The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1876-10-25

, WE, the representatives of the Dem
ocratic- Conservative party of the State
of Louisiana, in Convention assem-
bled, do hereby declare administrative
and political reform to be the para
mount issue in the coming general
election, and we earnestly appeal to
our fellow citizens of every former po-
litical association of white and colored,
to zealously corporate with us in our
pronounced effort to effect such reform.
We arraign the Radical party of Lou
siana for marked and frequent viola
tions of the letter and spirit of the
Constitution for the assumption of H.
licit powers for the benefit of party,
and to the great injury and almost to-
tai rnin of the State; for fomeuting
discussions between the races and de
lberately exciting strife aud turmoil,
thereby cruelty sacrificing the lives of
colored and white citizens, with the
intent of procuring unwarranted aud
unconstitutional interference in our
State affairs. ..'
We denoupce the usurpative and
bad government which Louisiana has
suffered for the last four years, usur-
patton under which officers elected by
the people have been displaced, the
government arbitrarily overthrown by
Federal power, the Legislature inva
ded and dispersed by bayonets in time
of profound peace, and such violent
and unlawful interference adds but an
other to the long list of crimes for
which the Republican party should be
held to account in November next.
We hereby proclaim that it is our
desire aud fixed purpose under any
and every provocation to have a fair
and peaceable election; but we demand
and will insist that there shall be no
violence or intimidation exercised to-
wards such of our colored fellow-citi
zens as may wish to cooperate with
us for the redemption of the State from
misrnle. ..
We fully recognize the binding eff
feet of the three recent articles OF
amendment to the constitution of the
United States, and accept the same as
final settlement of the controversies
that epgendered civil war, and we
pledge ourselves to protect every citi-
zen in the exercise of the rights &C
quired and guaranteed by said amend
ments, whatever be his race, color or
previous condition.
We hereby pledge our party to the
satisfaction of all the legal obligations
issued by the State of Louisiana; to
the most strenuous efforts in the di-
rection of reform and an economical
administration of the government, and
especially to the abolition OF all unnee-
essary public officers; to the reduction
Of the fees and salaries of officers; to
the standard of fair remuneration
ana the consequent reduction of taxa
ton to the lowest possible limit COM
mensurate with the necessary expen-
ses OF the government and the preser-
walton of the public faith, and to the
curtailment of the dangerously large
patronage of the chief executive of the
State.
We declare ourselves in favor of the
passage of the Texas Pacific Railroad
bill, now pending before Congress,
and recommend our members of Con-
gress to advocate its passage ut an
early date.
We advocate the fostering of the
pnOllc schools for the benefit of all thu
ed9catable children of the State
ana that equal advantages be giyel
20 all children, colored as well al
We cordially approve of and endors.
!he platform of the national Democrat
&c party recently assembled in conven.
uoh at st. Louis, and feel inspired
with the hope OF better Government
in the future; but the great question O
. .em Is brought before the people O
.ne whole country by great nationa
party, and we pledge ourselves to us,
os' utmost efforts to secure the success
rae suose great exponepts of nationa
A, Hendricks. ~