The Lake Charles echo., 1876-11-16

nittoe to the Voters of the u. =.
FELLOW. CITIZENS: We congratulate
you as patriots, as partakers with us in
the common destiny of American free
men, upon the results of the October
state elections. We rejoice in the victO-
ry which the peoples ballots have be-
slowed upon the friends of reform, in
the valley of the Ohio, where the re-
publican hosts had an overwhelming as
tendency in every presidential election
since 1856. We rejoice in the assurance
these elections convey that your ballots
will bestow decisire majOrities to the
allied forces OF democracy and reform
in the November elections throughout
the union. But we rejoice not as parti-
zans; we rejoice with you as ielI0w-citi-
zens.
And when the decision of this week
Of one million voters along the valley
of the Ohio shall be ratified next month,
by the fiat OF eight million voters
throughout the whole republic, we shall
still rejoice, chiefly for the reason that
not one Of it's citizens can miss an equal
share with us who are democrats in the
political peace and good will which will
then and there be established among all
secti0ns, races, classes, and conditions of
men, in the prosperity Of which political
peace, based on equal rights and fra
ternaI good will, is the first condition.
IpOn the three states of West Nir-
GINA, Ohio and Indiana were concen-
trated all the influence Of the admins
traton, all their efforts, and all the vast
sums Of money forced from the one hun
drcd thousand otEice-holders of the party
in power,
These were fearful odds, not again to
be c0ntonded against so concentrated,
for in the November elections the con
test will be in every one of the thirty
eight states upon the same day.
Nevertheless, against these odds the
democrats and reformers of West Vir-
ginia and Indiana have been victorious,
and in Ohio they have all but rescued a
state hitherto deemed hopeless, and have
created an assurance of victory in No
vcmber.
fit falls to our lot as q national dem
ocratic committee TO congratulate the
people of the union upon this victory
in the first battle Of the reform cam
paign, il is only because democrats have
been hOnored to be the leaders OF the
people in the work of national regenera-
tiOn.
The victory won, the victory still to be
won, will be a dcliverance as much TO
republicans as to democrats.
The patriotic masses Of the republican
party may be thankful that the misdeeds
Of their unworthy leaders have been re-
buked and are to be arrested. The suf-
fering whites of the south may lift up
their heads to greet the dawn of a better
day for them, as we'll as the nation at
large. The colored citizen may share
the general joy that he will soon cease
to be the stock in trade of corrupt poll
ticians, but shall enjoy his rightful liber-
ties and his equality before the law amid
universal COED will.
As for the reform democracy, to whose
standard victory has been tied, with all
her garlands on, it only remains for
them to welcome every ally, every
friend, close up the ranks and press
on, shoulder to shoulder, under the
banner and with the one watchword, re-.
form.
Fellow citizens, peace between all sec
tions prosperity in all our homes of
these you have been for years deprived
by the mistaken solicitudes Of patriotic
republicans, played upon by selfish and
corrupt leaders, who have kept iAnning
the dying ombers of civil strife in order
10 escape inspection Of the trust which
they have betrayed.
For eleven years you have had the
name Of peace At no time have you
had the substance o. peace. In lieu
thereof sou have had the grinding taxa.
tioa anl wastefal expenditure Of war,