New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-05-09


l.. G. LIE Breton, d. A. Howard,
| John Phelps, g, Bob,
! 0. Carriere, o. FOrstall,
Ernest FOrstall, DIR. +. Durel,
| Thomas H. Kennedy, Arthur Carrie,
| Henry M. Payne, b. NJ. HarrOd.
RANDOLPH TALKS REFORM.
The president introduced Mr.. William
NJ. Randolph as the first speaker, and he
began in the way of telling the objects of
the meeting by drawing parallel between
former times and those at present concern
| ing taxation, now more onerOus than ever.
! There was no compensation for the taxes
paid into the treasury, so he said, no
| public works or buildings, no improve
ments to show for the enormous
amount of funds poured into the treasury.
| "You," said he, ''have been robbed under
the forms of law, the very worst of all rob
berries" He ought to know As there
was no relief to the citizens after many
| trials, the Committee of Fifty-On was or
ganized at the Mechanics Institute for the
purpose of protecting the citizen, and, be-
ing called a second time lat the City Hail.
| to overlook affairs, the committee deter
mined to make an appeal to the citizens to
rescue themselves from the pangs of party
burdens They had done so and org anized
the Reform concern. The Democratic party
had failed, and hence it were better to walk
out of the ranks of that party and unite
with those Republicans who are willing
also to "walk out of their party" for the
purpose. Under the idea that the State
had been badly governed, the people wished
to form a new party, and out of all
other parties the Reform party was organ
lied. He felt that this plan had succeeded
by looking at the vast assemblage before
his eyes that evening. Under that grand
old English word ''reform" the mum bers
had united, and the association had for its
object ignoring of all bad men, the ousting
of all unworthy and vile individuals who
had written page of infamy" in the his
tory of the State, and the substitution in
their places of men who would be worthy
to fill them. He lost sight of the nomina-
ton at Cincinnati and that which would
take place at Philadelphia in view of
the great peril of the State, and
higher than any other consideration. In
the first place, the party must have Gov
ernor who should be ''abOve reprOach," ;" and
every department of government should be
filed with a competent and honest man.
"Keep and hold together" and stand fast,
said he, by the principles of the party
whose objects he had above explained.
Do you propose to elect Governor War
moth to elect the same Legislature you
had last yearl Being answered "NO," he
called upon everybody not to let the Gov
ernOr 20 impose himself upon the people,
and identify himself with the new
progressive party. That in sympa thizing
with the new party they might be obliged
to take him in. In relating an incident of
Governor Houston, who had said: How
the widows hogs came into Mr.. Burnett's
pen was for Mr.. Burnett to explain and the
people to suspect" how, in the same man
mer, Governor WarmOth had made his for
tune was for him to explain and the people
to suspect. Hestyled the proposed city park
" COW pasture" The bill providing for this
park was passed in plundering object, and
taxes were to be paid tor its purchase to car
ry out these objects. "They may talk about
reputation of these taxes as much as they
please, but he who can not pay his debts is
repudiatOr. PAY not a dollar
of the fraudulent debt" and in a short
time the whole people would come to the
conclusion not to iquidate this indebted
ness, accumulated fraudulently. When the
honest Legislature was elected, a commit
tee would be appointed to pick out the good
from the bad debts, the latter of which
should not be paid, and every act of the State |
officials by which they betrayed their trusts |
would be investigated, and every dollar |
filched from the State would be paid back; |
the aforesaid officials would be obliged |
to come into court one by one. He held, on |
the Presidential question, that there was |
not a particle of difference, as far as the |
welfare of the State is concerned, which of |
the two candidates should be elected. The |
highest above all other considerations is /
the welfare of the State of Louisiana.
By the time Mr.. Randolph had concluded,
the platform had filed up, and the crowd in
front had gathered in a mass of about |
1900, without enthusiasm of any kind, ex-
cept to call for various parties whom they
wanted to speak and be impatient on gem
eral principles. 1t was noticeable that the
crowd consisted of Republicans in ma
jority.
WALKER TALKS sEETIMET.
While the throng was still in commOtiOn
Mr.. G. L. Walker was introduced by the |
chairman, and spoke as follows:
FelloW-cit1zens-Grav responsibilities
rest upon us all. The eloquent remarks of /
the gentleman who has preceded me fully
explained the condition our State is in, and |
l need not eulOgize upon that subject to
any great extent, but viii repeat by saying |
that grave responsibilities rest upon those
who attempt to organize new party, but un-
der the present circumstances the voice OF
the people indorses the party that will save /
the State Of Louisiana. ] do not, however, !