The Caucasian. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1874-1875, 1874-09-12
10 the Citizens Of Rapides Parish.

~ t41e V4t4AeAS " SsaP4ues Sa11SA'
Your Executive Committee, have
thought it proper at this time to adj
dress you n few words Of encour.
agemcnt and caution. The Offices
for registration have been fixed at
suitable and satisfactory places aud
the registration is now quietly pro-
crossing the election precints and
election commissioners as just APP
pointed by the Police Jury are ell
tirely satisfactory to us and fair for
both sides. These Indications lead
us to believe that there is no inten-
ton on tho part OF our political OPP
ponents to attempt any fraud or to
prevent u free and fair registration
and election in this parish. Your
committee have not, however, re-
lied upon their promise nor are they
lulled into inactivity by the fairness
Of the preparations SO far made Tor
the election which is approaching,
btt have taken every precantion to
insure fair election and they guar
antee to you That they will be vigi.
liant and watchfnl until the election
shall have been held and until eve.
ry vote shall have been fairly count
cd. They arcpreparcd to deal With
any attempt at fraud or chicanery
on the part of tho radical negro par.
ty and they hold themselves respon-
sible to you for the conduct OF the
campaign to pcaceable, quiet and
fair conclusion.
Without intending to intimate
and without believing that such adj
vice is necessary or called for by
any contemplated action of yours,
they feel that they would fail in the
duty they owe you, il they did not
counsel such torbenrance, caution
and circnmspectlon on your part
during this campaign, as will Dc
Feat the clear purpose Of our politi-
cal enemies to provoke us to acts Of
violence, which while they might 5e
perfectly unsuitable in themselves,
would by them be distorted into
being evidences of lawlessncss on
our part and would serve them to
make political capital against us
Let us be quiet, and peaceable, but
firm and resolved and the victory
is ours in this parish. The only
hope of the radicals is that we will
lose the fruits of our victory by acts
which will furnish a pretext upon
which to throw out tho vote in this
parish. 7a
We are satisfied that we have q
majority of votes in Rapides, and
it they all register and vote, as we
believe they will of their own &C
cord, and are determined they shall
if solicitation be necessary, we will
once again have the government of
our parish in our own hands. BE
ready to rcpcl any invasion of our
rights, he firm and resolved that
you will not submit to any fraud
or interference with rhis election
either on the part of Kellogg or tho
United States authorities, but act
only when the emergency cannot
be avoided and all will he well.
Register yourselves and see that
all your ncighbors register and vote,
for the issues ut stake are too i'm
portant to allow any man to hold
back and the citizen who fails now
to register and vote is unworthy
the name of freedom. and deserves
to be the slave of the negro as he
will be, and all of us will be, if we
fail to win this election through the
negligence and lukewarmness OF
any of those who are interested in
defeating the corrupt radical party
ut the electio" and restoring our
beloved State to the hands Of the
honest and intelligent people.
Respectfully,
JOHN A. WILLIAMS,
Chairman,
RoBT. p. HUNTER,
w. q. MCGIMsEY,
JOHN L. WALKER,
JOHN W. PREscoTT,
RoBT. T.. LUCKETT,
....r JULIUS LEVIN. r
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