The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1879-05-07

% WV snAo6 suAo 40
passing, in this Convention of the
} peoples delegates. VERITAS.
i New ORLEANS,
{ May 3, 1879
EDITOR DEMocRAT--
i Believing that your readers would
like to know the status of affairs in
and about the Convention, / hare
concluded to dot you down few
items which may prove Of interest.
There appears to be but three lead
ing, and / may say, all absorbing
questions In agitation in and Oh. Of
the Convention-the State debt, the
Judiciary, and Elective Franchise.
These three appear to ovcrshadow
every other, and are really the most
important TO the people. That The
State Debt will be cut down, or
scaled as they have it here, this l
don't like the word, is beyond perad-
venture. It would not surprise me
liz a, 100000 and 4 per cent. wers
settled upon, however, great may b
the bondman's elamor about repadi-
alton. Nothing else will suit she
people, nothing else will relieve them
Of that incubus that ID destroying
their energies and abs@rbing their
substance. The <boDdfoldsrs have
made no proportions ~ yet, and mp
to this time are rather still nscksd.
That they have friends. IN the Con-
vention, is now true, and that the
entire Radical Yote IN that body, will
be cast for them is equally true, but
the true men, the msn Of the conn
try Parishes, upon whom the people
mostly rely for relief, Ass dssss.
mined that the debt SHALL sk y.
DucED, and that too, 70 : point.
where It can b paid ata niaiaun
taxation. They believe this to b
their duty; they believe that they
were sent to the Convsntion q, rs-
lieve the State, and lift the heel q
the bondsmen from down tyoddea
prosperity. This they intend to de.
just ~ sure ~ ] am i1diting thsss
lines. There appears 70 - 3 diver
sity Of opinion in regard 10 he Jn- !
dietary. There srs st'lesat fny DIFF
ferent propositions for IL arrange
ment, bnt It 10 . little TOO early 10
determine or even give i gasssss
what will be done.
The question Of The elective fran
chise is being discussed, eqaaily -
vigorously ~ the other TWO crest
questions. The great ohjeetion toe
qualification Of whatever character.
srises from the fact, that the poor
WHITE man will strenuously object
to it. Now suppose that, in or.3ss 10
vote, the voter must show his pail
tax receipt Of ONE DoLLAR, do Ne
not all know, that one or twenty o.
dfty white or black msn. eishas, vhe
desired 10 vots with. u, tAas Inc
money would b. paid y oaes, yea,
hundreds woaid - willing ie5 q.
vance the small amosst ploatnpssd
b. the purest motives Of pstriotisal
That there will bs quail eatios for
vesing Of some descriptisa, ] .thiak
d s fixed fact, but / do not assert
that it viii b bosnd npon the pay-
ment Of = poll tax. i Il no tine ios
the people Of Iouisiana, who, FOR II. I
teen long years, hays bssn stipg-
Cling beneath The fest OF tAe assas-
sin-and ! mean the poor u well =
the rich-to rebel now against ! Law
that is to protect them for all time,
from alegislation thatImade the poor
man poorer, and conAseated TIC rich !
mans property. Only : few moro
days will suffice to show what the
intentions Of the Convention are up
on all these subjects, for the whole
thing will BE- opssed up, On the ~
port Of the various Committses.
/ am proud Of the position yosr
Rapides boy, Newt. blanchard Aas
taken in the Convention, though one
OF the very youngest member, Jet
he stands = Colossss amidst the vet
mary. And here l will rensrk that
the State is Ia rgely represented BY
her native sons. In 4 few days /
to give the readers Of the
DExocRAr, . sketch Of the aHeads
Of the Convention
IANTHUS.
-FRon . tabnlated statement Of
the number Of deputy and special
marshals employed In the election Of
1879. Il appears that IN twenty Den.