The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1876-10-18


with all of their diabolical train OF
lell-evil and ruin, might rule and de-
vastate what war had not in it's most
gigantic proportions had not destroy
ed. How long can the country bear
this pressure That we possess great
material capabilities no one doubts
yea, a most marvellous power of re-
cnperation, and more than all a hope
full vigor of vitality as expansive as
the spirit of liberty, and broad and
continental as the territory we inhab
it. But these capabilities and powers
have their limitations. This is shown
in the general depression of business
in the impoverishment of corporations
and individuals in the timidity OF
credit; in the bankruptcy of States,
and in the universal cry of "hard
times.n
Now the remedy for all this lies in
neither initiation or contraction of the
currency, nor yet in forced and prema-
ture resumption of specie payments.
The disease is q radical one, but is no,
by any means beyond remedial agency
this every intelligent mind must ad-
nit, it is far beyond the power of the
quackeries and charlatanism of legls-
lation, particularly such legislation as
we have had for the last ten years.
There Is remedy, and but one, and
that remedy is in the hands of the
people, and is embodied in one single
word, REFORM; tho, like truth, it is
many-sided, it affects every public
question and embraces all general ill.,
terests. Public expenditures, lcen-
tons and criminal, both as to degree
and amount, must be diminished; off,
cial accountability, lost in the mazes
of Radical misrule and corruption,
must be reclaimed by the people, and
when l say people mean both white
and colored, and restored to the gov
eminent. Economy and Honesty alike
in private life and public station must
walk hand in hand the perilous height,
and bridge the chasm that lies between
the country and its restoration to
honor, peace and prosperity.
Give back to the people and the gov
eminent that "chastity of honor that
feels q stain like a wound" Erase
from the decalogue of official life the
calumny. ..of Autolycus in tho play 5:
"What fool Honesty is! and Trust,
his sworn brother, very simple gen.
tleman." Do this, and the goal OF our
deliverance is in sight, the sea of our
troubles no longer shoreless, and the
harbor of our safety in our reach.
If private wealth is wealth, and
public honor IS security, are they not
worth preservingq If the principles of
Constitutional Liberty and Republican
Government are in peril, shall they not
be rescued? Whose mission is it?
Are we to expect "reform within the
party" which brought upon the coun-
try the evils that make reform neces
sary? When did victorious error re-
form itself9 A long lease of power
made irresponsible by popular major
tiles so large as to promise perpetuity,
has intoxicated the leaders of the Rad
lcal Party who found, when they came
into power, the government honest.
pure and IMPERsONAL, but who have
made it alike the source and end of a
venal and corrupt PERSONAL aggran.
dlzement, that would have abashed the
author of that accursed aphorism,
"every man has his price," (Robert
Walpole,) in the very prime and vigor
of his audacious profligacy. S.