The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1876-08-16
PLATFORAI
OF TIE
DEMOCRATIC CONSERVATIVE PARTY
THE STATE OF LOUISIANA

We, the representatives of the Deu-
ocratic- Conservative party of the State
of Louisiana, in Convention assem-
bIed, DO hereby declare administrative
and political reform to be the para
mount issue ia the coming general
election, and we earnestly appeal to
our fellow citizens of every former po-
liticai association of white and colored
to zealously cooperate with us in our
pronounced effort to effect such reform.
We arraign the Radical party of Loul
isiana for marked and frequent viola
lions of the letter and spirit of the
Constitution for the assumption of il
licit powers for the benefit of party,
and to the great injury and almost to-
tai ruin of the State; for fomenting
disseRsions between the races and de
Iilprately exciting strife aud turmoil,
thereby cruelty sacrificing the lives of
colorcd and white citizens, with, the
intent of procuring uuwarrantv nd
unconstitutional interference i our
State affairs.
We denource 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
dcd and dispersed by bayonets in time
of profound peace, and such violent
and unlawful interference adds bat 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 and fixed purpose under any
and every provocation to have q fair
aud peaceable election; bnt we demand
and will insist that there shall be no
violence or intimidation exercised to-
wards such of our colored fellow-citi-
zens "a may wish to cooperate with
us for the redemption of the State from
misrule.
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
a final settlement of the controversies
that eugendered civil war, and we
pledge ourselves to protect every citl-
zen in the exercise of the rights ac-
9uired and guaranteed by said amend
meats, 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
aud the consequent reduction of taxa
ton to the lowest possible limit COM
mensurate with the necessary expen-
ses of the government and the preser-
vation of the pablo faith, aud 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,
aud recommend our members of Con-
gress to advocate its passage at an
early date.
We advocate the fostering of the
public schools FOR the benefit of all the
educatable children of the State,
and that equal advantages be given
30 all children, colored as well as
white.
We cordially approve of and endorse
the platform of the national Democrat
10 party recently assembled in conven-
ton at St. Louis, and feel Inspired
with the hope OF better Government
In the future; but the great question of
reform is brought before the people of
the whole country by great national
party, and we pledge ourselves to use
our utmost efforts to secure the success
OF those great opponents of national
reform, Samuel ]. Tildsn and Thomas
A, Hendricks,