The weekly Thibodaux sentinel and journal of the 8th Senatorial District. [volume] (Thibodaux, Lna. [i.e. La.]) 1875-1898, 1884-03-22
COL. STONES ~DECLINATION.

AeP"0tsCuH -NO"stn0ttOH ERUTety UtQIHt
fOus.
NJ. j. Cunningham
Dear Sir and Friend-My rominatio,
ticket. requires at my hands s0methip.
more than IN unequivocal, positive ant
public declinatiOn.
Of all men it is most astonishing that
sh' uid have been put upon such a ticket.
never have voted for a Republican. When
Democratic conventions have approved OF
adopted Republicans as candidates ( have
abstained from voting. No folly of my OWL
party has led the to desc t my party allegi
ance and principles. much less can l be SC
dnced by the allurements of orr political
enemies. l adopted the dissenting opinion
OF Mr.. Bayard. Of Delaware, as expressed
in the Democratic National Convention
that met at Baltimore in 1872, which adou
ted Horace Greeley as its candidate : 1T
Is always better to he beaten holding to
your convictions and under your own lead
ers than to win led by your enemies"
l shall not charge any purpose on the
part Of those i'll the Republican convention
who suggested my name to injure me with
my own party, bnt y low political morali.
ty suggests that / have sought such a nom
lnation. Nothing could he further from
the truth. Not even y suggestion of such y
purpose was ever limited to me; had there
ben, | would have given it such q rebuke
as it deserved.
! should look npon the success of the Re
publican ticket rs an evil. nnmixed with
good. Its success mean the reestablish-
ment of the same people in power in Lou
islana that robbed misgoverned and we'll
nigh destroyed her in the horrid recon.
struction days. The Republican party in
Louisiana now is the same it was then.
composed OF the same men, who have the
same purposes. 1t is worse now than then
for its membership is more needy. They
are the same people that have ALWAYS Va
tel III favor of the Louisiana Lottery Com
pany and p~enitentiary lease, mOnop0lies
in every form, increasing the interest on
the public debt. any and every plan that
been suggested by which money could
be taken from the public treasury.
Let a man who thinks of voting the Re
ticket look at the compOs ton of
their convention. Will he find there any
man whose lead he would wish to follow :?
No. 1t annOt be. Our States destinies
cannot he committed to the care of such a
party. What does the ascendency of such
2 party promise. with the same leadership
mat was SO troublesome in 1876? l feel
Jailed upon to say that in my opinion any |
Democrat who votes the Re-
publican ticket, or refuses to vote the De",
ocratic ticket, which is almost the same
hing, will make q great mistake. The
line has not come to recOmmit tho govern |
nent of Louisiaua to the Republican party.
It has no new life in it. It has no new mcn
n tits morality and purposes are the
'ame a of old. / am one Of those who waa
most displeased ct the present Democratic
administration. and exercised in the full.
st measure my privileges, as q Democrat.
criticise the conduct of the men l had
'een instrumental in putting into Office :
'ut mine was not . factiOus opposition.
nd had nothing personal in it, neither did
t spring from dislOyalty to the party, nor
vas 1t a failure. was not seeking an Of
ice.
My Republican friends mistonk INV nnr.
ose. No, l am . Democrat, and Shall
earthly support the Democratic ticket
md l warn my fellow-citizens, that if the
of the State of Louisiana ia
arned over to the Republicans in ADriI
ext, then. under its influence and by its I:
we may look for q complete recrpan :
alton of the party. and the election Of :
adical judges. sheriffs, clerks. etc. thrOnph :
the State. The thought of such a thing :
to me a perfect nightmare. and 1 con. !
ire my fellow-citizens to vote the ticket :
to stay within the party, and reform it =
Din within. 4
And finally, sir. / have this to saw
here is no man in Louisiana whom
onld rather see attorney general tban
u and you may look for good news
DIN East Feliciana on election day.
Very truly, your friend,
J. ii. STONE.
Clinton, Ii March Is, 1854. !