The Lake Charles echo. [volume] (Lake Charles, Parish of Calcasieu, La.) 1876-1898, 1882-09-30
How Can we Forget ?

The following, from the Gainesville
fTexas) Register, although referring
directly to Republican rule in the
Lone Star State, is equally applicable
to Louisiana, where similar events
were transpiring at the time of which
the article treats. The Echo repro
duces it that our readers may now on
the eve of our congressional election,
think back and refreshen their memo
ries on what our people have borne in
times past, not alone in Louisiana, but
throughout the entire Southland:
1t is charged that the Democratic
party of Texas are like the bourbons
of France, because they "neyer forget
anything" This is a serious charge,
but the Democratic party is very old
one, and it has something connected
with its history that ought not to be
forgotten. Here is one circumstance
that took place few years ago which
perhaps ought to be forgotten, but
which the Democrats and all other
decent people will in all probability re-
member on election day.
It will be remembered that in 1871,
under the Republican administration
of Edmund ]. Davis, that taxes were
very high. The rate of taxation bad
suddenly run up from l2t cents on
the hundred dollars, under the late
Democratic rule, to sI.50 on the hun
dred dollars worth of property.
The people began to complain; in
fact the dissatisfaction was almost
universal, and convention of tax
payers was called to meet at Austin.
| 1t met late in the fall of 1871 aud pro-
ceeded to pass resolutions, etc, in an
orderly manner. 1t was not political
movement, but of course the conven
tion was composed largely of Demo
Gratis as most of the taxpayers in the
state were Democratic, but Senator
Morgan G. Hamilton, A. ]. Hamilton
and other Republicans endorsed the
move. Ex-Governor Pease was elected
president of the convention.
While the convention was in session
in the state house, a large crowd of
negroes got together aud with white
man at their head marched several
times around the capitol, singing,
John Browns Soul is Marching on"
They then muttered ineantations and
performed Vandoo rites, burning in
cense, etc, the white man in the lead
taking q part in the rites. All this
was done to insult the people of the
state who had peaeeably assembled to
petition in a peaceable manner for a
redress of grievances, and relief from
the most burdensome and rninous tax
alton that ever cursed any people.
Voters of Texas what do you think Of
such proceedings
What do you think should be the
feelings of the people of this state to-
ward the white man who led this igno-
rant horde and assisted in their heath
enish rites which he insultingly said
were to purify the capitol from the
corruption and treason that had de-
| fled it.
Those who never heard of the oe-
eurrance would naturally ask, Who
was the white man, and did the peo-
pie of Texas permit him to HVel"
Readers, that man was the governor
of this state, Edmund j. Davis, That
was the man who to-day leads the hosts
that oppose the Democracy of Texas.
That was the man who now endorses
| Wash Jones, the man at whose sugges-
ton the Greenbackers have given up
their party, principles and all, and
united with the ignorant horde which
marched around the capitol and in
suited the whole people of the state.
This is no campaign story but is a
fact that can be attested by hundreds
of living witnesses, and it is fact
that people with shorter memories
than the bourbons of France will not
soon forget or forgive.