The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1876-10-28
THE CAMPAIGN IN OUACHITA.


THE CAMPAIGN IN OUACHITA.
One of the prominent features of the
campaign in this State is the change of
sentiment in this parish. What have
been the moving causes it is not diff
cult to explain. The people, white and
black, have seen and felt the ruinous
effects of Radical rule. Promises of re-
form have been made, and broken as
often as made. One year followed an
other without any progress in the inn
proveInent of the condition OF the
parish. So overwhels ing have been
the evidences of missrule that months
ago timid men, men who have all
along held back, came to the front and
declared open warefare upon the poll
teal rings and organization which since
'6shave been controlling the government
and interests of this parish. The color
ed people saw and appreciated the ne
cessity for change, and having gotten
over their scare of being remanded UNI
der Democratic rule to slavery,
began to open their minds to convic-
ton. The planters went into the strug-
gle for better government and have
exertcd their influence to bring the
blacks to an open disavowal of Radi-
cal affiliation.
All these conditions and circumstan-
ces were favorable and very powerful
ri,
in this parish-a change which is best
understood by knowledge of the fact
that fully 700 freedmen are on our club
lists but we doubt if this result could
have been produced at all, but for the
Radical leaders and the rivalries and
jealousies existing among them. These
leaders may preach intimidation as the
cause of the revolution, and probably
swear to its existence, after the election,
but it is none the less certain that their
own selfishness and discussions hove
been the Democracy's most powerful
assistants. They may tune their harps
to a dlrge, and play it over their own
graves, for they have committed poll
teal suicide about as efectually as any
politicians ever did. They have agreed
about nothing, and have had, besides,
the trouble to contend with of a race
issue within its own party. The negroes,
grown tired of toting the gun all the
time, set out to do some shooting of
their own; the white Republicans had
wisdom enough to see and interests
enough to feel that the negro would
not be a successful ruler. But the time
had come for testing the race issue in
the Radical party. 1t was tested, and
the two colors split.
Then came the recent troubles in this
parish. The result was no laughing
matter with either white or black Re-
publicans. Both were equally convinc-
ed-the white Republican that negro
audacity had gone too far and the black
Republican that his idea respecting the
Democrats and civil government were
practically fraud and a cheat. The
two were equally disguised and the feel
ing was reciprocal. Atthis juncture the
Democrats "sailed inn The result has
been 4 complete revolution in politics.
The organization the Radicals had, the
Democrats now have, and the Radicals
occupy the old abandoned ground for
years occupied by the Democrats.
This IS the philosophy and exact state
Of the situation in this parish. II our
Radical friends do not like the situa-
ton, we advise them to seek relief in
repentance, the sinners only road to sal
walton.
RB- Registration closes tomorrow
Saturday at 6 O'Clock p. m. Register,