The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1876-10-18
PLAT OR Nj
OF THE
DEMOCRATIC CONSERVATIVE PARTY
Oh
THE STATE OF LOUISIANA
OF THE

We, the representatives of the Dem
oeratic- Conservative party of the State
of Louisiana, in Convention assem-
bled, DO hereby declare administrative
and political reform to be the para
mount Issue in the coming general
election, and we earnestly appeal to
our fellow-citizens of every former po-
litical association of white and colored,
to zealously cooperate with rs in our
pronounced effort to effect such reform.
We arraign the Radical party of Lou
isiana for marked and frequent viola
tions of the letter and spirit of the
Constitution for the assumption of il
licit powers for the benefit of party,
and to the great injnry and almost to-
tai ruin of the State; for fomenting
aissensious between the races and de
liherately exciting strife aud turmoil,
thereby cruelty sacrificing the lives of
colored and white citizens, with the
intent of procuring unwaranfed ard
unconstitutional interference in our
State affairs.
We denource the usurpative and
bad government which Louisiana has
suffered for the last four years, usur-
patton under which officers elected by
the people have been displaced, the
government arbitrarily overthrown by
Federal power, the Legislature inva
ded and dispersed by bayonets in time
Of profound peace, and such violent
and unlawful interference adds but an
other to the long list of crimes for
which the Republican party should be
held to account in November next.
We hereby proclaim that it is our
desire and fixed purpose under any
and every provoeation to have 81 fair
and peaeeable election; but we demand
aud will insist that there shall be no
violence or intimidation exercised to-
wards such of our c0l0red fell0w-citi-
Gems as may wish to cooperate with
rs for the redemption of the State from
misrule.
We fully recognize the binding eff
feet of the three recent articles of
amendment to the constitution of the
United States, and accept the same as
a final settlement of the controversies
that engendered civil war, and we
pledge ourselves to protect every citi-
zen in the exercise of the rights ac-
CURED aud guaranteed by said amend
ments, whatever be his race, color or
previous condition.
We hereby pledge our party to the
satisfaction of all the legal obligations
Issued by the State of Louisiana; to
the most strenuous efforts in the d.
rection of reform and an economical
administration of the government, and
especially to the abolition OF all unnec-
essary public officers; to the reduction
OF the fees and salaries of officers; to
the standard of % fair remuneration
ana the consequent reduction of taxa
ZION TO the lowest possible limit COM
mensurate with the necessary expen-
SEES OF the government and the preser-
Walton OF the public faith, and to the
curtailment of the dangerously large
patronage Of the chief executive of the
State.
We declare ourselves in favor of the
passage of the Texas Pacific Railroad
Dill, now pending before Congress.
ana recommend our members of Con-
greSs to advocate its passage ct an
early date,
we advocate the fostering of the
public schools for the benefit of all the
eo9catable children of the State,
anu that equal advantages be gwen
W al! Children, colored as we'll as
:, We cordially approve ofand endorse
:ue platform CT the national Democrat
~ party recently assembled in conyen-
uGn az st. Louis, and feel inspired
WIN the hope OF better Government
r ~ ene iatnre; but the great question of
. .ti0fm Is brought before the people of
no.. "Ho'e country by great national
p"n aud we pledge ourselves to use
of ' .' utmost efforts to secure the success
rafo ImoSe great opponents Of national
A, Hendricks, 'N AA''''"S