The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1884-06-28
The Veal Political Issues.

As the Presidential election approach
es it is most important to understand
the actual issues involved, which the
people have to decide. A comprehen-
sive and accurate view of them grows
in interest and importance.
First. The first question which arises
is whether the welfare and best inter-
ests of the country do not re luire
change of party in power. When one
party is continued in power too long it
becomes corrupt, arrogant and wanton
in abuses and evil practices in the pub
lie service. and regardless of the rights
and interests of the people. The history
of all governments show this. Let the
books of the government be looked into
by}a new set of men. Let abuses and
| frauds be exposed and corrected. If the
party that comes into power does not do
right and prove faithful it will doubtless
be turned out at the end of four years.
Let us have change. The present
party has been already too long in
power. Twentv-fOur years is too long
for one set of men to control the power
and affairs of the people unless our Gov
eminent is to be changed and offices
are to be for life, and one dynasty of
men is to be made perpetual without
change or reform. If the people are
capable of preserving their free institu-
tons and maintaining Their liberties and
their rights they will demand change.
Let the change come; let it be tried for
a time at least. Wisdom, good sense.
and common honesty on the part of the
people, rs well as fidelity to themselves
and their country require it. This is
the first issue.
| Second. Are the abuses and owl
practices of the party in power to be
approved and sanctioned by the people?
The Star-route swindle and the Star
route trial stand to day as the most
recent practical demonstrations of the
necessity of a change. But this is but
one of a thousand Of such things. This
happened to crop out from intestine
variances in the party, like the sale of
| the MANIFESTATIONS by Belknap as
Secretary of War; the whiskey-ring
frauds. the Credit Mobiler bribery
and swindle. But hundreds of others
doubtless exist which have not been
brought before the gaze of the world.
Reform and change of party are i'm
| perativety demanded.
| Third. Every department of the
Government has deteriorated and be-
| come corrupted by the long continuance
of this party in power. Even the SUI
preme Court of the United States has
become so far partisanized as to de-
clare in recent decision that the
| standard of value of the commercial
world is not by our Constitution made
basis of our money system. This
sweeps away at once the foundation of
our financial system, and of the credit
and character of our Government at
home and abroad, and subjects the
country hereafter to the deplorable
evils of an irredeemable paper money
| system.
Fourth. The rights and interests of
the citizens of the United States are not
protected against foreign nations. The
State Department is filled with COM
plants of wrongs, depredations and out
RACES committed upon American citi-
gems by forcing governments, to which
no attention whatsoever is given. The
foreign legations have the ear and con-
troll of the State Department under in
| functions of mock secrecy, and Ameri-
can citizens are denied even semblance
of justice in an appeal for protection
against wrongs and depredations
from foreign nations. And the most
solemn ad Indications on full hearing of
both parties, under treaties in favor
of American citizens against foreign
| governments, are repudiated and set
aside upon mere ex parte and irrespon-
sible statements made in secrecy by the
emissaries of the foreign powers. Fair
and impartial justice to American citi-
zens against foreign powers requires q
| change of men in power.
Fifth. The party in power has with
reckless extravaganza increased the net
ordinary annual expenses of the Gov
eminent from about sixty million dol
lars in 1860, the last year of q Demo-
| cratic administration, to near three
hundred millions year, together with
a collection from the people of over a
hundred million dollars more than is
needed to pay the public expenditures
Sixth. The chief end and aim of the
party in power is to enlarge the opera
tons and expenditures of the Federal
Government, in order to centralize all
power in it, and wholly absorb the
powers of the States, and reduce them
| to the condition of mere subordinate
departments Register.
The Time for Reflection.