Le Louisianais. [volume] (Convent, La.) 1865-1883, 1877-04-14
Parish of st. James.
SPEECH of p. 3. S. Pinchhack

SPEECH of p. B. S. Pinchhack:
NJ. President and Fcl'oW-c;ti>ens-,
The cordial greetingon my appearan-
&c on this platform almost over
whelms me. 1t is in truth the grand
est and most solemn occasion upon
which l have ever appeared. l see
for the first time before me a
meeting of the people of Louisiana.
(Applanse.l In this vast concourse
of people 1 behold representatives
of all nationalities. white and black,
and therefore | proclaim it a meeting
OF the people Of louisiana. 1t ever l
had any doubts as to the correctness
of nv views of the ultimate triumph
of the great principles for which l
have battled in Louisiana, amid so
many dangers and surrounded by
so many difficulties, l am now
satisfied that l "a mistaken. lAp-
plause.
We are assembled here not as a
Democratic party, l take 1t, for
see in this great assemblage many
al nv old Republican colleagues
and of my bitterest Democratic
opponents. Therefore, it is not a
,,artisau meeting. W. are assembled
in ~ interest of the people OF
cIJo6ssiana, white and black. Applau-
se.l We have assembled, tellow-citi-
zens, for the purpose of declaring
= to the National Government and
the people of the republic that we
desire a government in Louisiana.
AS a Republican, and as the chair
mar ofthe Republican State Com
,mittee. and 4 member of the Ma
tional Republican Committee, |
stand here to say any government is
preferable to y miserable mockery
Of government. Loud applause. l
say to my black fellow-citizens, not
those who are growing fat on the
spoils of office, but to the laborins
masses in the country, and in the
workshop, on the farm, in the
mechanics shop-I say to these
men,if you desire a return of prospe-
rity, if you desire an opportunity to
better your people, the sooner You
cast off the miserable yoke OF bond
age of those who have used you as
tools for these many years the better
for yourselves and for your children.
lApplause.
Having been connected with the
work of the Republican party in
Louisiana since its organization. l
have chung to it as a child to the
breast of it's mother. My purpose is
not to abandon the party. but to
siberalize it, and strip it Of its cor
ruptiou, and make it's principles SO
fair and equitable that any man,
if he chooses, may join it.
AS = Republican, believing in its
broad and generous princlks OF
equality of all men before the law,
it is but reasonable to assume that
would prefer a Republican admi:
nistration for Louisiana. Actuated
by such a preference four years ago,
when I held the power to perpetuate
Republican rule, I adhered strictly
to the letter of the law, and some
what arbitrarily organized the Sena'
to Of the State in its interest. MY
action then proceeded upon the
assumption that the interest OF al
the people would be advanced, but
the men elevated to power by me
that they might administer the gov
eminent in the interest and for the
protection of al the people, instead
Of doing this, proceeded to pas:
such laws and make such a distri
button Of the power and patronage
Of Office, as would compact theil
strength and indefinitely continue
Thorn in political control.
They next proceeded to Obtain
the control Of all the politaca
machinery Of the party, from TIT
ward club to the State Convention
to destroy tho Independence Of th
individual. voter and Tender. hin
more pliable and easily controllet