The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1874-07-03
"THE HIVES

"A correspondent OF inc AicN:nlttla
Democrat furnishes the following facts
concerning the secret political organi-
zntion started in Now orleans called
! 'sThe Hives :"
This new organization is now one Of
the strongest ever started in our city.
Among its members are lawyers, mer-
chants, bunlcrs--in fact all classes, and
it is likely to WELD Il large influence in
future political movements. The fol
lowing is the official platform:
The question to be put in initiation,
and afterwards ut inauguration, is as fol-
lows:
Are you or are you not interested,
directly or indirectly, in tho payment
of bonds issucd by public authority, in
the State of Louisiana, or in the pay
mcnt of interest thereon?
y candidate unable to answer this
question negatively shall not be admits
ted to membership in any part OF the
organization.
To qualify candidate for member
ship the following pledges shall be
taken, without qualification or rcser-
walton.
Plcdging my good name rs Il Citizen,
and my honor us y man, / solc1unly
bind myself to vote l~r no man, what
ever his praty name or his party :ttiiti-
ations, for any public place or office
legislative, executive, judicial, or min
isteriaI--Who does not, when called
upon to do so, publicly and uncpuivo-
cally declare himself in frvor of the fol-
lowing measures
/. Reputation of The whole ofthc So
called debt of the State of Louisiana
and refusing to vote for amy tax 10 pay
the principal or the interest of the
same.
:. The passage ofan act by the Leg
iSlature OF Louisiana, mt the earliest
moment possible, prohibiting the asScsS-
mont of taxes, under any name or guisC
whatsoever, to pay interest or princi-
pal Of the so-cattcd debts of any city,
town, village or parish in the state.
). The passage of an nct by Congress,
supplemental TO the section of the Fed
cral constitution declaring that noStatc
shall emit bills of credit, making ID II
pcnal ollensc to assess or to attempt to
collect tax TO pay the interest or the
principal Of any bill OF credit issued by
or in the name OF II State, or n public
corporation created by 4 State.
4. Abolition of every State tax upon
| industry known rs " license taxes -
prohibition, 10y Legislative enactment,
of any such taxes by city, town, village
or parish authority, and the entire OK
cmption, by statute, Of all vessels,
whether sea going or river craft, lron
wharfage, levy, or any tax whatsoever,
in every port and at every landing in
Louisiana.
). The revenues Of the state, and OF
! every subordinate government therein,
to hc derived solely from taNutiUn upon
real estate.
4. Reduction of state taxation for
every purpose, to II rate which shall
not exceed 81 50 per head of the popu-
iation of the state [saN, 200, mtu) accord
ing to tho census made in 1870.
7. Limitation of municipal or pur0-
chal taxes, for all purposes, TO Il rate
which shall not exceed seven d0iiaEs
per head OF municipal or parochial pop
ulation (say, 100000 according to the
same census.
And again pl"dging my good nnmo
as !, citizen, and my honor as II man, /
bind myself to aid the superior author
tiles of the organization in their efforts
to secure tho success Of these principles,
and the election of candidates pledged
| to support them.