The Lafayette advertiser. [volume] (Vermilionville [i.e. Lafayette], La.) 1865-19??, 1874-06-13

~0OA Ae"A OA0O AOO VI AOuA0Adud
Comprising the Parishes Of
Calcasieu, Cameron, Lafay
cite and st. Landry.
As a candidate for the office of Stat.
Senator, deem it my duty to yon. no les
than to myself. to announce publicly m,
political principles IL these days Of pollt
'cal intrigue and corruption. when t.lt
general rule among the candidates Is tt
conciliate voters of ali parties. I know tha
such an announcement will cost me hun
dreds Of votes. which I might secure b,
silence: but. in my humble judgment, :
man who asks the people to trust him witt
| the responsible office for which am Il
candidate, ought to be willing to trust the
people with public declaration of his DO
litical sentiments.
There are. besides, special reasons. why
you have righ. to expect me to speak
and to speak plainly. They are because
this is the first time in my life l eve,
sought political Office because this is
the first time ever sought any office
whatever in this district; and because
am personally unacquain,ed with many Of
you. especially in the parish Of Lafayette.
Disfranchised by the. Constitution of :he
United States for seven years after the
late war; enfranchished only by the last
general amnesty &C, of Congress. have
taken 5nt little part in politics since the
war. That little. like my political action
ever since l came, boy Of nineteen, to
Louisiana, has been in the interest of the
Democratic party. Ihave never voted any
other national ticket, nor any other State
ticket. except at the last general election,
when voted the Fusion ticket, except for
the Office Of Secretary Of State, for which
l. did not vote at all. Nv Democratic
records clear, even from Just suspicion.
l challenge proof to the contrary.
When, in the fall Of 1872, the Demo
cratic party went down, for the fourth con
sscutive time in twelve consecutive wears,
before the disciplined ranks of the Repnb
Iican party, |. like thousands of its life
long supporters in all parts Of the Union.
believed its reorganization as national
party impossible considered it, as q
national party. dead beyond the hope of
resurrection. In the succeeding State
elections, particularly in the Western
States, saw there was not even the SEM
blance Of State Democratic party. In
some States the Grange, or, more proper
", Patrons Of Husbandry. party. stepped
in and took its place in others. there
were 10 nominations opposed to the Re
publican nominations; the Democracy
voting. II at all. with the Conservative.
against the Radical Republicans. Still
refused to make new party affiliations,
and my political principles remained un-
changed.
At the same time l have always con
tended, and still ins;st, that radicali>,n in
politics is fatal to the life Of any party.
There are radical Democrats, as we'll as
radical Republicans, and l never have al
lowed. and never will allow, any one to
dictate to me what I shall believe or saw.
| believe that every American citizen
has an inalienahle right to the free exer
else and expression Of his political views.
being accountable TO the people therefor.
] believe that mos: Of tho glory of the
American Republic is due to the admins
traticn Of the Democratic party, and to an
adherence to that cardinal principle Of
that party. Fidelity to, and strict con.
OF. the Constitution Of the United
S,aies;;" aud believe that all the ds
honor and disgrace which have bvfallen
our nation, are due to departure from
that cardinal principle.
/ believe that the Republican party was
for the express purpose Of nuli,
Tying some of the most wise and essential
of our national constitution, and
hat Ia the overthrow Of that party the
american people can alone hope f,r equal
tights, and for common peace aud pros.
perity. n
Of, the State, and Of the Uni
led States, constitutions, and IN such
to our State constitution as
sss necessary to secure the enjoymrn, of,he
poliiical privileges hereinafter mentioned.
~ believe It il the duty Of the national
to levee the Mississippi river,
md 70 psrpetual!y maintain its levees at
Il own EXPENSE,
/ believe that our present State govern
pent IS nockery II the rights and 'ibrr-
los of our people. and the most andacious
If political power in the hi.,o
y ~ the United States.
4 believe that while il remains the de |
6cfo State government. it is tho duty Of
geay citiz@s 10 obey its laws, aud to res.
~ IL. authority Of it. officers.
d believe it is the duty Of our State leg.
sia(nfe "a en.ct law providing separate
lpbsic schools for white and colored chill
|spu,
lsbslisve jn encouraging fsee anil in
I rsnispl PICS throughout 'l's <''!.. b