The weekly echo. [volume] (Lake Charles, Parish of Calcasieu, La.) 1868-1876, 1874-09-26
Platform of flEe White Peopie
Of Louisiana.


lana, embracing the Democratic
party, the Conservative party, The
White Mans party, the liberal
party, the Reform party, and an
others opposed to the Kellogg
usurpation, do solemnIy resolve
and declare that the government
now existing ia Louisiana origin
ated Ia and has been maintained
by force and fraud in opposition
to the principles Of the Constitu-
ton Of the United States and in
violation Of every principle Of JUS
tice and liberty.
Thai the dominant faction or
the Radical party iii this State
has, BY false and fraudulent repre-
sentations, infamed the passions
and preindices of the negroes. as
"a race, against the whites, and has
thereby made it necessary for the
white people to unite aud act to-
gether in self-defeuee, and for the
preservation Of white civilization.
That the rights of an men, m
der the Constitution and laws of
the land. must be respected and
preserved inyiolate, irrespective OF
race, color, or previous condition:
but we deny that Congress Gun
eonstitutionally enact laws to force
the two races into social union al
equality.
That the white people Of Louis
lana have. no desire 20 deprive the
colored people of any rights to
which they are entitled, but we
are convinced that reform is i'm
peratively demanded, and can be
effected only by electing to Office
white men of known capacity and
integrity; and we believe that large
numbers of colored citizens viii
vote With us, to secure a govern
ment which must be beneficial
alike TO both races.
That we disclaim earnestly any
intention OF CARRYING, Or attempt
ing to carry. the approaching
election BY violence. and that
charges to this effect emanatine
Ffoms our Radical enemies are
without foundation, and are fa4se
Nv made for the purpose fobtain-
ing the aid Of tile military forces
of the United States i'd order to
oyerawe the people, perpetuate
the existing usurpation. and sub
vert the true principles Of the
Government.
That NJ r kellogg is q mere /
usufper, and we denoanee hilh as
such; that his governments is arbi-
trary, unjust and oppressive, and
that it can raaintain itself only
through Federal interference; that
the election and registration laws !
under which this election Is being /
conducted were intended to perpe- i
trate the usurpation by depriving |
the people, and especially our nat |
uTalI8ed citizens, of an opportunity /
to register and vote; but We an-
nonnce distinctly that il IS tue de- 4
termination Of the people 10 have (
q fair and free election, aud to SEQ +
that Tie result is net changed by \
fraud 81 violence.
That We exterd To all Of our
race, iii every cline, the right hand \
N fellowship, md a cordial Invita-
ion to come and settle among us
md uniSe their destinies with ours.
That while We are in favor Of
meeting punctually the payment
II the legitimate debt of Louis
ana We are immovablY opposed
p the recognition of the dishonest
md fraudulent obligations issued
d the name 81 the State, and MI
lledge ourselves to maSoa search |
ng investigation IN the matter.
We advise our people to vote
against the amendments To the
Constitution proposed BIZ ghe usur-
'ing Legislature aud pledge our
elves, on tho restoration of the
government to honest hands, to
lroylde for the payment of an
.onost indebtedness 0t the State,
An 81 sanmnn- ~ 4 Van Ynrh