The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1886-07-10
JUDGE GUNBY'S VIEWS.

and more interested in the issues upon
which the CANVASS will be made, and as &,
Judge Gunby will probably himself be a I
candidate, we reproduce from the Bulletin
his views upon them as expressed at the
recent barbecue at Vernon.
In choosing a candidate for Congress, we
take it, the people will not be actuated by {
personal motives, by so-called claims upon
the party or whether no belongs to this or
that faction of the party, but the platform
npon which tho man stands, his sound
ness upon the issues presented and his
The versatile and scholarly correspondent
of tho Bulletin, aftor reporting the pre-
ceeding speakers, reports Judge Gunby as
follows:
"EIon. A. A. Gnnby of Ouachita was then
introduced to tho audience, and made his |
first appearance before tho people Of Jack
son parish. Personally, Judge Gunby was I
in the main among strangers, but they |
| had heard ofhim as q speaker of eloquence |
| and power. He did not disappoint them |
on this occasion. His speech was an ex-
| temporancous but wo11 digosted and adj
mirabfy conceived effort. Flo had
thoroughly studied tho subjects OF which
no treated, and his grasp of thom was
| broad, comprehensive and statesmanlike.
There was no straining after effect, no
domagogic art. He was easy and graceful
| in manner, elegant and polished, and at
] times ornate in diction and style, fluent in
speech and throughout at once concise and
! eloquent. His 'eXordium was devoted to
tho day that brought them together, and
his Characterization OF that day and the
duty of its observance was a most effec-
live pic co of oratory.
| Passing to tho discussion OF practical
questions, he presented in rapid succession
his views upon National aid to education,
Mississippi river Improvement, railroad
land grants and the tariff. We have Meth
or the time nor the space to give to our
readers his arguments upon these subjects
He favored federal aid for the education of
tho illiterate masses of tho South, whose
education had been rendered public
, necessity by federal action. He domon-
strated tho natural and indisputable inter-
est of tho people west Of the Ouachita
river, in theimprovement ofthe navigation
/ of tho Mississippi rivcr and the protection
of the alluvial lands along it's banks from
inundation from its waters. Speak ing to
the people, not as candidate for Congress
D or for any office. but as practical lawyer
= he said that there was longer any
question of the right of Congress to declare
forfeited unearned land grants, and that
tho grant to tho Vicksburg, Shreveport
J. and Texas railroad company had beer
t forfeited by reason of the failure of the
= company to comply with tho condi
Of In %1>aASk ~,
right as we'll as tho plain and imperativ,
Il duty of Congress to declare tho forfeiture
= lie combatted the view held by som,
Louisiana Congressman that the forfeiture
of this grant was impracticable and coult
a not be accomplished. So far as he hat
studied the history of congressional
legislation on this subject, he had not beer
: made aware Of any determined, energeti
! and we'll directed effort to that end. 1t la,
:. been said that tho Republican Senate coul
not DO induced to pass such bill, and ye
. it is noteworthy that such able and dis
tinguishod and influential gentlemen a
Senators George, Van Wycl and Eusti
=. and others arc now engaged in great an
N patriotic contest for tho preservation {
tho public domain from spoliatioI
~ Agitation Of this subject cannot be conclu
Z dcd and put aside by tho simple assertio
y that thoy cannot succeed.
= Judge Gunby in discussing tariff tax:
"a ton, and speaking as Il Democrat and fl
and i'll the interest OF tho Democratic part,
planted himself squaroly and fully upa
tho platform adopted by practical u,
Us animous vote by tho convention of ii
Il National Democratic Party Mt Chicago
:. 1881.
~ Upon all questions of public policy,
~ very justly and properly regards that nla
~ form as tho manifesto of tho party.
es In limo with the most enlighten
-, thought of tho age and in strict alheren
W to tho true modern Wow, ho considers t
"s primary object of all taxation, however il
posed, to be raising of revenue for t.
support of government. Government nu
DO maintained, and there! taxation mt
c. DO imposed. Experience has den,onstrat
that under our dual form of governne
Va direct taxation is infpratcable. The poop
o. would not submit to have their lands al
20 personal property assessed and taxed
49, tho federal government. Tho wisest state
o' ing to avoid it, found ready refuge from
.; OWLS in the easy, indirect and uneNpensi
}. method of duties on imports. But early
az tho history of the government, it WAS co
ceived that without departing at all fro
the primary purpose of taxation, n tar
could be so constructed, laid and adjusted
on to provide all needed revenue and at t