The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1878-06-07
LETTERS FROM THE PEOPLE.

In noting the call of Judge Richard
son, chairman of the congressional
executive committee for this district,
for convention to nominate candi-
date for Congress-, and in view of the
large number of gentlemen whose
names are suggested in connection
with the nomination, it is perhaps
we'll to discuss in advance the qualifi-
cations which should be possessed by
the nominee OF the convention.
1t is almost unnecessary to say that
the candidate of the Democratic Con-
sentative party at this election must
be a man true and tried with a spotless
record, moral, social and political,
without fear and without reproach.
The unfortunate experience which
our people have had of political bar
gains and trades in the past is not cal
culated to tempt them to renew the
experiment; nor do I think that sup
posed influence with Republicans and
negroes, which has enabled designing
men to trade at our expense in the
past, is likely to be much considered.
There is, however, an Indispensable
qualification for candidate from this
district which should be discussed in
advance, and the matter itself is so
important, and the attention and con-
sideration required so urgent, that the
friends of individual candidates should
not hesitate to sacrifice their personal
preferences. AS you are we'll aware,
most OF the parishes of this congress
sionaI district lie in the Delta of the
Mississippi and are entirely dependent
for protection from overflow upon the
public levees, and it is now universal
conviction with our people that this
protection cannot be made adequate
without aid from the national govern
ment. Your own parish of Ouachita
aid the adjacent parishes of Morehouse,
kichiand and Franklin are subject to
more or less overflow from the Arkan-
sas river, and the State has not the
authority, even if it had the means, to
give protection.
This aid from the national govern
ment has often been promised to us
and as often denied, and until we are
represented in Congress by men who
understand that their success in polit-
ical life depends upon their success in
oDtai lining this aid, it is likely to con-
tinuc to be denied. It is not well to
deceive ourselves into the belief that it
is something to be asked for only to be
obtained. To obtain such an appro-
priation as will give us permanent pro-
lection, the most strenuous opposition
will have to be encountered and over
come, and for such a purpose ordinary
men will not answer. The develop
ment and prosperity Of these parishes
are entirely dependent upon the success
of such measure, and with us, next
to securing the fruits of our past strug-
gle, it should be Of the first Importance.
l propose, then, that the delegates
from the parishes of Ouachita, More
house, East and West Carroll, Richand,
Madison, Caldwell, Franklin, Tensas,
Catahoula and Concordia be instructed
to unite in the selection of Il candidate
best qualified to serve this purpose,
who shall be politically acceptable to
all the delegates from all the parishes,
and that the candidate so selected be
given to understand that he is specially
charged with and made responsible for
the success of the measure.
Your obcdient servant,
WADE r. YOUNG.