The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1874-09-16
OUR SACRED DUTY.

own the soil, pay the taxes, labor and
work, laying aside for the present all
former political associations and pre-
JUDGES, and bound together in one
strong cemented band of brothers
and friends, for one same common
object, holy, just and forced on them,
have placed a Parochial ticket in the
field for the support and suffrage Of
the voters of their Parish. OPPOSE
ton to State Radicalism, Kellogg
Radicalism, which has been our
curse and disgrace, impoverished our
people and bankrupted our State has
been forced on us as the last dying
resort of a people goaded to despera-
ton, and ruin and starvation seem to
be their dread alternative. We have
had for more than six long years
forced on us "a gang ofbandits, COM
posed of professional adventures,
who, by the assistance of the Federal
Government, have been enabled to
possess themselves of the State Gov
eminent; an irresponsible body of
gamesters, conspiring to rob Us by
taxations amounting to confscation;
every principle Of decency and fair
dealing set aside, and, in its place, q
code of ethics adapted to the inter
csts Of monte bankism, set up
throughout the public service; in a
word league of satraps propped
upon an army of negroes, and pro-
tected by the dominant party at
Washington, dividing it's leisure and
its vices, plundering and insulting
the honest people of the State"
Is it wonderful then, nay is it not
right and just now, that the present
contest being solely for home rule,
home protection and salvation, that
we should ignore national issues and
serve as grand army corps on de-
tached duty and in behalf ofall which
mortal man can hold dear here be-
low? We think so, we feel SO, and
after much severe thought and calm
deliberation we have come to this
honest conclusion, and the Democrat
once more unfurls it's war flags to the
local and home breeze in behalf OF it's
home, its affairs, its people, friends
and brothers, inspired and sanction
ed by the honest and time honored
tenets Of it's grand old party, who
lends encouragement and bids holy
God-speed to our cause. And in so
doing we have but good words and
greetings for our old political friends
and associates Of Rapides, who with
US have followed the old banner in
many hard fought battles, and may
now be, a little reluctant to step out
of ranks and march to victory under
new colors. Pause, reflect, remem-
Der States Rights, Home Rule are
the cardinal plank of our democratic
faith, and often before we have con-
tended for them, and now more than
ever is this issue before US and the
main thing at stake in the present
life contest. Not a single iota of
your democracy do you sacrifice or
even tarnish in accepting and max
ing the present fight, but in our opin-
ion you only add another glittering
gem to your already diamonded dia-
dem, and step in the breach in time
to save your suffering and crushed
race. What greater, holier motives,
or purer inducements were ever held
to old Democrats than the present
cry for help Numbered by old Rap
ides? Democrats, old comrades,
dear old guard, heed once more the
voice of one who is Of you and even
before the age of manhood was bat
ting in your ranks, and once more
buckle on the old armor and go into
the ranks and put our Parish ticket
through. 1t can be done, it must be
done; you have only to will it, and
we know what that means. But we
must 60 at once to the very front
ranks as privates and cut out the
work, and show the people Of Rap
ides, the young men specially, that
we can yet fight, we know our duty
and will force the enemy to lower his
black vizor and succomb to our supe
rior prowess!
Our ticket, the one which flies at
our masthead, is composed of good
and true men, fairly and honestly
nominated, and under any and all cir
cumstances is five thousand times
better than radicalism, negroism, or
anything they can offer for your
votes. SO friends, heed not the ST.