Le Louisianais. [volume] (Convent, La.) 1865-1883, 1876-08-05
SPEECH
GEN. FRANCIS T. NICHOLAS.

GENTLENEN OF n CuNvEET;nS-T thank
yon for tie confidence which yon hav. manifested
in rendering Ia me- tbs nomination. aud the full rx.
tent oi hat honor cannot be appreciated except by
one Intimately acquainted with the condition ofrhis
State, | enter, gentlemen, into public life for the
first time. and in choosing me, you have chosen on.
who knows nothing further az his guide than his
sense OF right for all classes OF the people Of his
State. [Apllanse
i am satisfied that rs following ont that simn'e
announcement on my part l shall receive the full
confidence Of this people.
Gentlemen, / feel proud to have been placed by
you il, the position of a leader Of the thousands Of
honest men who are row being massed TO wrcst our
beloved State from the hands of the spoilers. ! am
satisfied that I've are going on to victory, and ! am
satisfied that you have accorded me the privilege Of
leading this corps d'a,mf-'' to that victory, under
the banner Of Tildcn and Hendricks,
wish to state to you, gentlemen. that / am speak.
ing to yon without preparations; however, will state
that if ! be elected Governor Of this State. l will 60
and take my office nn:rammeled towards any man
or set Of men; that | will do my whole duty, and
after the interval between this TIM. and the time
shall take my oath as Governor Of this State. / shall
cease to represent the Democratic party. and be the
/. preventative Of the peop!e-not of one set, but the
whole. recognize, gentlemen, each and every obi
CATION incumbent upon me under the Constitution
of the United States and all the recent amendments
thereto, and under the Constitution of the State of
Louisiana and the laws under them; and l propose.
in so far as it is in my power. to enforce them. with
out to RACE, COLOR or PREVIOUS CoNDlTioN
In regard to the
CIVIL SERVICE,
If be appointed to the Office of Governor, l wish it
distinctly understood that no friend Of mine shall
receive any appointment at my hands by reason Of
that fact. [AppIause ] wis, it distinctly under
stood, that any man. ifthere be snch, who supported
me in conviction or hope that l would so far forget
myself as to give him personal consideration, they
are wofnlly disappointed.
/ propose to bring back a proper tone in public
affairs ! propose to do right myself, and in so far rs
! can control the doing right by other parties l
intend others shall do right,
There is one thing about which / wish TO mako
mention. I refer to orr
COLORED CITIZENS.
l believe. gentlemen, that you have selected as your
standard-bearcr to-day a man who has always felt
kindly, in fact | don't know a man who has kinder
feelings towards the colored people than | have.
Applause Ny record on that point does not date
from to-day, nor from the war, but it goes back
from the earlier period of my childhood, and it is well
known among the colored people Of Assumption;
and l want them to know, and l want you to know
that l viii unflinchingly protect them in all their
rights. ! feel satisfied that none of you are disposed
to interfere or deprive any one of their rights, and il
You are so disposed, you will find me opposed to
you. As l said before, i'll should be elected by the
people of this State, l want when my administration
shall close TO have it said that no man holding office
under my appointment shall bear and be the proof
of dishonesty. by the simple fact of his being a
gentleman and an honest man. (Applause
That is my platform, gentlemen. Let us not GO
into side issues or false issues; let us not divert upon
questions Of tariff. What We are mainly interested
in at present is the advocacy Of honesty, integrity
and good government. It is entirely futile for us to
90 into questions Of tariff, because that is an issue in
the national campaign.
Gentlemen, I have never sought this nomination;
on the contrary, l would avoid the responsibilities
which spring from this position. / know the honor
of being your representative, indeed, but just AZ
the honor is great the responsibilities are great, and
they weigh me down much more than any personal
consideration Of ambition or feeling, by the simple
fact of your regard. I say that I have not sought
! this nomination, but inasmuch as you have selected