The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1874-07-29
THE PEOPLES CALL.

the State Sn0ul0 OFeI-fluc I'LL p1i ~
ties and all personal considerations.
Such crisis has undoubtedly been
reached in the history of Louisiana
Seven years of radical misrule have
completed the work of a devastating
war; and to-day in the bitter animos-
tiles of race, the supremacy Of igno-
rance and corruption, and the conse-
ouent subsection of the honesty and
intelligence of the country, we wit
ness a condition Of things as appall-
ing as they must be repulsive to ev-
cry true son of Louisiana.
The aims of our adversaries cali
not be mistaken, and unless checked
by an united and determined opposi-
ton. must result in the ruin and
degradation Of the white race OF Lou
isiana, by the establishment for all
time of negro supremacy. Appreci-
ating the gravity Of the situation, and
seeking only to arrest SO direful a
fate, we, the undersigned citizens OF
the Parish of Rapides, identified in
the past with the movements of the
Democratic Party, and acknowledge
ing still our allegiance to that Party
in all it's national and legitimate is,
sues, earnestly invite the co-opera-
ton of the conservative classes
throughout Louisiana, in an effort to
overthrow the corrupt government,
which now Expresses our State.
Believing thai this can only be ef-
fected by the harmonious and united
action of all those Of our people, who
favor the rule of honesty and intelli-
gence, as opposed to that ofignorance
and corruption; and believing further
that this union can only be secured
by the abandonment. Of old party
names and party lines, we demand
that the contest upon which we are
about to enter, shall be inaugurated
under a name as broad and liberal as
the cause it represents.
The issues at stake are Of far
higher and holier character than the
success or triumph Of any mere polit-
zeal organization. We are working
for the salvation Of our State, and to
avert fate more dreadful than ever
befel proud and high-spirited race,
and in the struggle which must fol-
low, We ask that it be made under a
banner beneath whose broad folds,
Democrats, Independents, Liberals,
Conservatives, all alike may rally.
In contest so holy and sacred,w e
cannot afford to imperil its success by
the introduction of any disorganizin9
elements. With the experience of
the past before Us, it is impossible to
ignore the serious dissensions which
would arise, if the contest was made
only under the Democratic banner,
and by the Democratic Party.
Believing this we deplore the re-
cent action of the Central Committee
of the Democratic Party, in convol1-
ing State Convention Of the Dcmoc-
racy at New Orleans for the fourth
Monday of August as most unfortu-
nate, injudicious and ill-timcd; and
we deprecate further their failure 0,
refusal to recognize the almost unan-
imous wish of the Country Parishes,
as expressed through their Press, to
hold the next Convention at some
point outside Of and more central
than New Orleans, as all act of injus-
tice to these Parishes, and one not
calculated to promote that harmony
and good feeling absolutely necessary
to success.
We, therefore, heartily approve of,
and ratify the call made for a Mass
Meeting to assemble at Alexandria
on the eight Of August, to be COM
posed of all the citizens of Rapides
Parish, who are opposed to til c
further rule of the State by corrupt
and ignorant officials, and to adopt
such measures, and to take such
steps, regardless Of old party names
and party lines, as may be deemed
necessary to place the government OF
Louisiana in the hands of her intel
ligent and honest citizens.
~~~o~~-~-~~-0~-~-~~~-~-
N% A good and we'll meaning
merchant of orr Town, who reads the
Democrat regularly and attentiyely,
though he is not q subscriber to it,
thinks hard that we should notice
certain firms here, occasionally with
a personal, and we never praise OF
notice his store or goods in it. Well
the only excuse we can now think OF
| or offer is the very patent fact. that