The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1884-02-16

If there is any one fact which ought
to fill the heart of Democrat with the
greatest hope of speedy return to the
principles of popular government, it is
the demand for a change which is COM
ing up from every section of the coun-
try. Every election for the past year
has demonstrated this. 1t is heard in
the clamorous discomfort of labor in the
cities, and from the over-worked and
underpaid tillers of the soil. Every
workingman has studied the problem
only to find it impossible of solution.
He knows that reform is necessary
and knows no other way to secure it
except by change of parties. This
opinion from all the centers of industry
and activity swells the cry for a change
until it has grown to be the all absorb
ing theme. Against this cry of the cit
izen all fine-spun dispositions and dis
cussions upon the tariff amount to moth
ing. He cares nothing for Republican
promises, for he knows they are not to
be trusted. and still less for the fancy
pictures of the stump, for they are but
the incidents of campaign. He only
knows that discomfort and political I'M
rest are rife everywhere, and that the
demand for change increases daily
and hourly, and he sees in that coming
tide the hopeful reform which the coun-
try needs.
This demand for change is supple
mented by the attitude of the foreign
born citizen who sees the tendencies of
the Republican party to exercise guar
dianship over his tastes and appetites,
and to harass his peaceful enjoyments
of the rights Of citizenship by vague
hints of revival of Know Nothingism.
These things have brought him also to
look for change of parties, and the
cause of many Republican defeats of
late may be properly attributed to this
fact. The naturalized citizen of this
country has rights which ought to be
left undisturbed, but in the absence of
issues, whatever could intensity political
strife and infame partisan zeal has
been laid hold of, and as the prohibition
question has ever been an exciting one,
it was used with what added sauce the
spirit of Know Nothingism could give it,
and from these issues an attempt has
been made by the Republican party to
hold its strength in States where it was
thought such an agitation might be
profitable. The consequence has been
that the foreign element is now ready
for change also. and will hasten it by
giving their votes to party which has
always protected their rights and which
will not persecute them. Instead of
laboring to fuse the foreign element of
this country with the native, and teach
ing them to forget their nationality in
the duties of common citizenship,
the Republican party has harassed
them with vexatious laws and tried
to force them into beliefs uncon-
genial to their habits and manners.
Jealous fanaticism looking to the gov
eminent of their morals, rather than
common desire to meet them upon the
plane of citizens and voters. has distin-
guished the conduct of the Republicans
towards the foreigners, and If they are
now tired of such guardianship and de-
sire to free. themselves from its re-
straints, nobody need wonder at it.
The times are ripe for change in every
direction Business interests demand
it as well as political considerations.
There is hope in a, change, and the
peaceful revolution which is now under
way promises the return of principles
under which the people of the country
may be prosperous and happy. The
Republican party has ended its mission
and has nothing else to live for but the
attainment of the ambitious hopes of its
leaders. The country can have no In
terest in such personal quarrels, and
has made up its mind that the Repub-
lican party must go. 1t has been per-
fectly evident from the efforts made for
years in the past, that no reforms can
commence with any possible chance for
success until change of party power
takes Mace. - American Rs0isker.