The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1875-12-15


of those classes the farmers and la
borers who are least able to bear the
burden of oppressive laws.
One of the highest and most press
ing demands upon us will be not on
ly to insist upon bringing down the
expenses Of the government to the
needs only Of economical administra-
ton, but to perfect and adopt such
system of taxation as will bring in
the required revenue with the fewest
restrictions upon commerce, and with
the least burden to the people, and
that burden equitably distributed
and skillfully adjusted.
Owing to the exigencies of these
great internescine conflicts incident
to the life of almost every country,
and also to pernicious system of
legislation, our people, our business
investment, our commerce and all the
diversified interests of the country
are suffering from the evils of an ir-
redeemable currency. In meeting
and graphing with the difficulties of
this vital and perplexing question it
will be our duty to take care that no.
thing is done which would impair the
good faith of the country, or tarnish
the public honor, or lower or disturb
the credit of our government.
But we are to remove those OBJ
structions which bar the progress
and check the prosperity Of the Amer
lean Republic. 1t is our duty as
Democrats-it is the duty and it is to
be the glory of the Democratic party
while it controls the house, to see
that the national debt is paid in full
and that the currency of this Demo
cratic Republic is made equal with
that Of any other nation on the earth.
Upon the part Of those who have
been invested with the political pow
er and dectiny Of our country du-
ring the last ten or fifteen years, it
has been q frequent remark that the
era of constitutional politics had
closed; that the questions of consti
tutional limitations and restrictions
were no longer to hinder or delay the
legislation of the government in its
dealings with financial economical or
social subjects, which were, it was
assumed, now the only matters wor
thy Of public attention. And yet
amidst their grand boasting, the For
ty-Third Congress found themselves
faced with the grandest questions of
constitutional law, reaching down to
the fundamental system, and invol-
wing not only the relations of the
State to the Federal Government but
that of the people and their own
house government. The grandcst
aspiration of the Democratic party
and its GROWING glory, will restore
the Constitution to its prestine
strength and authority, and to make
it The protector Of every action, and
Of every human being of every race
color and condition in the land.
The apprehension and distrnst Of
one part of the nation, than that por-
ton of the Southern people who were
arrayed against the authority of the
Federal Government in the late war
would be an element of disturbance
to the American Union has mainly
disappeared, as is evidenced by your
election.
In it's stead has grown a more fra
ternal feeling which regards US of
the Southern States as fellow citizens
of the same great nation, and on the
other hand the people of whom l
speak, of whom l am one, are here
to day by their chosen representa-
tives ready to honor any draft which
the American people may draw upon
their patriotism or their faith in the
glory and the beneficial destiny OF
American institutions. Applause,
The experiment which has been
introduced among us, based upon
confidence in the working of local
self government, and intended tc
solve the difficulties connected with
social and political transformations
shall have an open field and fair play
No hindrance shall be placed in the
way of its vigorous development an(
its amplest success. Applause.
1t has been said that the day oil
sentimental politics has passed ava,
but, gentlemen, there is one part O
! this Union-that part which know
best-which asks for the great mora
! nutriment to spirited and noble PEG
nile, We want q government that w