The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1876-12-22
4 BON ESllEi.i..
Mr.. john Long Declines 20 be .stnunt-
cd lM.'-
fS}treveport Times. I

shreveport Times.
We have been furnished il copy Of {,
letter which Mr.. John J. Long, one. OF
the :scountctl inn Legislators Of Des;oto
parish, forwarded to J Madison w ellis,
and this morning lay it before our re;,-
ders. Its publication will doubtless
prove bombshell in the Radical ranks.
1t will be seen that Mr.. Long, while
claiming to be a Republican ON princi-
pie, is unwilling to lend himself to
such vile frauds as ha ,e been practiceu
hy the unscrupulOus men of his party
in this State. ....-
Mr.. Long is planter of very con-
siderable means, all OF whose interests
are in the portion of the State where
he was born and raised; and while,
from our standpoint, his opinion, tina,
the principles otthe Republican, party
would prove best for the State, is Il very
mistaken one, we are yet willing to az
cord him the praise of honesty of pur-
pose in uniting himself with it. i re-
Iuires Il great deal Of moral courage for
Il man to take the step he has l;,krr-:,
Step for which he will be abused and
denounced by every Radical! III the
State. They will, of course, cndcavur
to break the force OF his letter by cllars,-
ing that he was "intimid;,tcd' or "brih-
such charges Mr.. Long can well afford
to disregard them and he Will do So.
Though willingto act with the Repub-
lican party he is unWillfnGto counte-
nance the rascality and trau,l.; Of Lou
isiana Radicals-this is the sum OF his
offending.
We repeat; we trust his many friends
in this section will accord to him the
credit and confidence due to him for
the highly honorable stand he has
taken. Here is the letter:
DESoro PARISH La, Dee. II, 1876. 4,
Hon. j Madison Wells, President I.",~iana Re
turning Beard:
Sill have learned that your honorable
body has returned me as elected to the
Lower House of the Legislature from The
parish of DeSotO. r..
honor conferred, but III the same time per
init me to say that am unwilling to accept
firm c"nvicLion that the principles OF that
party are best for the whole country. 1t is
.t@o true that was the regular nominee O.!
nfthat party III the parish OF noSnto for he,
Legislature and did maori. than any mem
her "fthc party 1T that parish to orc:tIiizt il
and advance it's Interests. l:nt, sir, know
H. as Io that was :tttrl" der ,t'cd 1T tic
pnllS--,lo intimidation or fraud having
been practiccl by the opposite party At any
precinc, in the parish so far As ! h !vc bcr,
able To ascertain after nth.,rou4sil invc>1i"n-
tion-ny Splt-respect will not permit me to
accept the position.
I hope you will, pardon me for taking Il
step That, ut fl rst glance, may he though,
calculated to throw some discrc,lit upon the
party with which ! htNe allied III vSrlI. BUT
| am Il planter, not Il politician. All my.
interests are here and. Sir, | cannot l,ciicv"
that & he good nfthc State or al the National
Republican, party can he promoted by re-
turning is elected Il candidate SO clearly de
feated as myself In fact I am cmvincod
that very much OF the disturbances; i,at
have prevailed throu., hout our State lu,
81 ftfs, tn,
tn" fact that i'll many parishes men no,
elected by the people have been returned
as elected and maintained in Office by the
power of the government.
. I must believe that you and YOUR Assoc
ciateS have been grossly iccci ed as to Che
manner In which the late canvass and cleo
ton in DeSo;o were conducted. ANA :,S to
the result of that election.
Very respectfully,
I