St. Landry democrat., 1892-01-09
PLATFORM.
Adopted by the Democratic Convention
at Baton Rouge, Dec. 10, 1891.

at Baton Rouge, Dec. 10, 1891.
The democracy of the State in convention as
sembled announce and declare their steadfast
devotion to the time-honored principles of the
democratic party, and to the issues upon which
that party has recently gone before the coun-
try and secured its magnificent victories, re-
sultng in the control OF a majority of the States
OF the Union, as well as of a majority of over
gress, thus indicating that at the approaching
elections these time-honored principles will
once again be in the ascendancy, and that the
party will once more be charged with the con-
troll of the government and its destiny.
In time thus suspicious of victory; at time |
when 1t is almost certain that the democratic
branches of the government, and thus be
able to afford relief to the people from
the crushing taxation and the bad government
under which they have so long suffered. we see
with concern, and call the attention of the peo
pie of Louisiana to the attempt to dsintcSrate
and jcopardize the power and usefulness of the
party III this State, thus cndangering its cleo
tOral vote and its usefulness to protect and de
fcnd the people of the State from African and
radical rule.
We call the attention of the people of Louisi-
ana, and especially of the constituencies inter
ested, to the fact that many parishes were
unreprcsented in this convention, through the
revolutionary acts of the delegates from those
parishes, who, without cause, excuse or provo
cation, refused to take their seats and to par
tlcipate i'll its deliberations, as they were ap
pointed to do, but on the contrary organized an
independent convention and placed Ill n0lnlna-
ton ticket which has none of the authority
or regularity OF Il democratic nomination with
which 70 go before the people, and can only be
| classed as an independent or third party ticket,
and we urge upon the true democracy of Lou-
lslana. who have by long years of devotion to
the interests of the party, which are identified
Will those O1 the White people of this State to
stamp with the seal OF their dSapprohatiOn
this attempt to dl4iue the.u and 10 Steal from
| them their slttlraSes under the prctense that
| the ticket thus nominated in any sense repre-
| SentS the democratic nartV
The democracy OF Louisiana regard fealty to
| the party and faithful adherence to its organi-
alton as above all considerations and the only
means OF sustaining ana peIretpatihs White
supremacy and good government in Louisiana.
| In view OF the very popular anxiety that ex,
| lists among the large majority of the peo-
pie OF Louisiana who follow agricultural
| pursuits, i'll consequence OF the depression of
their industry, and the enormous burdens
| which lhey are called upon to bear, we call
| their attention TO the fact that the democratic
party has ever been the frie0d of the farmer,
! the laborer and the mechanic, and we ask them
| to wait for redress OF their grievances and a
| remedy for the evils from which they suffer TN
| til the democratic party shall be placed i'll I'M
controlled power in the administration of the
government OF the country, and shall be able
| to afford them that relief which they have fail
ed to receive from the republican party.
Since 1857 the democratic party has never
been in control at all branches of tho govern
| ment, so as to be able to afford this relief
Since the war we have had but one President
whose administration brought credit upon the
democratic party, but during his administra
| ton the Senate was republican, and it was i'm
| possible to obtain relief. At all other times we
| have had either democratic House or a rc-
| publican Senate, and republican President
| aud it was Impossible for the democratic party
| to secure the adoption OF any measure of relief
| for the depressed interests of the country. We
| ask the agriculturists OF this State to abide pa
| tlently their time and to assist the democratic
| party i'll its approaching battle for that power
| which alone can give relief. There is no room
| i'll the campaign approaching for third party,
q of lind, in,
South can only disrupt the democratic party
and aid i'll the perpetuation of republican rule.
i That it is the duty OF the State to foster and
| improve all Of its great agricultural interests by
| adequate legislation, for their development and
promotion, and especially by the encourage
lnent and maintenance Of the Agricultural Col
| leSc and the present State experiment stations,
and by other legislation i'll the special interest
| of agriculture.
3. We pledge ourselves to an economical adj
! mnistration OF public affairs to the muinte
nance of the State credit by hunting appropria-
| tons to the amount of the revenues and to the
| liquidation of the State debt and the prompt
payment OF the interest on the same as now adj
| justed by law.
| 4. That the levcc system of the State is ii
| necessity. for the protection OF the lives and
property OF our citizens and wo pledge our
selves TO develop, liialutalll :tlld protect the
| same to the fullest cNtcntconsiStent with the
finances of the State, us absolutely essential to
| the happiness and prosperity of our people
| And we ask the efforts OF our senators and
| representatives Ill congress to obtain the con
tinuance of the liberal and generous assistance
| hitherto afforded to lis by The general govern
ment for this purpose, and especially to secure
| the Improvement Of the navigation OF the Miss
issppi river and the protection Of the people
| who live upon its banks.
5. We pledge the democratic party of this
State to an earnest effort to place the free pub
| lie schools Of Louisiana upon substantial and
| satisfactory basis, and to that end the lesisla
| turc is requested to appropriate Il sufficient
| amount from the annual revenues of the State
| to provide for the suitable education Of the
children of the State.
The democratic party realiiriEs its oppOsI-
ton to all mOnOpolics and class legislation.
We present with pride to the democracy of
Louisiana, for their candidates at tho approach
ing election, ticket which hats been nominated
with singular unanimty, and specially the
name of Samuel ID. MCEnery, our nominee for
governor. We call upon the democratic voters
! of Louisiana to give their earnest support and
most constant efforts to secure the success of
the ticket thus presented at the polls, and we
feel confident that the victory when secured
cannot be wrested from us by any attempts to
tamper with Or change the result by fraud, vi
Olence or lmproperElise OF the election ma
chinery,
WHITE PRIMARIES.
The following resolution was also passed by
unanimous vote of the convention:
Whereas, large majority of the members,
both pro and anti of this convention have been
instructed by their constituents to secure the
submission of the revenue amendment to
primary election of white democratic voters,
to be held under proper rules and regulations,
at o date previous to the general election and
Whereas, 1t is impossible to provide for such
settlement in the absence of and by reason of
the actions of number of delegates who are
opposed to said amendment; therefore be it
Resolved, That the State central committee
to be appointed by this convention be and they
are hereby authorized, if possible, to make any
and all agreements and arrangements with the
pro and ant-lottery democrats for the submits
sion of the said amendment to a primary cleo
ton of white democratic voters at q date to be
fixed, and under rules to be agreed to by both
parties, and the State central committee is di-
rected to use every honorable means to bring
about settlement of this question in accord
ance with the power herein conveyed.