The People's vindicator. [volume] (Natchitoches, La.) 1874-1883, 1876-11-04
THE PLATFORM.

non aS&'lnDltu, pronounce the following
10 |,a the issues in this campaign, to the
!Gltilment of which we pledge our pco
q if called to power.
lst. The election TO- and qualification
l.. office. of capable, competent and hon
est citizens, thornu. hly Identified witt
he material interests Of our parish.
n. 4 reduction Of the expenses Of III.
:}nlish to less than one half "t it's present
Irish taxes; and to that end We demand
he reduction of fees and salaries of of
FRS to the standard Of a fair rrmuncra
ion.
81. A maintenance and fostering of q
rigorous PUBLIC SCHOOL system fol
he benefit and education of all the chill
,lren of the parish, 10th white and black
18th. The full recognition of the rights
Of all men, without regard to race, colon
ut previous condition, before the law.
5th. The enactment and enforcement
"f n wise code Of laws, TO protect all IT,
boring men in their rights, and at thu
anne time to protect and encourage the
sapital invested in our parish.
9th. We pledge ourselves that not one
collar OF taxes shalt be levied to pay
past obligations of our parish, for the
Jason that the law requires that provis-
sion to pay, and appropriation for eX-
pcnses, shall go hand in hand.
Such legal and Just claims as are due
= the parish, shall be paid from the col
'ctiOn of taxes that are already levied
Il accordance with law, and du" and
c,llcctihlc
All monies issued in excess of appro
riatiOns, and for fraudulent purposes,
We condemn as null and void, and we
I, 'Inand Of our elected officials their re-
radiation in tosc; and We further pledge
''a:selves, that legal steps shall be taken
20 recover to the parish Treasury all
fraudulent claims of whatsoever charac-
r., which have been paid by Radical or
"'her officials to any person or persons
latsOevcr
We arraign the Radical Republican
'Iders Of this parish, and indict them
the bar of public opinion on the fol-
wing counts:
LIST. For the election and elevation to
,..icial position in orr parish, in almost
cry instance, of men totally disQuali-
ID. by reason of their ignorance, or
Town corruption.
I'd. We charge them with having dis
laced the bench Of our Judicial District.
" the elevation thereto Of a man who
"as, and is a speculator in the funds of
.m State and parish-the mover and in
s:iyator of jobbery and rings, for the
under of the Treasury, and the ilnpov
"ishmcnt of the people, as witness the
nap contract" the 'bridge contract;'
'ho "pauper list ring and the "iInmiyra
Son bureau schemc.'
We charge them with degrading our
parish Judicial bench by foistng upon
no people Parish Judges ignorant Of
NV, devoid of personal character, venal
and corrupt one of whom public opin-
ion and an outraged community forced
..om the bench for incompetency, and
is known utilization and connection
With rings and jobbers, and another
: .lnds indicted before the Courts by a
Competent Grand Jury, for embezzlc
i.!rnt.
We charge them with appointing and
affirming to position, Tax Collector
who, with vcnal, incompetent and viii
l,:nous Police Jury, also Of their party,
rIundcred the people and the Treasury
It untold acknowledgement himself
III the settlement of Ills accounts-heap-
e upon us taxation at the rate of eight
per cent, and left us a debt to pay equal
il amount to one-ninth of the total val
w Of property in the parish.
We charge them with the plundcriny
Of the School Treasury, through their
.'ldge, Senator, and Representatives., Of
{ ,ousands Of dollars, thereby dcpriving
IL children and those of our colorcd
{ How citizens of the benefit of etlnca-
on, crime that au outraged communi-
Il cannot too severely condemn or pun
"a.
We denounce them for having given us
Magistrates whose duty it was to pro-
' ct the citizen, suppress crime and vim
';aate the law, but who have been in
..cted or couvincted for murder, theft, or
lriury.
The Republican party of the parish of
, ltchitoches, composed of the most iy
t ,r;tnt, debased and corrupt body of men
l. .own to our State or the South, have,
! y o systematic pluudering rule, reduced
&C valuation of real and personal pro-
, "rty i'll nine years-fOur million and
thirteen Thousand dollars levied and
. elected from neoplo impoverished by
:. ar and overflow, three hundred and
1 ,cnty-thrce thousand two hundred and
, ;nety-three dollars and six cents, or one
/ ;rd Of the entire present valuation of
roperty, both real and personal in taxes
incc 1S67-have htaped upon us in that
i.ne debt Of over one hundred thou
" nd dollars have arrayel the colored
&c against the whites-have plunged
, oops into our midst, arrested and con-
f'l.d innocent citizens without warrant
III law.
We charge the Republican party as
. ing Responsible for all the crime com
tied in our parish, by reason of the
mtticiency, incompetency and vena'ity
! their officials, and we denounce their
< vcrnnent of tho parish and State as
, .wupt and infamous, and not dcserv-
the support AMI confidence of ii sin
i virtuous man in our community.
We discountenance all disturbances of
I've peace Of the parish, and denounce
" nstigators thereof.
We demand, and will enforce Registra-
II, fair election and fair count-and
t.. that end will hold personally respon-
;. ;Ic to the people Of our parish, those
& !, control the election and rtgistra
. n machinery.
Our object is reform, retrenchment and
s:ief; that by honesty and economy, we
- y reduce taxation-and tighten the
r.lcns of the people, and to that end
s,'call upon all patriotic sons of Nntchi
: .rhes, without regard to race, color, OF
i,sssisus> condition, to join rs.
We ask, but ~ trial Of committing the
ate and parish to our Keeping, and if
:, ID Government, security, protection,
al prosperity do not dawn on an over
''Sed, despoiled: and disleartened peo-
III, then drive us from power with sctrn
1 ;,1 .rro ian.