The New Orleans Democrat. (New Orleans, La.) 1875-1876, 1876-06-04
NORTH LOUISIANA.
EEEECTs OF RADICAL RULE IN THE
COUNTRY.
The Resolute spirit Of the People.

/ from M8DSUeId promised TO give your
readers letter upon the political situa-
ton OF this parish as compared to those
/ have lately visited, and that are under
rule OF Radical bummers and thieves.
In promising, with the hope of proving
interesting, [ desire to call attention to
point well worthy the consideration of
the political student Of the day, and that
is, that Notwithstanding we may have
exclusive control of our local affairs,
unless the State government Is man
aged by the intelligent, virtuous and
honorable, there can be but little real
good enjoyed by the citizen.
DeSOto, exclusively in the control Of
her own people, feels the weight or the
irresponsible State government, and the
blight Of RadicaliSm is visible in her
towns and business. From parish capital
to country village the down at heel is
to be seen I'm Mansfield fully @ score
Of once fashionable business houses,
large and commodious in times past are
now deserted and in ruins. At one time
business to the extent OF hundreds Of
thousands Of dollars was transacted
here now the traffic has been reduced
to the minimum. People who had invest
ed largely have become bankrupt or re-
moved their business to other States,
where capital Is not hampered
with the restrictions OF Radical
law. This exodus Of capital and bust
ness men has, you may rest assured,
effected in a great measure the material
interests OF the parish, and to feel and
appreciate correctly the blight Of Radi-
cal State government, even when COM
munities are under control Of their own
local choice. one must come to Mans
field, q town which possesses many
natural advantages. and whose people
are enterprising and thrifty. Previous
to Radical reconstruction the interest
taken in education by these people was
greater than any in North Louisiana,
which can be proven by the numerous
fine private schools and colleges and
the manner with which they were su5-
tanned. This village had fine male
and female academy, keachi also, and
at Mansfield one Of the largest, most
popular female colleges in the State.
Some idea may be formed Of the preya
lent idea on education by the manage
ment even now Of the plttance given
the parish from the general school
fund, as I told you OF in my last. These
private schools were filed with students
from adjoining parishes Caddo, Bos-
SER NatchitOches, Rapide3, AVOyeIIe5
and others, contributed largely to their
support, and added business, wealth
and general prosperity to the entire
parish. These parishes have been
robbed by Bonett, Blunt and Myers,
by "a keeting, Harper and LeViSSee, by q
Wells, 81 Souer and others, to such an
outrageous extent as TO impOveIish the
citizens, and no matter how much they
may desire, they have not the means to
educate their children at these schools.
The people of DeSOtO are firmly inn
bued with these ideas they know full
well the causes that have brought about
this rain, and are fully alive to the inn
/ pOrtance of q radical change in State
affairs
I have never found in all my travels
more united and determined people.
] This parish had many old Wings" in
- Wing times, and Pitkin-J. r. G., the
old Wing ~ Of the Radical party, who,
I am told, joined the Confederate army
as a rampant Yankee slayer, and after
getting q taste Of war at the battle
Of Shiloh, worked himself out Of the
/ army by dexterOus use Of a piece
Of soap under his tongue; this blath
erskite has filled this parish with
his appeal" but scorn and indig
nation have met his expressions from all
parties. Unqualified fealty to the Dem
Ocratic- Conservative organization is the
watch word, and the feeling to do their
full duty is manifest on all sides.
This same feeling has encouraged me
greatly. I had thought perhaps that
Leonard might have had some few fol-
lowers in his grand ideal Of new party
and I made that letter subject Of
searching inquiry, but have failed to
find one single person that did not de-
nOunce it in unmeasured terms. / learn
from parties lately from Caddo that the
people there did not heed the teachings
Of such letters, and were alive to the
importance Of q united action Of the
people There may be those who are
inclined to be discouraged in parts of
our State. but they are OF the interest
ed order of manhood, weak in purpose
and tirnid in action. To such
I would commend a sixteen day
ride through the seven North
Louisiana parishes bordering on Red
River, and / can assure them that If
they have but one spark OF patriotism
in their bosOm5 it will be famed to
blaze. Here all private feelings are put
aside, all personal ambition snOthered,
and the people are actuated by the lofty
motive of driving out from office the
plundering horde who have 50 long
rioted over the State. The determine
ton to have q rigorous Gfd tetdt cam
paien is openly expressed and nothing
short Of that result will satisfy the good
people of North Louisiana. The late
threats from the Radical papers about
! the free use Of the Returning Board does
not frighten single person, that has
/ lost its terrors. The people Of North
/ Louisiana intend to conduct this election
in strict accordance with right and JUS
tice. No intimidation will be allowed
from either party, and when the victory
is won by the Democrats, as it surely
will be, no Returning Board will dare
deprive them Of its fruits. The DEM
oCRAT meets the wants Of our citizens
and is the journal Of the people. Long
may it live as the defender Of the rights
Of the oppressed. J. Fl. G.
MATT HOGAN