The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1874-06-12
To tine Voters Of the Tenth
Senatorial District Of LOui"
siama, Comprising the Par
isFaes of CaTcaSieu, Cam
eFOal, Lafayette, and
ST. LANDRY
st. Landry
From the Lake Charles Eeho.l

uatS III DOAIb1S0A nv AN SCAANP
ton, when the general rule among can
didates is to conciliate voters of all par
ties, I know that such an announce
ment will cost me hundreds of votes,
which | might secure by silence; but,
in my humble Judgment, a a who
asks the people to trust him with the
responsible Office for which ! am a can
didate, ought to be willing to trust the
people with a public. declaration of his
political sentiments. ..FH il.
There are, besides, special reasons,
why you have Il right to expect me to
speak, and to speak plainly. They are
because this is the first time In my life
/ ever sought a political Office; because
this is the first time [ ever sought any
office whatever in this district and be-
cause /. am personally unacquainted
with many of you, especially III the
parish of Lafayette. .
. Disfranchised by the Constitution of
the United States for seven years after
the late war enfranehised only by the
last general amnesty act of Congress, ]
have taken but little part III politics
since the war. That little, like my
political action even since | came, q boy
of nineteen, to Louisiana, has been i'll
the interest of the Democratic party.
I have never voted any other national
ticket, nor any other State ticket, ex-
cept at the last general election, when |
voted the Fusion ticket, except for the
office of Secretary of State, for which l
did not vote at all. My Democratic
record is clear, even from a just supl-
cion. / challenge proof to the contrary.
When, in the fall of 1872, the Demo-
cratic party went down, for the fourth
4s.@c - +rHr11I~o ,a.,,poT1fIrn
years, before the disciplined ranks OF
the Republican party, |, like thousands
of its lifelong supporters in all parts
of the Union, believed it's r~eorganiza-
ton as Il national party Impossible. |
considered it, as a national party, dead
beyond the hope of resurrection. In
the succeeding State elections, particu-
larry in the Western States. ! saw there.
was not even the semblance of Estate
Democratic party. In some States tho
Grange, or, more properly, Patrons of
Husbandry, party, stepped in and took
it's place; in others, there were no nomi-
nations opposed to the Republican
nominations; the Democracy voting, if
at all, with the Conservative, against
the Radical, Republicans. Still | re-
fused to make new party affiliations,
and my political principles remained
unchanged.
At the same time / have always con
tended, and still insist, that radicalism
in politics is fatal to the life of any
party. There are radical Democrats, as
we'll as radical Republicans, and Inever
have allowed, and | never will allow,
any one to dictate to ~ what shall
believe or say. ,I4 .-5@ a.r
I believe that every American citizen,
| has an inalienable right to the free
! exercise and expression of his political
| views, being accountable to the people
therefor.
L believe that most of the glory of
| the American Republic is due to the ad-
ministration OF the Democratic party,
and to an adherence to that cardinal
principle Of that party, Fidelity to,
and q Strict construction of, the Consti-
tuition OF the United States - and j be-
lieye that all the dishonor and disgrace
which have befallen our nation, are
due to a departure from that cardinal
4 principle.
/ believe that the Republican party
was organized for the express purpose
of multiplying some of the most wise
and essential provisions of our national
constitution, and that in the overthrow
of that party the American people
can alone hope for equal rights, and for
| common peace and prosperity,
] believe in a strict obedience to, and
construction of, the State, and of the
United States, constitutions, and in
such amendments to our State constitu-
ton rs are necessary to secure the
enjoyment of the political privileges
hereinafter mentioned.
/ believe it is the duty of the national
government to levee the, Mississippi
river, and to perpetually maintain it's
levees at its own expense.
/ believe that our present State
government is a m0ckery of the rights
and liberties of our people, and the
most audacious usurpatiOn of political
power In the history of the United
States.
i believe that while it remains the
de factO State government, it is the tdu-
ty of every citizen to obey its laws, and
to respect the authority of its officers.
/ believe it is the duty of our State
Legislature to enact q law providing
separate public schools for white and
colored children.
I believe in encouraging a free and
independent press throughout the State,
by a~bolishing the present system of
II OllNiul .JOultiGb1Gs IA e.. NY lCAUf1AE tiIC
people free to publish all legal ndiudi-
ciaI advertisements III newspapers Of
their choice,
r believe In an amendment BIZ onr
I4election laws, abolishing the cnmbTous
and expensive system of registration,
and requiring of every. voter q resi-
dence of not less than one year in the
parish wherein Tie votes. ssat
I believe in the reduction Of the cx-
penses of III State government to the
lowest possible limit, consistent with
an efficient administration thereof, and
in a consequent reduction Of taxation.
believe In an amendment of the
! revenue laws OF the State, reducing ok
listing penalties for non-payment Of
taxes, and providing increased facili-
ties for the redemption of property
sold at tax sales. aiI
I believe iii encouraging, and
strengthening the hands of Che Democ-
racy Of the lately republican States, by
an open advocacy Of Democratic prin-
| ciples, and by carefully avoiding an at
titude of hostility toward the colored
| people on account of theirhTaee. M
believe in impartial justice to all
men, regardless OF raee.9
believe in q thorough reform of our.
State and municipal governments, by
the election of nome but good and
capable officers.
/ believe that no such reform can be
| effective and permanent. unless it be-
gins In the hearts of the peopIe-the
source of political power.
Ibelieve that no government can be
just, peaeeable, prosperous and abiding,
unless its rulers, and the masses Of its
people, recognize their individual ac-
countability to tho Supreme Ruler of
the Universe. s