The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1871-05-06
What the Radical Party Has Done in Texas.


APT. G. w. McCRANIE:
Dear Sir have been reading your
editorials showing up Radicalism, and
nave thought you would feel some in
terest in knowing how they were do
ing their nefarious work in Texas for
as it is to behold ones coun-
try being destroyed by evil rulers, yet
it is a duty to watch them while they |
work.
On the lst Of January, 1870, Texas,
with an extent Of territory equal to sew
eral of the largest States Of the Union,
and with resources unequaled by any
country on the face Of the Globe, with
the same population, had an outstand-
ing debt of $509, Gal 0S. She had, to
meet this debt, as assets in hand, either
due or soon to become due by the United
States, $500, O4s 62-leaving a balance
of g, 592 46. She then owned, of I'M
sold lands, 81 1923 $50 acres. The Rad
ical Legislature went into session about
| one year since. To-day, Texas owes
not less than SIC, 100000 debts, created
by said Radical Legislature; and but
| for a provision in her Constitution,
! which was placed there more by acct
| dent than honest intention, her lands
| would ere this have been partitioned
among the various Railroad Companies
| that had the means and disposition to
| buy votes in the Legislature. The
Legislature being now in session, they
\ are taking steps to change the Constitu-
! ton, so that they may yet give away
the lands, as to them may seem proper.
They, by one vote, created debt
(and that as donation or gift) which
was for greater sum than had been
previously spent by Texas during her
existence as State, even going back to
and including her war for independence.
Before 1870, her annual expenses were
are not less than 81 600, 900. The pres
ent Legislature was elected in Novem-
Der, 1869, under a constitutional pro-
vision limiting their term to two years !;
therefore, their term will expire next
November. But they have already de-
termined to hold on to their positions
until November, 1872; and will not
allow an election for members Of the
Legislature until August, 1872.
| Again: We are now without repre-
sentation in the Federal Congress, and
| without any provision for an election
| before the time above stated. In short,
! the history Of the world, since civilized
governments were known among men,
! does not give US a parallel case for the
present Texas State Government. Cor
| ruption, usurpation and outrage are the
| order of the day.
| is the School Bill, under and by which
they hope to force mixed schools, and
thus compel social equality but in this
they will, as they should, fail. True,
there are those among the people of
Texas, as those of Louisiana, who care
nothing for race or caste. Such as these
will, as they have always done, even in
the days of slavery, associate with the
negro on terms of equality. But give
yourself no uneasiness; this matter was
fixed by our great Creator in our organi-
cation. There is in your breast, and in
that of all other men whose opinion on
this subject is worth anything, sure
principle, planted by Him, which will
protect the Southern people from this
curse, Notwithstanding the persistent
efforts of Radicalism. In few years,
those who voluntarily choose to asso-
ciate with negroes will be left by decent
people to the company of their choice.
| would prefer the company of any
| honest negro to that of any white man
who, for the sake of office, or for any
other reason, would thus voluntarily
degrade himself. The negro is more to
be pitied than blamed but there is no
! pity for such "white trash.' No, sir :;
there never will exist in this country
what is styled social equality between
tho races, except with that low, dirty
class of men, and may God help and
protect their families, who arc not to
blame, though they suffer from the acte;
of the men who should protect them.
Although the present picture is in
deed Il gloomy one, yet when we reflect
that we have passed through a frey Or
deal, 4 grand revolution, such as had
not been known among men, and con-
slider tho history of other people and
| other times, we are not only not with
| out hope, but we know of a certainty
that few years more of trouble and
all will be we'll. There is virtue in the
people, and they sciU yet, in due time,
resume the government which of right
belongs to them, and will place men in
office who will administer the govern
ment for their benefit and as now the
people mourn because the wicked rule,
then they will rejoice because of the
change of rulers. Now men without
principle, and who are therefore not
entitled to the respect of decent people,
have in very many instances secured
positions of trust and profit but the
time is surely and swiftly coming when,
like water, they will seek and find their
true level, and the finger of scorn and
unlimited contempt will be pointed at
them. Society will, in due time, purify
itself; therefore let us learn to "work
and watt" and let us learn another i'm
pOrtant 1eSSOn-tO treat men according