The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1878-08-21
PLATFORM
OF THE DEMoCRATIC-C CONSERVATIVE
PARTY OF LOUISIANA, ADOPTED AT
BATON ROUGE, AUGUST 6, 1878.

i've party OF the State of Louisiana, in
convention assembled, do hereby lett
crate all the pledges contained in tho
party platform adopted in July, 1876,
and particularly the following, to-wit:
ave hereby pledge our party to the
of all the legal obligations
issued by the State OF Louisiana; to
the most strenuous efforts in the direc-
ton OF reform, and an economical adj
of the Cove rnment, especi-
allv to the abolition of all unnecessary
public Offices; to the reduction of the
fees and salaries of Office to the stand
ard ola fair remuneration; the conse
queDt reduction of taxation to the low
est possible limit commensurate with
the necessary expenses of the govern
ment; the preservation of the public
faith, and the curtailment of the dan
gerously large patronage of the chief
executive of the State"
2. That the interest of the industrial
and wealth producing classes is of par
amount Importance to the people of
the United States; those whose labor
and enterprise produce wealth should
be secure in it's enjoyment. Our war
NEST sympathy is extended to the Ia
boring classes who have been thrown
ont of employment by the rninous f.
nancial policy and unjust legislation of
the Republican party, and we pledge
the Democratic party to reversal of
this policy and to restoration of all
the rights they are entitled to upon its
ascendancy to power.
8. That Francis Il. Nichols, by his
prudent and statesmanlike manage
ment of the many delicate issues gsow-
ing out of the success of the party in
1876, and resulting in the firm estab-
llshment of the peoples government
in Louisiana, deserves the gratitude Of
all Louisianians; that his wisdom. JUS
lice and moderation in the administra-
ton of his high trust is in strict accord
with the principles announced by him
in accepting the nomination., and has
won for him the respect Of all as the
governor of the whole people of Louis
lana, and entitle him to the support of
all who love good government.
4. That we remember with gratitude
the heroic and patriotic efforts of Gen
eral F. N. Ogden, and the citizen SOL
diers of Louisiana under him, in the
establishment and maintance of the
peoples government of this State.
5. That the vote of Louisiana at the
election in the wear 1876 was cast for
Samuel j. Tilden for President and
Thomas A. Hendricks for Vice Presi-
dent by majority of over 5000 votes,
and was fraudulently counted for
Rutherford B. Hayes and William A.
Wheeler, under the pretense that the
result was accomplished by intimida-
ton and wholesale murder, and that
the failure of the Republican party to
produce witnesses to sustain these
charges when invited to do so by the
Potter committee is q confession OF
their inability to maintain their allega-
tons and of the falsity of the charges
themselves, and that the result of the
Investigation of the said committee is
an affirmative proof that there was no
fonndatio9 for the false and unjust
charges and allegations.
6. That the recent admission of w,
P. kellogg as a Senator from this State
was an abuse of partisan power for a
transient partisan purpose, and a
breach of the Constitution, which as
snres to each State two Senators, to he
chosen by the Legislature thereof
that long before Kellogs's admission
it bad been conclnsively settled that
the General Assembly, known as the
Nichols assembly, was the true and
sole Legislature of Louisiana; that, in
the opinion Of this convention, it was
beyond the competence of the United
States Senate, by post norton rec.
ognition, togalvanize into lifeaand leg.
islatlve power another assembly, OF
whose existence there is no token upon
the statute books of the State, and
which dissolved before gaining recog.
milton anywhere, and that, in view o,
the unprecedented character of tile
case, revision by the Senate of it,
action on this subject is due to justice
Z. That we regard with serious dis
satisfaction the indifference and oppo.
sition of the members of the national
Congress to system of internal i'm.
provements, to develop the industries
and restore the prosperity of the
Southern and Southwestern States
and we urge cur Senators and Repre-.
sentatives to use their utmost endeay
ors in order tosecure such unity of &C.
ton as will lead to the speedy compile.
ton, by the aid of the national govern.
ment, of the Texas Pacific Railroad, OF
or near the thirty second parallel O
latitude, and asystem of levees to pro.
tect the alluvial lands of the Valley Of
the Mississippi from overflow, and Of
navigation adequate to the wants o.
commerce, which measures are nation.
al in character, and beyond the con.
troll of the respective State govern.
ments.
8. That we cordially endorse the
memorial of the Chamber of Commerce
of New Orleansto Congress in behalf
Of the South American and Brazilian
steamship line, calling upon our Rep.
resentatives in Congress to urge fol
said line the mailcontract via New Or.
leans, with subsidy in such amount
as has been called for, in order to ia.
cilitate the opening of this trade, o.
such great and valuable Importance tt
the West and South, making new
highway for the exit and sale OF oul
surplus grain, flour and other products
and bringing in return the articles anG
products of Sonth America, of which
coffee alone constitutes trade of mucl
interest to this State.
9. That the Democratic party O