The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1871-04-22

man in sixty days. 1t would now he
| attempted by some Of the Southern
States if it We're not for the restraining
presence ofa Republican President, and
the fact that the National Government
is now in the hands of the Republican
party. But if the State governments
there shall pass into their hands, and
the Government here into their hands,
they, having all the armies down there,
having the military experience, would
drive the colored men from the polls
or compel them to vote their own dis
REIMBURSEMENT, and strip the colored
people Of all their rights, reducing
them, if not to slavery, to the condition
of serfdom. That would be the third
result if you have the Democratic party
in power.
Now, my friends,
WHAT ARE TIE ISSUES
that we arc called upon to try in 1872 ?
First, shall reconstruction be maintain
ed? II was stated in the Senate not
longer ago than last Monday that the
reconstruction laws were of no more
authority than if passed by Il mob or n
town meeting. 1t was said in the SEN
ate on the same day that these amend
ments were fraudulent, and the Demo-
cratic party has nowhere accepted
them. In no convention, by no resolu-
ton, or by no concentration Of Senti-
ment in any State of the Union have
they accepted of these arrangements
But, on the contrary, with the eXcep-
ton here and there of Il newspaper like
the New York World, that is wiser
than most Of its friends, they are COM
mitted to implacablc hostility to each
and every one Of these amendments.
THE NEXT ISSUE.
The next issue is, shall the cOlored
people be maintained in the enjoyment
Of equal political rights: of that I have
already spoken. The Democratic party,
North and South, are committed une-
quivocaliy and ineXorabiy against civil
rights 20 the colored people, and that is
the question perhaps moro than all
others that will be mt issue during the
coming campaign.
The next issue will be, Sh,tfl the Re-
publicans of the South live IN peace !;
shall they be protected in life, liberty,
and property in the Southern States p
With the Republicans of the South that
is the great, all-absorbing question to-
day. They are struggling for life, strug-
Cling for the mere privilege of living
and enjoying their property.
There will he no other great leading
issue in the next election. The Demo-
cratic party say that they are opposed
to national banks, but they dare not
say they are in favor OF restoring the
old State banks. They clamor in favor
of free trade, yet they dare not say they
are in favor of raising the money neces-
sary to carry on the Government by di-
rect taxation. Direct taxes have to be
apportioncd among the several States
under the Constitution according to the
population, not according to their
wealth and
UNDER DIRECT TAXATION
the States OF the Northwest, having !,
largepopulatiOn and little wealth would
pay large taxes, while those of the East,
having greater wealth and less popula-
ton would pay small taxes. The DEM
Ocratic party dare not submit to the
country the question of direct taxation.
They camur about free trade and talk
about repeating all taxes and relieving
the people of the burdens of taxation,
prcsu1niug that the people have not in
tclligcnce enough to inquire how the
money shall be raised to carry on the
Government.
TIE. TARIFF.
In regard to the tariff, the Democrat
ic party has no respectable position
whatever. In the State of Maryland
they are in favor of the highest duty
on coal, which is the most obnoxious
duty on the statute book. In Western
Virginia they occupy the same position.
In Pennsylvania they arc in favor OF
the highest duty on iron; in Kcntuck y
of the highest duty on hemp; in Texas
and Louisiana of the highest duty on
sugar. In short, the Democratic party
are in favor Of high duties in every
State where they have the power, where
they have anything to protect, and in
favor of free trade in regard to every
thing else, but dare not carry it out to
its results.