The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1880-08-11
ALEXANDRIA, La, WEDNESDAY,, AUGUST II, 1880

Gus manhood, he is, in my Judgment,
eminently fitted for the highest pc.
sition on earth-tlie Presidency OF
the United States. Not only is he
the right man for the place, but the
time has come when the best inter.
ests Of the country require that the
party which has monopo'ized the
Executive Department OF the Gene
ra! Government fer the last 20 years
should be retired.
The continuance Of that party in
power, four years longer, would not
| be beneficial to the public, or in &C
cordance with the spirit of Republi-
can institutions The laws of entail
have not been favored in our system
OF Government; perpetuation Of prop
efty or place in one family, or set of
men, has never heen encouraged in
this country, and the great and good
men, who formed our Republican
Government and its traditions, wise.
ly limited the tenure of office, and in
many ways showed their disapproyal
of long leases of power.
IN,
Twenty years OF continuous power
is long enough, and has already led
to irregularities and corruptions
which are not likely to be properly
exposed under the same party that
perpetra,ed them. Besides, it should
not be forgotten that the last four
years of power held by that party
were procured by discreGitable means,
and held in defiance of the wishes of
a majority Of the people. 1t was
grievous wrong to every voter and
our system of self.government, and
should never be forgotten or forgiven.
Many Of the men now in Office
were put there because of corrupt
partisan services in thus defeating
the fairly and legally expressed will
of a majority. The Hypocrisy of
professions Of that party in favor &
civil service reform was shown BY
placing such men in Office and turn
ing the whole brood of Federal
ofaceholders loose to influence
elections.
The money Of the people, taken
out of the public treasury by these
men for services often poorly per-
formed or not performed at all, is
being used IN vast sums, with the
knowledge and presumed sanction of
the Administration, to control the
elections, and even members of the
Cabinet are strolling about the coun-
try making partisan speeches, in
stead of being ID their departments
at Washington discharging the pub
lie duties for which they are paid
by the people.
But, with all their cIeverness and
ability, adiscriminating: public will
no doub. read between the lines OF
their speeches that their paramount
hope and aim is to keep themselves
or their satellites four years longer
in office. That perpetuating the
power of chronic Federal of1icehold-
ers four years longer will not benefit
the millions of men and women who
hold no Office, but earn their daily
bread by honest industry, is what
the same discerning public will nc
doubt fully understand, as they will
also that it is because of their OWL
industry and economy and God
bountiful harvests that the country
is comparatively prosperous, and mol
because of anything done by these
Federal of1iceholders. The countr,
is comparatively pros erous not be
cause of them, but in spite Of them
This contest is, in fact, between
the people, endeavoring to regain
the political power which rightfully
belongs to them, and to restore tn
pure, simple, economical, constitu
tional government of our fathers OF
one side, and hundred thousan,
Federal ofliceholders and their back
: ers, pampered with place and powe
and determined to retain them at al
hazards, on the other; and henc
the constant assumption of new ant
dangerous powers by the Genera
Government under the rule Of tn
} Republican party.
The effort to build up what the
) call strong government; the inter
ference with home rule and with th
administration of justice in th
courts of the several states; the in
, reference with elections through tb
medium of paid partisan Federal Of
fee holders, Interested in keepin