The Ouachita telegraph., 1879-01-17
MONROE, La, JANUARY II, 1879.
THE WORK OF STATE REDEMPTION


THE WORK OF STATE REDEMPTION.
Both houses OF the General Assembly
have passed bill providing for the
call of a Constitutional convention.
Gov. Nichols, in his message, was true
to the wishes of the people, and strong
ly urged the passage of such a bill, and
it is now matter of certainty that the
people of Louisiana, SO long outraged
and oppressed, will have fair oppor-
tunity to redeem their State and assert
their capacity for self-government. The
TELEGRAPH takes unwonted pleasure
in this triumph of the cause of the peo-
pie. It may bring some trouble, but
not more than what the people Of
Louisiana have already undergone,
and we are quite certain, as we have
been from the days of military recon-
struction, that any change would be
change for the better.
We now urge the voters to be parti-
cnlar in the selection of delegates to the
Convention, and to permit no one to
reach that august assemblagc who is
not qualified, and who has not shown
that he has tho elements of hue man
in him.
The particulars of the bill enacted
have not reached US, but in view of
the subjects likely to come before the
Convention, we now offer few sugges-
tions for the consideration of tho voter.
Since 1861 the burthens of govern
of serious, if not just, complaint. Every
year they become louder, and it is now
asked on all sides, how are they to be
lightened 1t is true that the debt Of
the State is large. 1t is equally true
that about one-half of the debt is
fraudulent and unjust, for which the
people have received no benefit and no
equivalent. We do not preach repu-
diation; every dollar of the honest debt
should be paid-no more and no less.
It is true that the officers are numer-
GUS and must be paid, and it is equally
true that the number could be reduced
greatly without detriment, and all
salaries cut down one-half without
starving any one incumbent. AS it
stands, there is scarcely an Office that
does not pay its incumbent two or three
times the revenue that he would re-
ccive at anything else.
Look where you will, and of the men
who are able to make both ends meet,
the office-holders are among the num-
Der. The producers, the money y-fetchers
and the tax payers who are the sinews
of government are steadily on the de-
cline. Property is depreciating; houses
arc going to destruction mortgages
are growing, and bankruptcy is walk
ing boldly up to the door. Tho picture
is not over-drawn. There is no pros
perity in the land. Think of it: Interest
between Is and 25 per cent. cotton 81
to cents; and every dollar of last
years crop must go to last years ac-
count. There will be nothing left for |
repairs, or Improvements of any kind.
Trade is coming to a cash basis. AL |
ready merchants have placarded their
shops with No goods charged until
"" accOuutS stIc paIO. SOHIlucHCo Is
lost. Hard times are upon US, and
government, rs we'll as individuals,
must adapt itself to hard-times condi-
tions. The rate of taxation is too high |
and cotton, rent and labor cannot |
pay it..
If the professions of tho Democratic
party were sincere, now is the time to
make them good. Let us have no
more paper promises, but give us
economy, retrenchment and substantial
reform. Lop Off all sinecures, and let
every man earn his living. Coinpro-
mise the State debt at a per cent. in
terest !; reduce taxation to five mills OH
the dollar, cut all salaries down one
half, and then repeal the usury law.
The times demand it, If this be not
done, reputation will not only rise in
1880, but will conquer, and " rae Ictis"
will be the motto.
ASSOCIATE JUSTICE.