The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1882-10-07
so-CALLED REPUBLICAN REFORM.
Madison Journal. ]


called reform-noticeable in Gen. Nc
Millen's speech here on the 18th inst,
in which he stated that the Republican
party has never advocated and passed
any measure that did not directly tend
to the elevation of man and the alleVi-
alton of the sufferings Of humanity
until we are tired of 1t. This was
broad and sweeping assertion OF Nc
Millens and delivered, too, with much
apparent seriousness, as almost TO
static one by it's impudence.
If the passage of such odious legls-
lation as the reconstruction measure
with all it's attending ills, the sus'
pension of the writ of hapets corpus
the creation of gigantic and swindiing
monopolies, the odious election laws
and hundreds of such acts have eleva-
ted man or ameliOrateu MS coheiltio",
we have yet to learn.
If the Republican Legislation OF this
State, degrading and humiliating as 1t
was, has benefited the condition
OF. any, but the thieves that passed it,
we have yet to learn.
If the hordes of spectators, that
followed in the wake Of a victorious
army and remained here like harpies
to despoil the country and elevate
themselves to power under the pro-
lection OF bayonets by solely imposing
upon the ignorance and credullty OF a
race, lately emancipated, meant reform,
we have yet to learn.
If the Gisfranchisement of hundreds,
who were brave enough to strike for
what they believed was right, and the
denial of a right to them, which was
mainly accorded to the ignorant, meant
reform, we have yet to learn.
If the filling of nearly every position
in the State from the Executive down
to Constable, by thieves, spectators,
idiots or fools, meant reform, we nave
yet to learn.
If the robbery of the money, wrung
from the people by eNhorbitant tax
alton and the consequent impoverish-
ment of the country meant reform, we
have yet to learn.
II the constant stealing of that most
sacred of all funds-the school fund
and the consequent injustice to the
children of the poor, meant reform, we
have yet to learn.
II the ill will, lack ofconiidence, anu
in some cases, hostilities, formerly en-
gendered by this so-called great party
of reform and the effort to politically
separate two races, whose destinics
were inseparable, meant reform, then
we have still to learn.
But these Republicans continue to
call themselves the great, progressive,
reform party. A tree is known by
its fruits. Point to a single Republican
administration in any Southern States
that was not black with dishonesty and
infamy, and was not disgrace to
barbarism? When hurled from power,
in what condition was Louisiana, South
Carolina, Florida, Georgia, and every
Southern State, which was populated
by the Vampires, left? Poverty
stricken Broken in financies! Bank
rupt! Still they talk of reform! Still
they are striving for the ascendency.
Let us not forget the past and its
lessons!
Ifyou call this reform, throw it to
the dogs. We will none of il.
If the party is respectable at the
North, it must send better political
evangelists to cnlightcn us, that it has
in the past. Here in the South ere
publican" is the synonymc of every
thing that is odious and knavish, and
we will not execute the villainy il
teaches us, nor be bcttcred by the in
struction.