Louisiana capitolian. (Baton Rouge, La.) 1879-1881, 1879-10-25


,ear again tive footsteps Of our repre-
res0und through it, halls
and corridors. It ia useless to add
that his remarks were frequently in
by the plsudits Of the
crowd. s.
Col. Robertson at this juncture In.
PRODUCED tho last speaker,
GEN. RANDALL l.. GIBSON,
whose reputation needed no culoginm
on his part. Not only IN Louisiana,
but throughout the Union his distin.
guished colleague was renowned for
his talent and patriotism.
Gen. Gibson's remarks were basedl
mainly on National issues, and when
the orator laid down the glorious
principles and the policy Of tho great
Democratic party in u clear and forci-
bic diction, there could scarcely have
been amid the tllrong Of listeners one
true Louisianian whose heart did not
respond in endorsement Of the acts
ofour Representatives in the National
Congress. n4i.f'
On the financial questions the Cen
eral placed himself firmly in support
Of the constitutional doctrine Of hard
money. and against the issuance Of q
currency whose value would he de-
pendent on tho will Of the Admins
tration, whether honest Or corrupt.
Gold and silver, fixed value, ought
to be the reward for the labor Of tile
working,nan. When the Government
pledged its faith it must necessarily
be redeemed therefore II should not
be within the power Of corrupt men
to bind the nation to the payment Of
promises to pay, made ~ oftimes In
the past, for tho purpose Of robbing
people Of their rights and their
liberties.
Despite the fact that he had taken
up arms against the Northern inva-
ders' In defense Of his native State he
loved the Union of our fathers and
gloried in its success and in itspower.
The Democratic party had given
the territory Of Louisiana to the
Union; it had brought within the fold
Texas, New Mexico, Colorado and
California, and he hoped that the day
was not far distant When through a
treaty Of amity with the Republic Of
Mexico, the tens Of millions ofdollars
that annually find their way to the
pockets Of the ''blastcd Britisher,"
would be diverted to our shores
through the great Southern Emporium
our beloved Crescent City. The Fed
eral party, even the glorious old Wing
party, had steadfastly opposed annex
ations to our territory. Now the Re-
publican party in its fear that the
South might become too great and too
powerful was pursuing the policy Of
preventing the growth Of our COM
mcrce in Central America and the
States bordering on the Gulf Of Mexi-
co. The East was growing richer and
richer there single individuals had
amassed fortunes so large that the ag-
gregated wealtl, Of Louisiana could
not equal.
He felt that the supremacy Of the
Democratic party would carry with
ita friendly rivalry for the sceptrc Of
the seas and the creation Of new out
let's for our manufactures and pro-
ducts.
Down the broad bosom Of tho Mis-
sissippi would pour the products Of
the Western States, carrying with
them prosperity to the people residing
along it's banks.
The Democrats Of tho North had
stood shoulder to shoulder with their
colleagues Of the South, in striking
down the letters that bound ns. A
military understrapper could no long.
er station his troopers near the polls,
aud .juries composed Of men inimical
to US, rs evidenced by their colnpe-
tence to take the iron clad oath, would
no longer set in judgment over our
citizens.
He showed how the establishment
Of u permanent Commission Of Engi.
neer had been created; and how and
through the united efforts of the
Democratic members the mouth of the
Mississippi river was opened to the
largest vessels that ploughed the
mighty deep. He referred to the ini-
quitous tariff established by y Repub-
lican Congress, whereby low grades
of sugar, were allowed to reach the
wealthy retiners of the North, free
from any duty, thus entering into a
competition with Louisiana, sugars, I,
result that while it added immense
profit to these lordly refners, was
bringing ruin to the small planters,
who were compelled to send their
svrupS To these men. In this. M in