The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1876-08-16

| eHOaTaSSeu, ana tue distress or tile
industrial classes demand that these
things shall be reformed. The bur
dens of the people must also be light
ened by great change in our system
of public expenses, the profligate ex-
! penditnres which increased taxation
frouN SIS per capita in 1860 to sl8 in
J 1870, tells its own story Of orr neeA Of
fiscal reform. Our treaties with foreign
powers should also be revised and
amended in so far as they leave the
ci1i7en of foreign birth in any payticu
lar less secure in any country on earth
than they would be if they had been
born upon our soil. The ini0uitoNs
'coOHe system, which, through til e
agency 81 wealthy companies, imports
Chinese boDdsmen, and establishes n
species of slavery and interferes with
the just rewards Of labor on our Paci.
fc coast, should be utterly abolished
| III the teform of our civil service l
most heartily indolse that section Of
the platform which declares that the
civil service ought not to be subject to
change at every election, and that it
ought not to be made the brief reward
of Garty zeal, but ought to be awarded
for proved competency, and held for
fidf lily in the public employ, hope
never again to see tho cruel and re-
mo rseless prescription for political
Opinions which has disgraced the Ad-
mil 'istration of the last eight years.
Bad as the civil service now is, as all
know, it has some men of tried iuteg-
rity and proved ability. Such men,
anil such men only, shoald be retained
in office. But no man should be re-
tai ned, on any consideration, who has
prtstituted his Office to the purpose of
pal tisan intimidation or compulsion,
or who has furnished money to corrupt
the elections. This is done, and has
BEEN done in almost every county of
the land. 1t is blight upon the nor
alf of the country, and ought to be
reformed,
of sectional contentious, and ia re-
sPect to our common schools, I have
only this to say that in my judgment
tho man or party that would involve
our schools in political or sectarian
ca ntroversy is an enemy to the schools.
The common schools are, so far, under
tile projecting care of all the people
titan under the control of any party or
sdct. They must be neither sectarian
NOR partisan, and there must be nei-
tier division nor Misrepresentation of
tile funds for their support. Likewise,
l regard the man who would raise or
! foster sectional animosities and antag-
o isms among his countrymen as a
dangerous enemy to his country. All
the people must be made to feel and
know that, once more, there is estab-
lished purpose aud policy under
which all citrzens of every condition,
! RI ce and color will be secure in the en-
! ibyment of whatever rights the consti-
tntion and laws declare. or recognize,
| and that in controversies that may
arise, the Governmental not a partisan
but withiu its constitutional authority
the just and powerful guardian of their
tights and safety. All the strife be-
tween the sections and between tile
faces will cease as soon as the power
for evil is taken away from q party
that makes political gain ont of scenes
bfviolence and blpodshed, and the con-
stitntional authority is placed in the
hands Of men whose political welfare
requires that peace and good order
shall be preserved everywhere.
! 1t will be seen, gentlemen, that am
in entire accord with the platform of
the convention by which have been
Nominated as candidate for tho Office
lof Vice President of the United States.
| Permit me, iu conclusion, to express
my satisfaction at being associated
with candidate for the Presidency
who is first among his equals, as rep
resentative of the spirit and of the
achievements of reform. In his official
career rs the Executive of the great
State of New York, he has, in com
paratively short period, reformed the
public service and reduced tile public
burden, so as to have earned at once,
the gratitude of his State and the adj
miration Of the country. The people
know him to be thoroughly in earnest.
He has shown himself to be possessed
of powers and qualities which fit him
in an eminent degree for the great
work which this country now needs,
and if he shall be chosen by the people
to the high Office of President Of the
United States, believe that the day of
his Inauguration will be the beginning
of a new era of peace, purity and pros
perity in all the departments of Our