The Opelousas courier. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1852-1910, 1872-05-25
fConsnuaicated.j
To the Voters of the Parish of
St. Landry.

GENTLEMEE,--1 am o candidate to represent
this Parish in the lower House of the Legislature
at the election of November next, and have
thought fit to submit my claims for your consid
Grafton and suffrage to that important trust in
this manner; l say important for there never
was time in the annals of this Government
that so much depended upon the election of good
and true men to the Legislature, men that have
the nerve and courage to denounce all tricksters
and speculators in any violation of the rights of
the people. 1t does seem to me that if all the
good and true men in the Legislature, assisted
by the Senate, would take determined stand,
that good could be accomplished. admit that
before this a member dare not open his mouth
in opposition to carpet-bag and scallawag Or
thodoxy without danger of losing his seat but
| the time has come when men can speak, and
those blOod-suckers, like Belshazar, stand and
tremhle. We demand the repeal of all those
laws so obnoxious to the people; curtail the ex-
penses of the State and Parish reduce the IL
censes this can all be done if the people desire
it. by sustaining the reform party-the Demo-
cratic party-as it is the only party of reform
that know. The Democratic party, assisted as
we hope, by the Customhouse wing of the Re-
publican party, will defeat Warmoth; that will
be God-send to the State. We have some hope
of success, and change in our State Govern
ment; The taxes and licenses are unreasonable,
and if there should be short crop this year it
would be worse time than we saw during the
war. Who ever found it so hard to pay his tax
| es and licenses before? And who does not find it
hard to pay them now9 Why is it so;-because
we are Overtaxed, and the people are becoming
alive to their true interests and will not be
hnmbugged any longer. Can we think that Gov.
Warmoth and his adherents are interested in the
general welfare of the people, notwithstanding
his beautiful speech before the close Of the Legs
| lature. No. Gentlemen, [ can not believe in his
reform, and am sorry that any voters in the
State does; there is no doubt he has friends that
Will sustain him, even in our parish, but they
are either deceived, or are his accomplces
Where there is so much said some of the char
ges must be true. Comment is unnecessary: the
people understand this thing and have it in their
power to remedy it. | cannot think they could
be worse off: we see from the New Orleans pa
pers that the citizens are determined to shake
Oft the yoke of oppression and misrule, and we
in the country parishes must try to assist them
in this good work.
Gentlemen, one and all. white and black, come
to the rescue, rally to the standard of demo-
cratic reform as it now is in the State and Gov
ernor Warmoth will have to look up his old
carpet-bag, for he will have to travel-but what,
did say carpet-bag that would insult him now
suppose; he is so rich he will leave in a very
grand style, escorted by senators, legislators,
judges, editors and lawyers of his own stripe
We are not living under a republican form of
government, though the Constitution contem-
plates that we should, and guarantees that right
to every citizen in the land. without distinction
OF race or color, and yet we see it is perfect
farce. What right has a Senator or Represen-
money for any purpose outside of the legitimate
expenditures of the State government. without
first consulting the people, through the ballot
box Bnt as 1t is we are without being consult
ed, and the money squandered in so many ways
that the State is in a fair way to bankruptcy.
/ should call for reduction, of the expenses in
every possible way, and contend for it without
fear, favor or affection. There are hundreds of
good and capable men that would take the res
possibility and act as Governor, Lieut. Cover
nor, Secretary, Treasurer. Anditor and all fhe
other Offices of State for half the pay the present
incumbents receive; and as reform is the order
of the day, let us try, and any that refuse to
submit let him take back seat-or at least he
will be forced to do so at the next election bv
the people. will exert my influence with the
Democratic reform party; my aim will be to act
with those legislators who have the interest of
the people at heart, to redeem the State from
that moral degradation and onerous taxation
which is equally oppressive to all, whatever be
their position in life, race or color
Very respectfully, your humble servant,
j. A. MCMILLAN