The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1891-09-05
VOL GRANT /

In Louisiana, at least, the agricul-
tural classes ara not borne down
+, by debt, and their property plas-
tered over with mortgages. Fer
tile lands and fruitful seasons year
after year, in spite of the fact that
all the farmers of the South were
broken down by the war, have made
them the most Independent people
of the South. They do not need
to join in the radical movement
started by their Western brothere-
Fortunately, q majority of them
has not engaged in the alliance re-
form, which has been taken up only
by respectable minority.
Under all the circums tances it is
difficult to see Why Southern men,
the preservation Of whose liberties
and most important institutions
and social rights, is wholly depend
ent on the Democratic party, should
connect themselves with any move
ment that necessarily takes them
away from the Democracy and ar
rays them against it Such spec
tacle is so astonishing that it moves
q violent Northern Republican pa-o
per like the Chicago Tribune to
give expression to its surprise
Says that truculent journal: -
ihese old ultra-state sovereignty Demo-
Gratis are demanding that the Federal
Government shall 60 into every State
and build warehouses in which to store
the crops OF the agriculturists. They de-
mand that the General Government must
manufacture and lend shin plasters to
every man on his crops and for the "pay-
ment" OF his debts, thus weaving the af-
fections Of the Southern Democrats from
their States and causing them to look to
the District OF Columbia e. the fountain
OF all power. Those Southern Demo
Gratis demand that the General Govern
ment shall take possession OF ~all rail-
roads and every means Of communica-
tion." even though exclusively within the
limits Of 6tate, and operate them-em-
ploying q million Of Office holders tor that
purpose. They seek to establish GEN.
tralized depositum, wiping out nj States'
rights and home rule, and run everything
at Washington. This Is strange doctrine
which once fought for the overthrow OF
the mild Union Constitution.
There have been GiRns tor noane time
back that the old OonfsdeeaGn were
breaking away frOm their JefIersonian
moorin0s.' Il showed itoslf 6rst in their
readiness to run the National ConRreas
for appropriations for local Southern
fairs, Ter the leveeing q their. rivers to
keep water on their p1antstjons, Tor im-
provement Of harhon or the making OF
canala Tor relief in case Of storms or
floods or short crops in Tbxas, or yellow
foyer in Tenneseee o. Florida. Bot no
one dreamed three yeaFs ego that Jefler-
sonisn principles would b. throvn utterly
to the winds by his Disciples, and that
the strict construction, hard-m0uey Dom
ocrats would be calling upon fho0 General
Government TO hand out unreasonable
shinplasters to al, and to take charge a
the domestic affairs Of the State and leave
the latter nothing TO attend to.
The violent and exaggerated LAM
guage of this old foe Of the South
ern people needs to b. taken with
allowance. Then improvement of
harbors for the handling of nation
al commerce, and the care of ma
tional rivers have long been recog-
nized as proper themes for nation
al legislation. A river that flows
through the territory of twenty
States is to big for the care Of
commemorative, but when it comes
to abandoning TIE rights and func-
tions of the States altogether ard
centering all interests and all pow
ers in General Government then
Democracy is thrown to the winds
indeed. Yet this is the sort Of
thing that is being held up by al
legged Democrats Is the purest sort
OF Democracy and the only saliva
ton for the grand old party of lib
erty and States rights.
There are some some sins which
are said to make devils laugh. This
is one at least which excites the
ridicule of the Chicago Tribune.
A Little Girls Experiences in Lighthouse,
Mr.. and Mira. Loren TrescOtt are