The Caucasian. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1874-1875, 1874-05-30
OATH OF.DFFICE.

| fee required by. the constitution t
be subscribed to by all officers be
fore they entered upon the dis
Icharge Of their duties, as q reason
why, there should not be a white
mans party, as the officers elected
on that issue could not subscribe
to the Constitutional oath. The
following is the OATH:
At "a. By do solemnly swear, or affirm
that l accept the political equality Of Il
men, and agree not to attempt to deprive
any person or persons, on account of race
color, or previous condition, Of any politi
cal or civil rights. privilege or immunity
enjoyed by any other class of men, &c"
There is nothing in this oath that
we can not cheerfully subscribe to
1t is not proposed by those who be-
lieve it to be a necessity to unite
the white people of this country in.
to a political organization, in oppo'
sition to negro incompetency, and
their effort to Atfricanize the State,
to deprive the negro. of any rights
that have been conferred upon him
by the constitution and the laws.
We do not seek to deprive him
of his right to vote, to sit on the
Jury, and to hold office, nor any
right exercised by any other class
of men, but we believe to be q duty
of the. white people Of this State, to
make a bold and determined effort
at the next election, to secure a
representation. of the honest tax.
payers and property holders, to SO.
cure the reMs of government from
the ignorant and depraved negroes,
and his carpet bag allies, whoregard
power in the State government on.
~ as a means of gorging themselves
with public plumber.
The political issue of white and
black is not a new one in this State,
for the negro from the earliest da te
of his acknowledgements has used his
ballot, alone. in the interest of
and for his race. His hatred of
the white race, and the exclusion OF
the intelligent tax payers from of
flee, has been the ruling motive, and
will continue to be, so long as he
exercises the ballot. His ignorance
and his hostility to us, blinds him,
to the best interest of both classes,
and our only hope Of escape from
his rule of ruin and desolation is to
organize and unite, into a compact
political organization, the white
masses of Louisiana, and by supe-
rior Intelligence and activity, de-
feat the negro party at the polls.
The negro has forced this issue up
on us, and we must meet it; manful-
ly and boldly, as there is no way of
escape from it. 1t may be as the
Opelousas Journal says, there is a
large number of respectable colored
men in favor of reform, and oppos-
ed to the rule of the corruptionists
in this State. If that be the case,
we see no reason why they should
not cooperate With the white peo-
pie, in their effort to secure good
honest and capable white men for
office, who will do Justice to both
races, restore an honest and econ
omical administration of the gov
eminent, that will secure the bles-
sings of peace and prosperity to all
alike without reference to race or
color. If the white party should
elect a majority of the members of
the Legislature at the next election,
which is probable, there is nothing
in the constitutional oath that they
could not subscribe to. With more
propriety, the Journal might say
that. the negro could not subscribe
to the oath, for he has in the past
used his power to deprive the white
tax payers.and property holders of
representation in the State govern
ment, and has legislated with the
sole view Of perpetuating the polit
ical power of his race.
- We call attention to the no.
tice, in another column, the meet
ing to be held at the Town Hall, on
the 18th day of June-next Thurs
dow IN +ol1a into oopc;1 oro4;o,, ~, ~