The Lake Charles echo. [volume] (Lake Charles, Parish of Calcasieu, La.) 1876-1898, 1883-06-02
STATE DEMOCRACY.

STATE DEMOCRACY.
The Democratic party in Tins state
has good many sins Ia answer for.
Democrats are not all the kind OF men
we would like to have them. We are
willing to admit these two PROPOSE
tions. But what shall we do abont
it? 1t is the only party that has any
claims upon the sympathy or respect
of oar people. The sins the party
must answer fer do not over.baiancc
the good there is in it. The party
should not he blamed for the iHdi-
vrduaI acts of it's members, therefore
it should not be held responsible. The
recent report of the committee ap-
pointed to investigate the workings of
the board of audit, under Act No. 50,
is terrible document, if all contained
therein is true. But that report only
speaks of the acts of certain members
of the Democratic party. The differ
ent members of that board are well
known to the people of Louisiana.
The president of the board sleeps the
sleep that knows no waking, and we
arc not now, nor never expect to be,
prepared to believe one word against
HIM as an honest man. Bnt who
are the other members of the board ?
There is not man IN the state who
has a better record than Allen ,JumcI,
as far as VIC are familiar with it. Is
it reasonable to believe that he would
10y one single act deliberately blast the
reputation of lifetime? Who does
not know W. J. Behan, the present
mayor of New Orleans, the man who
stretches a point to give employment
in and about the city to manned Con
fedcratc soldiers? Can it be possible
that he would deliberately steal fIom
the people Or knowingly allow others
to do it: Other members Of the
board, of whose record we are not
familiar, may stand equally well But
therc are always two sides to every
question, and only one Oh this question
has been heard Whether We shall
have the other side soon, or not, we
are not prepared to say. The com
mittcc who made the report 50 widely
circulated doubtless believed every
thing contained in it, for they too arc
honorable men. Men who stand high
where they arc best known. But Tor
the present, we move to suspend judg
ment until the other side has hearing
The Democratic party has given
peace and prosperity to this state. A
mans life is as secure in Louisiana as
in any state in the Union. His prop
erty is amply protected. Taxation is
light, compared to what it IL IN some
Of the other states. Every man can
worship God accordingto the dictates
of his conscience. We do not sec
to what party the sorc-heads and
GROWERS could advise a man to 90, if
he is dissatisfied in the Democratic
party. Certainly not to the Republic
can party. Don't advise any man vino
has lived in this state under HadicAl
rule to join the Republican party.
Abuses which exist in the party can
be corrected i'll the party. Only let
the people take an interest in the
matter, and set about the reforms they
may think necessary and there is moth
ing easier. Every intelligent man is a
politician to a more or less extent, and
it is proper he should be- Keep your
self posted. Attend political meet
ingS. Read the papers, Then let us
have a return to fair and square deal
ing. Inside Of the Democratic party.
If there is a constable to elect, see to
it that he is hogest, that he is capa-
bic, and that he is a Democrat And
so on, up TO. the highest Office within
your gift. All this talk about rings
and dishonesty in Office is clap-trap.
If you think rings exist, get into the
ring and help reform it. 1t is like a
man preaching against the great truths
Of the Bible who has never read that
Book. You say the ofice-bolders are
dishonest when you know nothing
about it, But if there are dishonest
men in office it is your own fault if
they are allowed to stay there. We
can elect honest men, if we try. There
are only two great political parties and
you are bound to vote with one of
them.
DUE to the efforts of its excellent
local paper, the EeHo, Lake Charles
is now in possession of banking in
stitntion termed Bank of Caicasieu,"
with capital stock Of $4,000 d.
vided into one Thousand shares Of $50.
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