The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1876-09-13
WE DENoU&cE TIE PRESENT TARIrF

levied upon nc@riy four thousand apticlpy,
as masSerpiece of injustice, inequality
ana false nretence 1t yields dwindling.
not yearly rising revenue; it has impov-
orjShGd many industries to suhsiiiZe q
few; it prohibits imports that might pur-
chase the products OF American labor;
it has deg AIDED American commerce from
tho FIRST 20 AK :nierior upon tho high seas;
IL has cut down the sales Of American
manufactures ut home and abroad, and
depleted the returns of American agrical
ture, an Interest followed by half our
people, IL costs the people five times more
than is produces to the treasury, obstructs
the processes OF production and wastes
the frnitB of labor; it promotes fraud and
fosters smuggling, enricbes dishonest
officials ard bankruptB honest merchants.
We demand that all custom house taxa
tion Shall be only for revenue. Reform is
necessary in tho scale Of public expenses,
Federal, State and municipal.
FEDERAL TAXATION HAS SWOLLEN
from SIG 100000 gold in 1860 to $3.50, OO0,-
900 currency in 1870: our aggregate taxa
lion from $154,000,000 gold in 1860 20
S730,000,O00 currency in 1870, or in one de-
cade from less than Ave dollars per head
to more than eighteen dollars per head
Since the peace the people have paid 70
their FAX gathereis more than thrice the
sum of the national debt, and more than
twice that sum for the Federal Govern
meut alone. We demand a vigorous fru-
rality IN every department and from every
officer of the Government. Reform is ne
CESAR 10 put 8 stop 70 the protigate
taste OF public lands and their diversion
from actual settlers by the party in power,
which has squandered two hundred mil-
lions Of acTeE upon railroads alone, and
ont Of more chan twice that aggregate
has disposed Of less than & sixth directly
to tillers Of the soil. Reform 10 necessary
to cvrrec. the
OMISSIONS OF A REPUBLICAN CONGRESS,
and the errors of our treaties and orr di-
plomacy which have stripped our fellow
citizens of foreign birth and kindred race
recrossing the Atlantic of the shield of
American citizenship, end have exposed
our brethren of the Pacific slope to the iU-
cursions Of race not sprung from the
same great parent stock-ih fact now de-
MED by law citizenship through naturali-
cation, is being neither accustomed to the
tradition ola progressive civilization, or
exercised in liberty under equal laws
We denounce the policy which thus dis
cards the liberty loving German, and toll
crates the revival of the coolie trade in
Monaghan women imported for immoral
purposes, and Monaghan men hired 10
perform servile labor contracts, and de-
mand such modification of the treaty with
the Chinese Empire. Or such legislation
by Congress within a constitutional limi-
tatiou, rs shall prevent the further impor-
IL
race. Reform is necessary, AND can never
he effected but oy making it the control
ling issue of the elections, ana lifting it
) above the two false issues witt which the
ofice-holdns cassand the party in power
which they would enkindle sectarian
which the establishment and support be-
J long exclusively to the several States, and
which the Demncrntic party has cherished
from thei. foundation and resolved to
maintain without partiality or preference
: for any class sect or creed, and without
contributing from The treasury to Nny.-
! The false issue by which thoy seek to
$ light anew the dying embcrs of sectional
hate between gwO kindred peoples once
unnaturally estrangea, bit Low reunited
in one indivisible Republic and common
J destiny.
REFORM - CIVIL SERVICE.
q Reform IS necessary in zoe civil service
. Experience proves that efficient, economi-
p cal conduct Of the governmental business
is not possible if it's civil service be sub
Q jected to change at every electiou, and be
p a purse offered at the ballot-box as brief
y reward of party zeal, instead of posts of
,, honor assigned for proved competency and
held for fidelity il the public employ
{ That the dispensing of patronage should
a neither be a tax upon the time Of all our
public men, nor the instrument of their
q ambition. Here again professions, falsi-
l fed in the performance, attest that the
=. party in power can work out 40 practical
t or salutary reform.
f REFORM IN HIGH pLACES.
Reform is necessary even more in The
higher grades of public service. Presi-
f dent, YicePresident, Judges, Senator's
4 Representatives, Cabinet officers - these
= and all others III authority are the PEG.
I pies servants. Their offices are not a
f private perquisite; they are a public
1 trust. When the annals Of this Republic
j. proclaim the disgrace and censure of q
! Vice-President; late Speaker of the
Q Honse of Representatives marketing his
g ruling as o presiding officer; three Sena-
Q tors prOtiting secretly by their votes as
= lawmakers; five chairmen of the leading
9 committees of the late House of Represen
: tatives exposed in jobhery; q late Secreta
c ry of the Treasury forcing balances in the
e public accounts; q late Acknowledgement
b Incorporating public funds; Il Secreta'
e ry of the Navy enriches or enrichinG
t friends by per centages levied off the profits
/ of contractors with his department. an
e Ambassador TO England concerned in
{ d dlshonorable speculation; the President
+ private Secretary barely escaping Convic
g ton, upon trial. for guilty completely i'll
/ frauds upon the revenue; Secretary OF
5 War impeached for high crimes and CON
: fessed msdemeanors; Che demonstration il
Z complete that the first step mus. DO the
Y public choice of honest men from another
S party lest The disease of one political
l organization upset the whole body polite
| and thereby making no change of mea OF
/ party, we can get Nc change oG measures
/ and no reform.
q All these abuses, wrongs an& GGimes
S the product of sixteen years of ascendaucy
: of the Republican party, create necessity
c for reform confessed by the Republicans
:, themselves. But their reformers are 20
ted down in convention ana displaced
from the Cabinet The party's mass o1
: honest votes is powerless 80 Gesist She
= eighty thousand office-holders, Its leaders
/ aud guides. Reform can only be had BY 8
g peaceful civic revolution. We demand &
s change of system, a change Of administra
. tration, a change of parties, thaE We may
} have change of men.
80 <ns~
, Two little girls were lately prat
! Ting together, and one OF them said
f 1--WE keep four servants, have got sis
$ horses, and a lot Of carriages; now