The Opelousas courier. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1852-1910, 1884-11-01
LANDRY, NOVEMBER l. 1884.

fifth and forty-sixth Congress by which re.
luctant Republican opposition was compelled
to assent to legislation making everywhere
illegal the presence of troops at the polls as
the conclusive proof that ii Democratic ad-
lninistration was preserved with order.
The selection of Federal officers for the
Territories should be restricted to cltlzens
previously resident therein.
We oppose sumptuary laws which vex the
citize: and interfere with individual liberty.
We favor honest civil service reform, and
the compensation of United States othcers by
fixed salaries, the separation OF church ana
State and the diffusion of free education by
common schools, SO that every child ID tne
land NAV be taught the right andsduties OF
citizenship.
While we favor all legislation which tends |
to the equal distribution of property, to the
prevention of monopoly and to the strict en- |
forcement of individual rights against corpo- |
rate abuse, we hold that the welfare OF socle- |
ty depends upon serupuoous regard lot @ S1e
rights of property as defined by law. we
believe that labor is best rewarded Where II
is free and most enlighten. 1t should there.
fore be chersheded. We favor the repeal OF all
laws restricting the free action of labor, and
the enactment of law by which labor organ
| izations NAV be incorporated and of such leg |
| islation as will tend to enlighten the people |
as to the true relations OF capital and LABOR
| We believe that the public lands ought. as
far possible, to be Kept as homesteaos; 1of ac-
| o.
! fore improvdentily granted to railroad cor
l porations by the action of the Republican
party, should be restored to the public do,
| main, and that no more grants OF lands snail
| be made to corporations, or shall be allowed
| to fall into the ownership of alien absentees.
We are opposed to all propositions, which
upon any pretext will convert general govern
ment into machine for collecting taxes to be
distributed among the States or the citizens
| thereof.
a. a II. x~R %ha naY1,
ocratic party of 1865, that the liberal prlncl-
pies embodied by Jefferson in the declaration
| of independence and sanctioned in the
constitution which makes ours the
land of liberty and the asylum OF the op'
pressed of every nation. have ever been, car
dinal principles in the Democratic party. We
nevertheless, do not sanction the importatino
of foreign labor or the admission of servlle
races untitled by habits, training religion, or
kindred, for absorption in the great body OF
our people or for the citizenship which our
laws confer. American civilization demands
that against the immigration or Importation
of Mongololians to these shores our gates be
closed. The Democratic party insists that IL
! is the duty of the government to protect
with equal fidelity and vigilance the rights
of its citizens. native and naturalized, at home
and abroad and to the end that this protec-
ton may be asserted, United States papers OF
naturalization issued by courts of competent
jurisdiction must be respected by the exeeu-
government aud by all foreign powers. 1t is
an imperative duty of this government to
efficiently protect all the rights OF persons
and property of every American citizen in
. foreign lands and demand and enforce full re-
paration for any invasion thereof. An Ameri-
; can citizen is only responsible to his own
government for any act done in his own coun-
try or uuder her flag, and can only be tried,
therefor on her soil and according to her laws,
and no power exists in this goyernmenmt to
} expatriate AN American citizen to be tried in
any foreign land for any such act. This coun-
/ try has never had well defined and execut-
8 ed foreign policy, save under Democratic ad-
: ministration. That policy has ever been. IN
regard to foreign nations, that so long as they
: do not act detrimental to the interest of the
: country or hurtful to our citizens, to let them
: alone. That as the result OF that policy we
!, recall the acquisition of Louisiana. Florida,
6 California, and of the ajacent Mexican Terri
J. tory by purchase alone. and constrast these
. grand Acquisitions of Democratic statesman
; Ship with the purchase of Aska-the sole fruit
!. of a Republican administration of nearly o
4 quarter OF a century.
: The federal government should care for and
= improve the Mississippi river and other great
: waterways of the republic, so as te secure
: : for the interier States easy and cheap trans
: portation to tidewater. Under long period
! Of Democratic rule and policy our merchant
! marine was fast overtaking and on the point
= of outstripping that OF great Britain. unael
=
= our commerce has been left to British bottoms
and almost has the American flag been swep
. :. off the high seas. Instead OF the Eepublcal
:, party's British policy, we demand fer the peo
!. pie of the United States an American poilc.
= under Democratic rule and policy. Ou
= = merchants and sailors flying the stars AM
= 4 stripes in every port successfully searched
= = out market for the varied products OF Amerl
y " can industry. Under quarter.of century
=. Republican rule and policy despite our man y
4 nth
% paid labor, favorable climates and teemin
- soils despite freedom of trade among a.
70 - these United States; despite their popnlatio
: by the foremost races OF men and annual I'm
~ migration of the young and adventurous
~ - all nations despite our freedom here trou
- - the Inherited burdens of life and industry !
= = the world of monarchies, their costly wars, M
=, vies, their vast tax-consumlng, non-produclh
~ ~ standing armies despite twenty years Q
- .. peace-that Republican rule and polcS nav
. managed to surrender to Great Britia
along with our commerce the control OF tn
% @ markets of the world. Instead of the Reput
=. =. lican party aud British policy we demand il
= - behalf of the American Democracy an Amer
= - can policy instead of the Republican party
q. u. 4discredited scheme aud false pretense {
.a sa friendship for American labor oppressed b
=. imposing taxes, we demand in behalf OF Gu
- Democracy freedo m for American labor b
or reducing taxes TO the end that the Unite
20 20 States.may compete with unhindered power
- for the primacy among nations in all the ar'
,ss of peace and fruits of liberty.
~ With this statement of the hopes, principles
~, ~ aud purposes of the Democratic party, I'll
20. Sies.o ISSUE VI - =. 80 .sso,.Io - col,
II. ~ confidence that the popular vote will, pr
~ ~ nounce in favor of new men and moi
~ ~ favorable conditions for the growi
4s - of industry, the extension of trade. the en-
ch ploylnene anu ,1 uua &c., - &c tha who
of lahu ehe sohetai "o - sAo
- country.