The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1876-08-09
ALEXANDRIA, La, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 8, 1876.

cessary to pnt a stop to the protlgate
waste of public lands and their diversion
from actual settlers by the party in power,
which has sduandcred two hundred mil
lions of acres upon railroads alone, and
out of more than twice that aggregate
has disposed Of less than sixth directly
to tillcrs of the soil Reform is necessary
to correct the
OMISSIONS OF A REPUBLICAN CONGREss,
and the errors of our treaties and onr di-
plomacy which have stripped our fellow
citizens Of foreign birth and kindred race
recrossing the Atlantic of the shield of
American citizenship, and have exposed
our brethren of the Pacific slope to the in
cursions Of a race not sprung from the
same great parent stock-in fact now de-
MED by law citizenship through natnraii-
cation, as being neither accustomed to the
tradition of Il progressive civilization, or
exercised in liberty under equal laws
We denounce the policy which thus dis
cards the liberty loving German, and toll
crates the revival of the cooie trade in
Monaghan women imported for immoral
perform servile labor contracts, aud de-
mand such modification of the treaty with
the Chinese Empire, or such legislation
by Congress within II constitutional limi-
tation, as shall prevent the further imp0r-
tation or immigration Of the Mongolian
race. Reform is necessary, and can never
be effected but by making ii the control
ling issue OF the elections, and lifting it
above The two false ISSUES with which the
"tfice-holding class and the party III power
seek to smother it. The false issues with
which they would enkindIe sectariap
strife in respect TT the public schools, OF
which the establishment and support be-
long exclusively to the several States. and
which the Democratic party has cherished
from their foundation and resolved to
maintain without partiality or preference
for any class. sect or creed, and without
contributing from the treasury TO any
The false issue by which thoy seek to
light anew the dying embers Of sectional
bate between two kindred peoples once
unnaturally estranged, but now reunited
in one indivisible Republic and a common
destiny.
REFORM in CIVIL SERVICE.
Reform is necessary in the civil service.
Experience proves that efficient, economi-
cal conduct Of the governmental business
is not possible if its civil service Ie sub
jected tn change at every election, and BE-
"a purse offered at the ballot-h0X as a brief
reward of party zeal, Instead of posts of
honor assigned for proved competency and
held for fidelity in the public employ
That the dispensing OF patronage should
neither be u tax upon the time of all our
public men, nor the instrument of their
la L. {.,1 =
tied in the performance, attest that the
party in power can work out no practical
or salutary reform
REFORM IN HIGH PLACES.
Reform Ia necessary even more iii The
higher grades OF public service. Presi-
dei,t. Vice-President. Judges, Senators,
Representatives. Cabinet officers - these
and all Others in authority are the peo-
ple's servants. Their offices are not a
private perqnisite; they are public
irast When the annals of this Republic
proclaim the disgrace and censIre of Il
Vice-P President; late Speaker "f the
House of Representatives. marketing his
ruling as a presiding officer; three Sena-
tors proliting secretly ny their votes as
Lawmakers: five chairmen of the leading
committees of the late House of Rrpresen-
tatives exposed in jobl'e,y; a late Secrcta-
ry Of the Treasury forcing balances in tie
public accounts; late Attorney General
disappointing pubic funds; Secrcta-
, ry Of the Navy en,iChes or enriehiGg
friends by ercentages levied off the profits
of contractors with his department: an
| Ambassador to England concerned in
Il dishonorable speculation, the Presidents
private Secretary barely escaping convic;
ton, upon trial, for guilty completely IN
frauds upon the revenue; Secretary of
War impeached for high crimes and con-
fessed misdemeanors; the demonstration is
complete that the first step must be the
aelbiieAehoice of honest men from another
party LIST the disease of one political
Organization upset the whole body polite,
4 and thereby making no change of men or
party, we can get no change of measures
and no reform.
All these abuses, wrongs aud crimes,
the product of sixteen years of ascendaucy
of the Republican party, create a necessity
for reform confessed by the Republicans
themselves. Bnt their reformers are vo.
/ ted down in convention and displaced
! from the,Cabinet The party's mass of
honest votes is powerless to resist the
eighty Thousand office-holders, Its leaders
and guides Reform can only be had by a
1 peaceful civic revolution. We demand d
change of system, a change of adm;nistra.
/ tration, change of parties, that we may
have change of men.