Rapides gazette. (Alexandria, La.) 1869-187?, 1872-07-27
Pinchback to the People,
kEPUBLICAN ASS .MaErGSG AIy ST..
HELENA-FIyE PARISHES REPRE-
sENTED-sPEEcnEs BY LIEU
TENANT COY. PINCHBACK
AND GENERAL a. T.. &.
BARBER.
- ~ =
The lieutenant Governor said:

uCtlc Udlk, uiu my ''-'l'SSSNr =" -. ~
much. water up here, but 1t is perhaps
better to have a little too much water
than to have what | find in some par.
ishes-a little too much whisky. .s2iis
In opening my. remarks, 4 mnsi
state that have, not come here &c
much for The purpose of making q
campaign speecinasifor the purpose Of
setting myself right before you, and
am deeply grateful for the, INVITATION
which has afforded me So good an op
portunity 10 do so. .sIsdas-i5 81 st
The Lieutenant Governor, then in a
very forcibIe and polished style, re.
viewed the charges made against him
by the emissaries of the Customhouse
ring, with view especially to destroy
the confidence of the coioreti people in
him, and which chad made Sstreial6us
effortstoprevent tiien from attending
either his meetings or those of his
friends. Referring TO the latter fact,
the speaker said I, IF n the -chargrs
these meniInake against Inc are trs,e.
they can prove them, and they would
be willing to allow you to hear ms de-
tense but they know full well that
they are false, and therefore they
strive to prevent sou from hearing me
or my friends in my defense. Isn't
that SOP Loud cries of yes, yes; it
is so. ,.eA-l D'l1. @JIS--
And not only are tie 5eustomhouse
satellites opposed to hearing of or from
rue, but they are afraid to permit IA
discussion of their own principles and
policy. Z say afraid, and mean il.
They do not dare to meet in debate
any ore who is familiar with THEN
acts. They want to keep you in ig-
norance of the true state of affairs, as
is that lies their only hope. They
seek darkness; they shun the light,
one ray of Which would expose all the
bideousness of their acts. L affirm,
without tear of contradiction, that any
set of principles, or any policy which
will not bear ventilation, must neceS-
sarily be bad. That's so, that's SOL
Fir dealing, honest men are always
willing to give their opponents hear
ing and leave the verdict to the l,eo-
pie, who are the proper persons to de-
eide which side is right and which side
is wrong. For my part, / am ready
ut any time to meet aud discuss any
political question with whoever de
sires to do so. ! may not, it is true.
use such nicely turned sentences, or
such elegant English and perfect logic
as some. college bred gentlemen, but
in my own quiet, plain, homely way,
will state the facts-the truths as they
appear to me.
Z Z Addressing himself to his white au-
. ~ n
ditors, of whom there were above
mostly Democrats, he said
Yen, geutlemen,' complain that we
people are trying to Afrieanize
this State. Nothing is further from
eur purpose, nothing is more foreign
to our desires. We. have never
thought of such a thing, and it is only |
through designing unserupulons dem
agogues thatyou have'been led to be
ieve such eli absri:dity. GdE
Again, you urge that you do not
wish to bc.ruletl by ignorant men. In
his you are right. But don blame
the colored people for being ignorant,
'or it is not their fault. Ordinarily, |
t is q fault, amounting almost TO IA
crime. to be ignorant butt is no dis
grace to the colored people to admit
heir ignorance, ,because they have
lad-no chance to be, otherwise. And
right here, may remark that igiior.
snce is not confined exclusively to our
race. There are a great many whites
Who are ignorant also, notwithstand-
ng their opportunities. Ii you desire
> better government, then help us 70
make 1t BY coming into our conyen
tion at New Orleans, on the ninth of
August and putting upa ticket that
will command not oaly the attention
but the respect and the votes Of the
whole people. !, So. -. -. /. -al
The Republican party isequal to all
he demands of reform, and We mean
o have 1t. Come with us, and rest
assured you-will find how false the
statement Is that We desire all the of.
Ae e sieb ourselves IA voice; Z. Do