by a disrnp-
ton of the Democratic party and by
the inevitable confusion and weakness
resulting from transition to third or.
Reform Party, still in the wont of
time.
The Democratic party is now. rs
heretofore, essentially a party nfsre-
form. In the coming canvass it Will
chiefly and vigorously agitate the para
mount questions of reform in our State
and local administrations. 1t will con
fidently rely for success upon the active
cooperation of all conservative citi-
zens, whatever may have been their
political an;ceetients and predi'ecions.
Prominent among needed measures
ofreform are
/. The revision of the registration,
election ard coHstabularv laws, which.
at ruinous expenses, defeat. instead of
affirming, the will of the people at the
ballot box.
9. The revision of the printing laws
so as, first, to shield the press against
the demaralizing power of partisan
venality, and, secondly, TO cnt down
this item of public expenditure, which,
at present, largely exceeds the sum of