Rapides gazette. (Alexandria, La.) 1869-187?, 1872-12-28
OUR PLAN OF SALVATION

BUSINESS 1lCu Va ANo" OiAS,~ " |
whether they will maintain the sullen. i
dogged attitude of inactivity when
has been assumed every since the IN c
of Republican government
in this State, or take hold in a spirit
worthy of enterprising men and strive
to build up the trade of this city ana
their own fortunes at the same time.
1t is quite manifest that the power OF
wealth aud the patronage OF private
station have lost to greater extent
their influence over political affairs
here Whether for good or evil, the
voters of the State have declined to
heed the alluring promises Of such
business men as have assumed 10
direct them in their political duties.
There have been strenuous attempts
To divide and antagonize the two ele-
ments, to place line OF demakatlon
between the poor voter and the rich
citizen. In all political movements
the latter class alone has been consult
ed. Their names have been solicited
to give responsibility and finish to all
: proposed plans, while the men VINO
were required to work for Their daily
bread, and could only vote, were not
invited to participate in the councils,
i.
whether I'm the ward, the parish or
5 the State committees. Bat the ma
terial and weighty matters OF the cam
paign were left to chance. The poor
Q people we're expected to vote Tor the
candidates which were nominated nj
;, indorsed by the so-called "old and re-
Il spectable citizens" but they very
d naturally refused to do this, and gave
,r their suffrages to men OF their own
" choosing, who. in most instances, are
men of their own class. Such was the
case in 1868, 1870, and also in 1877
This practice prevailed last canvass
y in more marked degree in the coun
try than in the city.
After each election, however, 1t ha'
been the custom for the defeated par
tx to retire into itself and boast OF ;
or determination not to recognize o
re have anything to do with the radicals
he scallawags and carpet baggers, b.
Oh which titles they designated the Tx
nd publicans. They were negroes an
the friends of negroes, with whom AZ
sociation. even in business wa!
would be a species of moral pollution
= As the Republican has before warne
them. the owner Of q business stan
'o' would lease his property to me
or chant, aud, having nothing else 10 d
~ would lounge around and abuse Il
of customers OF his tenant If they ha
re- pened to be negroes, or white Repu
ro- licaus, the friends of the nesroc
,re This foolish conduct produced disa
me trous results, which naturally recoh'
upon the offender, tor the custome
were driven away from the nerchar
'r who in his turn moved his stock aT;
to q better market, and left the sto
Re- vacant. Then the 'sproperty ownc
at grumbled at radical rule and III!
Igh taxes, and joined the tax-resisters.
nv. In many instances, the traders Ia
ms. been driven into the country, to Ike
so a crossroads store, and sent for
ain supplies to st. Louis or Cincinna
ifs There has been such a change wroug
rye by such practices, aud the altered
hat Iations of labor and capital, that thu
is constant drain OF money fr'
he this State to the Northwest, for 81
. ol plies which ought to run in this Dir
rom ton, and would, it our merchal
eal. were as jealous in their business III
one tiers as they are bigoted in th
he politics.
D SO Now, it Is our earnest desire to
The all this changed, so as to enchal
f,er the profits of business men, not
,ner heavier charges, but by an expans
LOT of business. Instead of inserting
hair their advertisements in two or tn
isb. Democratic papers, who fiatter til
med by pandeling to their prejudices,
a of which are all confined to nearly
the same narrow limits, they should
oent dress themselves to their custom
ned. through such mediums as are liz
how to reach all classes. They should
,;lar and talk as though there were
nv politics in business; that though t
dis. may not like the principles of a
and publican, they have no objection