The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1876-08-30
PLATFORM
- #a..E OF THE
DEMOCRATIC CONSERVATIVE PARTY
THE STATE OF LOUISIANA

We, the representatives of the Dem
ocratic- Conservative party of the State
of Lonisiana, 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 lis in our
pronounced effort to effect such reform.
We arraign the Radical party of Lou
isiana for marked and frequent viola
tiuns of the letter and spirit of the
Constitution for the assumption of IL
liclt powers for the benefit of party,
and to the great injury and almost to"
tai ruin of the State; for fomenting
dissensions between the races and de
liberateiy exciting strife aud turmoil,
thereby cruelty sacrificing the lives of
colored and white citizens, with the
Intent of procuring unwarranted and
unconstitutional interference in our
State affairs.
We denouuce 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 provocation to have a fair
and peaceable election; but we demand
and will insist that there shall be nc
violence or intimidation exercised to-
wards such of our colored fellow-citi-
zens as may wish to cooperate with
us for the redemption of the State from
misrule. So
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
q tiual settlement of the controversies
that engendered civil war, and we
pledge ourselves to protect every citi-
zen in the exercise of the rights &C.
CURED and guaranteed by said amend.
ments, whatever be his race, color OF
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 di.
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
and the consequent reduction of taxa
tion to the lowest possible limit COM
meusurate with the necessary expen-
ses 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. .t
We declare ourselves in favor of the
passage of the Texas Pacific Railroad
bill, now pending before Congress
and recommend our members of Con.
gress to advocate its passage at an
early date. '
We advocate the fostering of the
public schools for the benefit of all thu
educatable children of the State
aud that equal advantages be glver
to all children; colored as we'll al
white.
We cordially approve of and endorse
the platform of the national Democtat.
leparty recently assembled in conven.
tion at st. Louis, aud feel inspired
With the hope OF better Government
10 the future; but the great question o
reform is brought before the people o
ths whole country by great natiopa
patty, and We pledge ourselves to US,
our utmost efforts to secure the success
OF those great opponents OF nationa
Reform, Samuel J Tilden and Thoma.
Az Hendricks.