The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1876-12-03
TO QUE FELLOB-CITZESS OF TIE
CSITED STATES

| ~
| In the present crisis of pnblic affairs, the
| undersigned, citiEens of Louisiana, pox of
| fee holders nor Office seekers. and consult
1 ing with none of the class known as "poiIi
! Clans" believe they are only performing
! duty as citizens of their own State, and of
| our common country, in settiDg before
! their fellow citizens of other States, with
ont distinction of party, the following con-
| alterations:
! They are moved TO their present action
/ because they believe that lr the past much
harm bss come, and that in TIRE present
grave danger threatens from the nis under
standings between fellow cit'Lsns, induced
and fustered by men whose trade is poll
! tics, aud whose alma are reached only by
aTrsyiog section sgaiust section ard RAGE
| against race.
Under these misuudeTstandings the
State o. Louisiana has for years suffered
grievoUs wrong. The natural and Aneri =
can seuse of justice and far play in their
| fellow citizens of other States has been 60
| deceived by interested misre prese tatloDe,
that Americans have been silent while
their brethren, the people of Louisiana,
have suffered under q miegovernment and
. tyranny which has ecarcely been parallel
ed in our day in any civilized land.
/ We have seeu the disorganization of So
ciety resulting from the arraying of race
against race by political adventurers. We
have seen the increase of public debts and
the burden of taxation continually grow
ing, while the public funds have beer
stolen or squandered. We have seen the
: steady decay of all the elements of pros
! ! peritS. confidence AID credit which should
, exist in civilized State. Twice the peo
PIE OF Louisiana have in the exercise oI
, tAeir coz sti:utioual rights at the polls rid
. then selves of the Incubus Of bac govern
!. inert ard twice that government hss beer
q fss,ered upon them again by the power o
, mo VI =
d st;ra,icEal and usIrped character wa
: openly confessed IN the vsry act. O"c
: mere they have condemned this UsuFHatioi
=. IL Itc pol's. Ard low that the inTerest
iIryu,ved a-e rot those Of Louisiana a:oCe
:. -. those OF tie who" country, and TIA
~ the Gestiay, not Of this ate, but Of tie Ia
Or tion, is IL tie hands Of certain polttica
n. off cials &ere, and all are hound 10 OF
e. buudle, it seems duty Imperative for tn
.6 couutry's sake as we'll as fer the States to
be those who have the good of both at heal
W to prevent, as far they may. Troo
% being done or suffered through mlsspprt
i hersions.
Q: /. 1t is our deliberate conviction III.
a. Louisiana is as loyal to the Union as an
State within j..
a. =. The people of Louisiana accept,
b good fAitn the status in which the war lie
N, They desire that white and color'
'n' should live together in peace and harmon
ts' that ouly, they are convinced, is the vi
~ a. TO prosperity. The white people of {
- State have no wish to abridge a single rig
for which the law gives to their cole ed 'el!o
ia. citizens.
Til 4. They believe that the late canTa
in and election were conducted as peaceful
in Louisiana as in any sister State.
ing 5 They know that large numbers
= as colored voters changed their political ast
top Citations under the growing convictions Il
\ the interests OF the black mau AID the VT
&c, 10 Louieiaua are identical, thatt5 burde
- 81 Of rnisEovernmeut must fall on all class
- ard finally most heavily oa the labor
ear class. Aud especially were they moved
dor such change by the enbt zziemeut, by tn
: 10 power, of the p1b!!c fluids aPPropria
Ssss to the education ot their children.
me {. They believe with the people OF
u IL whole State, that = large majority OF Eo0
votes were csst in favor of the so-cal
gays Democratic Conservative candidates.
%DLo DO :. While tie people OF Louisiana
'o.s glad to receive among them the officers
sbT soldiers Of the United States army for
Nnl constitutional purposes of defense, I
also deprecate the impression prod uced on 4
con- fellow citizens and the great injury don
llAte the business interests of Louisiana,
'wn, especiAlly those of this city, by hassy q
tne tary proclsnAtions and the sending al
s.. of troops and generals as it there Wer
the come contingency, danger OF an Outor
'ther For whatever oe the lssu ue oI tue PteSo1t
ais. the people of Louisiana will not zee
,tou. change it but by peaeeful and lawful me
from 1t 10 no longer their question alone,
K. 1t that of the whole country. Into the eel
game ment of the question should come no
eom- apprehension or mistake about their oet
49,, or purposes
: .-s In the handa of an organization, self-pe
ieiSS t0ating, cloee cOTPOTatiOHD absolutely