Richland beacon., 1876-09-30
Communicated.
RAYvILLE, La. Sept. 90, 1876.

RAYvILLE, La. Sept. 90, 1876.
Editor Of The Beacon:
Dear Sir-P-r,.i, me through ,he
columns If your paper, to put a, rest. 4.
nov aud forever. the charge Iha, has
been recently rather indu-iripu-iy cir
cuiaied IN sore quar- rr.. that ] au a
Radical. or al least. thar ] aln tainted
with Radicalism. | presume ,ha, he
charge is based upon the course pur-
sued by me iD 1874. Ii H. true that
in 1874 | was a candidate fur the
Office of Parish Judge, aud u at ! re-
ceivrd the hearty support Of the
Republican party. but | pressure rha,
no sane mar will accuse me of heing
u Republican simply because then
received Republican v,'ies. If such
= charge ran be thus substanriatrd |
venture the assertion that there is not
4 par"chial officer now disrharging his
duties in this parish. who IL not
ism. presume thar all of them.
when elected, rereived more or less
Republican votes, Yet no one thinks of
sccusing them of being Republicans.
So far rs my connection with the
Republican party in lS74 is concerned.
| am prepared To establish by incon-
t,overtibIr evideuc- two facts: First.
lbai | positively refused To accept a
nomination for Parish Judge from The
Republican part, and. second. that
~ caucus "f The leaders of The
Republican party. held bef IRE the
election. | informed them that | was
n life-I"ng D-nocra,. aud while CRATE
ful for their suppur' if they supported
me they mu>t vote for u.e aS u Dem
orrat. Such Wa, NY conn-r,ion wi b
the Republiran party in ls74 The
party gave u.- their support. but they
voted for me with full c"pSci" u~n--s
thai did not sympathize with ihem
politically r.
As stated above, | am lifelong
Democrat aud have never faltrrrd IN
my all-giaDce to thar parts. when
many of NV iradurers aud villifirrs
were infants prsI,ling around ,hrir
mothers knees. was in The ranks Of
the Democratic party battling for
what | believed 10 be the right. 1t
will be remembered by all that there
wGs no organization nf the Democratic
party in Louisiana in 1874. The peo-
pie. like the l-rs-lites Of old, aban-
doneG he ancien' faith. aud wandering
of sfer strange x d. made unto
themselves an idol called the Whie
League. and bowed down aud wur-
shipped il. Perhaps half y dozen
grnuIemen 10 this ward. beside myself.
had 'he moral courage to breast the
White League storm that swept over
this State. aud rrI aimed true to the
Denocrs'ic faith. For our opposition
to the White League We were 6.rcely
denounced aud abused. sn'l especially
were the vials "f political wrath
en.p'ied "n my devoted head. was
under no obIIxN ion in 1874 To re.p-ct
the DEGREES or supper, the DOaiinees
Of the White League organization.
] opposed that organization not only
becauss ] believed lis principles To be
sntagonis,ic To pure Democracy. but
because l believed that they struck at
Ibe VI ~ foundations of civil aud puIi,i.
cal liberty. The wisdum Of ny course
is now evident FROM the fact ,ha, The
White League organization is broken
up. scattered. gone, '' like The baseir.s
fsbrIc.of dream. leaving not u " rack
behind" aud We are eli mar,hslled
to-day under the broad banner of
Democracy.
With many thanks for your kind
ness 10 permitting me the use of your
columns, ! am very trn y. &c,
THOs II. CLARK.