The People's vindicator. [volume] (Natchitoches, La.) 1874-1883, 1878-08-31
RINGING WORDS!
Unity and Harmony.
Burke's Address at the Convention.

Convention:
find it impossible. amid the deep
emotions which the partial action of this
convention excitps in my breast, to give
expression to the gratitude l feel. I'M
pressed as l am with tie devotion Of the
friends who have sustained my candida
cy, and by the stea4 fast adherence Of
the gentlemen who had other preferences,
it will be impossible for nc at this time
to do much more than express to my
friends, and the gentlemen of the con-
vention at large, my thanks for the hon-
or and dignity bestowed upon me.
l can ouly assure You that my course
shall he sWh as to deserve yonr good
opinion. and that l shall 50 discharge
the duties Of the high Office to which
You have nominated me as to vindicate
your selection
1t may have appeared to some of the
gentlemen of this convention who were
unacQuainted with the situated in our
section of the State, that my friends
have advocated my nomination with un.
due ardor. For myself / assure that l
hold the endorsement of the people Of
this State high above my consideration
of emolnment.
For my friendly supporters it must be
said, that they have acted from their cou.
victions as to what WAS for the bests in
terests Of the party.
W. have had many .lissensions in our
parish, and many Of you are familiar
with the events which finally welded our
people together, and enabled US to achieve
onr past snccess. There are so many differ
eut nationalities, 50 many political Or
ganizatlons, so many varied interests of
an industrial, Mechanical and CONNER
cial cbara' ter, so unlike other districts,
whrro solely agricultural interests are
concer~ I'd, that our difficulties in preser-
wing party unity have been greatly null
tiplied.
Many of our people have not realized
all their expectations in the result of our
last elections, and whilst it may he said
that change Of government conlA not
he expected to bring sudden and com
plete relief or that the spoliation of some
ten years of radical misrule could be r.
paired in one short year, and while it is
true that much has been done to remove
tho burdens weighing upon the people,
it is nevertheless true that they demand
that we shall 20 on in tue work of r.
demption. 1t is true that great reforms
have been inaugurated, that we have
established an honest governmet t, pro-
tecting the rights of all, and although
peace and honesty have come, prosperity
has not followed. There are many who
do not reflect that the recovery from bad
government must necessarily require
time, and they are apt to lay their griev-
ances upon the party 10 power.
These elements in the parish IF Orleans
openly threaten revolt against party
rule. They say that tho Radical foe no
longer confrouts us and considerations for
their material interests rise paramount
to party discipline. The citizens of New
Orleans bear nearly two thirds of the
entire burden of the State government,
and their municipal burdens are greater
still. They look with anxiety to the &C.
ton of the party in this respect. With
the dangers of dissension staring the
party in the face, knowing that they
must act with great prudence and wis
dom to retain our party supremacy, the
Orleans delegation have urged our friends
from other sections to strengthen our
hands By according Orleans the leading
nomination. in this campai gu. 1t is
necessary to assure you, howev-
or, that had this nomination not fallen !
to the choice of my friends, we would
have gone back to our duty and given
our nest efforts for the success Of our
party, which can best complete the re-
demption of the State. loud cheers
and applause
We have not found it strange that
other sections of the State have sought
to elevate gentlemen whose character,
capacity and integrity render them wor-
thy Of honor, and We accept the nomi
nation which you have accorded US as
Indicative Of a determination that there
shall no longer be any political distinc-
lion between country or city. You will
not forget that we have been willing to
lay down our personal preferences to 50.
cure unity and harmony, and am sure
that each aud every one Of us will re-
turn to bis home determined to roll up
such y majority, that will forever set at
rest the question Of the supremacy of
our party in this State, and enable Us to !
20 forward untrsmmeled in securing the !
reforms necessary for the happiness and
Of our people. (Cheers.]