New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1878-10-02

GhAAoAAOaA AecpuDuC. we IeudEk VIII
gratitude that the constitution of on
State contains among the several com
plete guarantees to our system of free
public schools, that clause recommended
IN the National Republican platform pro
hlbiting the application of the public
funds to the support of private or secta
rlan schools. We notice the significant
fact that the Democratic party Of Louis
lana is silent in the platform adopted al
the recent convention Of that party upor
the subject of public education. We
arraign the existing government for itt
frequent violation of the constitutional
provisions which accord equal privileges
in the public schools to the children OIL
all classes Of citizens. We charge that
the Democratic party of Louisiana is OPP
posed to the continuance of the system Of
public education as is shown by tine
declaration recently made by prominent
school Official in this city announcing
that he was opposed to public schools,
which declaration has not been rebuked OF
repudiated by the Democratic party OF
the Democratic press. We charge that
the school authorities have, in many in
stances, neglected and refused to establish
schools in various neighborhoods and
communities throughout the State, al
though taxes were levied and collected for
that purpose.
6. In view Of the impoverished condition
OF the State Treasury, we deem it inexpe-
dent and unnecessary to call constitu-
tional convention. If the object of those
who favor convention, be to improve
the machinery of the government, that
can be done by amendment. 1t cannot
be asserted that Republicans have placed
any obstruction in the way of such amend
ments. This is shown by the fact that
the recent General Assembly submitted a
number of important and excellent amend
ments, which were voted for indiscrim-
inately by the members of both parties
We endorse these proposed amendments
and ask Republicans TO vote for them,
But we apprehend that the object of the
extreme Democrats in demanding a con-
stitional convention is not to improve the
methods of administration; it is to change
the substantial and essential groundwork
Of the government.
Z. The Democratic party has been in ac-
tual possession of the State government
for near two years. We assert that it has
signally failed in its administration. Be
fore it came into power it filed the public
ear with cries for reform, and fed the
hopes Of the people with promises that
taxation should be reduced, and the bur
dens of government lightened. It has
done nothing to this end; on the contrary
taxation has been increased, by the in
crease Of assessments; the poor alone have
been forced to pay taxes, in order that the
higher officials should have their salaries
while the rich have not been compelled
to pay, and consequently the minor Off
cers-the teachers of our children, and
the guardians Of the public peace, have
been left to starve. They have thrown
unwarrantable distractions in the way Of
Republicans, in the matter of registration
On every hand the inefficiency OF the gov
eminent is remarked and its failures no
ticed. We express the belief that the
leaders of the Democratic party will fHd
it difficult 10 organize violence, in order
to defeat the will of the majority and re-
tain their party in power,
8. The undergraduates of the present rate
of taxation TO properly support the Gov
eminent as now seen and the manifest
improperly of increasing the rate renders
it necessary that among other needed
measures of reform the laws should be so
amended as to reduce the compensation
Of all officers not established by the Con
stitution to the rate OF pay for similar or
equivalent services in the business pur-
suits Of the people.
8. The administration Of Municipal Gov
eminent of New Orleans and Of several of
the cities and town throughout the State
demonstrates that the system Of govern
ment by administrators who are not held
to account nor made responsible is defec-
tive and ruinous. We demand the repeal
of the charters and the restoration Of
Councils of Aldermen to be elected by
vote of the people.
Having laid down this platform Of prin-
ciples we consider it proper to advert to a
few other matters of general interest and
concernment
Without the most remote allusion to
the political policy of the past the Com
mittee must refer to the joint resolution
adopted by the Legislature of Louisiana
on the nineteenth of April, 1877, and sub
sequently by the Governor of the State.
10 these resolutions il was understood
that the State government pledged itself
for the preservation of the public peace,
and for equal justice to all citizens, with
our regard to color or other political con-
dition. Upon a review of these resolu-
tons they will be found TO contain
the following engagements They pledge
the government of Louisiana TO accept
in good faith the thirteenth, fourteenth
and fifteenth amendments of the Consti-
tuition of the United States in letter and
in spirit. They guarantee the enforce
ment Of the laws rigidly and impartially,
to the end that violence and crime shall
be suppressed and promptly punished,
and that peace and order prevail, and that
the humblest laborer upon the soil of
Louisiana, throughout every parish in the
State, of either color, shall receive full
and equal protection of the law in person,
property, political rights and privileges !.
The education of all classes of the people
is provided for by the equal and uniform
taxation upon property, as provided in
the Constitution of the State, and which
shall secure the education of the children
Of white and colored citizens with equal
advantages. It, moreover, stipulated
that the Nichols government will dis
countenance any attempted persecution
from any quarter of individuals for past
political conduct"
While it is our duty in candor to say
that the course of the State administra-
ton would indicate the sincerity and to
great extent, the success Of this legisla-
ton, it is very well known that the doc
trines and expressions contained in the
resolutions are in direct contradiction of
the unexecuted principles ola large portion
of the party that had adopted them. It
could not be well determined whether the