The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1872-04-06

enemy of their people.
This call for a Convention is made
in no strict party spirit, nor 10 main |
tain or advocate the ascendency of DO I
litical partisanship. At a time when (
the material Interests of the State have |
been made the object of Legislature
and Executive robbery, when every |
household in the State is afflicted by
the ruin which has resulted from the
desolating Legislation of the past few
years, when the poor man and the rich
man are alike made the victims of Leg
islative and Executive spoliatiun, when
the absorbing question is that - taxa
ton, and the universal cry of the peo-
pie in immediate redemption from local
and State misgOvernmenl, the duty of
patriotic citizenship is to silence the
voice of mere party warfare. The
Democratic party being composed of
those whose material interests are
deeply and directly affected by misgnv-
ernment is by the very fact of its exist
ence aParty of reform. Its aim. its
purpose, its spirit, its cardinal priuci
pie, its platform. is reform. The vigor
of ITS unceasing attacks againt- corrup-
ton Is the moving principle of it, po-
liticai action. and il will mete out its
stern rrbuke 10 all corrupt officials
whether they be Republicans or faith
less democrats. Its powerful organi-
cation can be efficiently used as an
agency to accomplish reform. 1t has
now vast political machinery. which
set in motion, will, "a it has done be-
fore, strike terror in the midst of the
present supporters of corrupt gov
ernment, aud it comprises the active,
earnest, working and voting classes of
our people. The name in the ap-
preaching contest will be a mere sym
boil. its raliying cry and political motto
will be reform. for though the Demo
cratic party cherisheS its time honored
princles and will pay due heed 70 ma
tional politics, it will appreciate its
duty to the people by urging them to
consider as the dominant issue the
overthrow of the present State govern
ment, subordinating Federal politics tn
the redemption of our oppressed State
from local misrule. The necessity for
unity and harmony was never more i'm
perative than at this time. The Dem
ncratic party conscious Of its political
power and determined not to reinauish
its responsible mission to restore TO
the people their rights of self govern
ment will not hastily involve itself in
sudden or i'll advised political expert
mrnts, nor will the people accept the
suggestion of its dissolution from u
party whose only record is its ill.timed
birth.
Upon one question of vital interest
to the people the Democratic party
will take determined stand. After
registration and upon the casting of
votes, means will be adopted 20 ascrr-
tain the result. Every candidate,
Democratic or Republican, white or
colored. i entitle To the office to which
h. has been elected by the people.
Any section Of the election law which
leaves to the discretion of board of in
dividuals the power t. change that re-
suit Is revolutionary in its design, its
operations and its purpose, and must
be treated by the people as not upon
the statute book. If the Legislature
were to pass law that there should be
no registration. no election, and that a
board OF five persons wa. appointed to
select your Governor, Representatives
aud other officers, the people would
hold an election and install their officers,
if need be by force, and their action
would he CLEARLY legal. The same du-
" devolves upon them now and they
will perform it. If Congress were tn
pass law creating partisan Board TO
throw out of the count Presidential
Electors, would the people of the Unit
ed States permit that Board 10 exercise
its revolutionary functions Can q
Board or individual partisan discretion
supercede the constitution, the people,
the STATED This Is not question Ia
be determined by the court, but by the
people in the interest of popular liberty
and Republican government, otherwise
this corrupt government can perpetu
ale itself in defiance of popular con
demnatinn at the polls. This issue we
sought by our previous efforts to avert.
tits now forced upon US aud we accept
it.
We cannot too earnestly appeal to
the people to send TO the Convention
the best representatives they can Sc
lect. Questions of deep moment. af,
feot-Ig the material interests Of the
State and the destiny of our people will
be drliberated upon and drcided and
the Convention will be charged with
inuagnrating campaign upon whose
issue will depend the re,cua If our lib
cries and the preservation of our pros.
perity, the honor and pride nf our
State. We feel an abiding confidence
that the people will make a proper re-
Spouse and discharge this high trust
with fidelity to their true interests.
Ii. h. OGDEN.
Pres. Dem. State Central Committee
THOMAS STEEL, Secretary.