The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1878-05-03
LETTERS FROM THE PEOPLE.

I'VE publish the following commu-
nfcations, not that we approve either
the views or style of the writers, alto
gether, but to show some of our read
ers here and elsewhere in the State
that the people are not wholly salts
fed with the acts of their leaders, and
to impress upon such as shall have the
ordering of the next campaign, the
necessity for moderation and wise
forbearance to ward all. 1t is clear to
US that there is great dissatisfaction
existing in our party. We dislike to
see it, hut our duty does not lilo in the
iconcealment of disorders. Ample
space will be afforded for a fair discus
sion of the issues raised in either of the
communications which follow.-ED.
TELEGRAPH.]
OUAcHITA PARISH, April %, 1873.
Editor Ouacltitn Telegram:
We as private citizens of Ouachfta
desire and do claim for ourselves, for
the benefit and interest of our cause,
a voice in the coming election. We
write In order to warn the convention
CtluU III SoOu W Oe5 ueIu lu NouTOe7 10
consider we'll before they leap. We as
private citizens claim to belong and
have never been attached to any other
party save the so-called Democratica and
Reform party, and have taken an ac-
tive part in the canvass as such in Or
der to carry our points, hoping that in
the future we or our interest would re-
cieve a few fishes and lOaves. But
nay; we are yet left out in the cool.
We further claim that we furnished
the majority of votes to the Democra-
tic-RefOrm party. But where is the
Reform 1t is left out too.
Now, we claim too great Il power
within ourselves to labor with II party
and for the success of Il party, and still
we are not allowed a fish.
If you will not allow some of our
sort to go along with your sort (for
ours is as good Il sort rs your sort in
their own common way of doing bus
messy we will not promise to work for
you in the coming campaign. But if
you will sweeten our coffee little, and
next time promise to sweeten our
are your men. We will work for you
and you for US; that will look like
business.
We claim that from our class the
preservation Of the life of the whole
universe is sustained. What greater
or more powerful class of men could
we belong to than this? This is as
summing higher claims than any other
class of men have authority to do.
Then are we still debarred from any or
all powers in official matters and gov
eminent affairs, both in State and par
ish Who are worse imposed on than
the farmers? 1t seems that office-hol-
ders and office-seekers think we are
all right no matter what is imposed
upon US. For instance, just think of
the salaries allowed all our State off,
GERS, district officers and few parish
officers. Then turn to the poor jury
men, who are Principally farmers !;
they are allowed scarcely enough to
purchase their daily bread. Why not
force every voting man in the State
and parish to pay his poll tax and in
crease the jurors salary to SO per day,
SO he may be able to hire Il hand when
| really necessary, as is often the case, to
take his place on his farm while he is
under the law compelled to attend
court?
Why not do away with the public
school tax? We ARE not benefited by
it, but some Office-seeker il. Why not
take Off the hog tax, and reduce the
salary of some officers who work half
of their time and spend the balance in
driving fast horses drinking fine wines
and so on, on their un-reform salaries?
We do not think we have a showing
in the conventions according to num-
bers. We want II new constitution;
we want taxes reduced to protect the
laboring class; good farmers and labor
ing men should be sent to represent us
in the Legislature we wish tho Levee
tax not to be imposed on North Louisi-
ana we would prefer candidates for
Office selected from all portions of the
parish and not all from one ward :;
every man should pay his poll tax or
not he allowed free Suffrage.
FARMERS.
Et'itor Outtchifa I,leg.u/,h:
AprOpos to the meeting with a
estate bearing,' duly reported through
the TELEGRAPH, wherein Il Wholesale
endorsement was asked for and which
certain gentlemen claim was gotten,
permit me to request that you publish
the following extracts from II letter of
Mr.. w. NJ. Washburn, representative
from Morehouse parish, to the Clarion