The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1893-05-06
CLEAN POLITICAL EDUCATION.


that have prevailed for several years
past. This restless discomfort ex-
tends itself all over the conntry-
from the Green mountains to the Pa
eiiic slope, and with it is growing de-
mand for clean political education in !
order to ensure a healthful safety to
the government.
This is especially so in the South
ern portion, where within the past
few months it has more particularly
taken the shape of an cutlery for
BALLOT REFORM.
The South more than any other
portion of the country has been crit
ically situated for years with regard
to the suffrage question because OF
the colored race. 1t is unnecessary
to speak of the ignorance that ex-
lsted among the negroes while In
bondage and the evil effect of en-
downing them with all the rights OF
citizens SO suddenly while in that Ig-
norant condition, and their great
numerical superiority in certain Sec
tons of the Southern states; here in
this parish alone their voting strength
was fully equal to seven to one of the
whites, which combined with the
enmity, prejudice and other evils in
fused into their helpless minds dur
ing the reconstruction period, made
the situation dreadful to endure;
something had to be done to even up
things little better. We really be-
lieve that but for the advent of the
carpet-bag element and their poison
Gus persuasions, the few whites and
the many blacks would have been
able to get along together and cor
daily make both ends meet, but
twas not to be and something had to
be done to prevent the colored peo-
pie, under the guidance Of their cum
ming leaders, from trampling under
| foot with their excessive numbers all
| the rights and privileges of their
white neighbors, who were determin-
ed to assert and maintain their race
supremacy, which was both just and
natural.
If this abnormal situation had
been brought about with a view to
| the real welfare of the black man
there might have been some excuse
for it, but sad to state, it was soley
and exclusively the outcroping of the
unclean political teachings that ther
prevailed. Out of this grew intini
dation, bul.doozing and fraud a
elections.
] NECESSITY KNEW NO LAW
at that time, and the law has M
doubt been winked at for severa
/ years since as occasion offered, bu
all such methods are more or les
criminal and unclean politics, ant
sooner or later, ''like curses ant
chickens come home to roost.'
Leaders who have become habituatet
to such things have been known t
use their power against members ant
factions of their own party in orde
to retain influence and affiuence
and sometimes from factional rivalry
This is what we call
COMING HOME TO ROosT.
The people are fully aroused an
are earnestly determined to hav
the much needed ballot reform.
Richard HI. Mcdonald in a recen
number of "California Magazine
fsays:
Efforts in behalf of ballot reform q
the present. time are mainly directe
to so surround the balio'-box tbs
there can be no bribery, no stuffing c
boxes or miscouating of ballots. u
Z forgery or Justification of returns.
The Australian law is now suppose
| to be product ofhuman wisdom tina
| will secure honest elections beyond
peradventure. The ballot reformel
are bending their efforts to secure il
. adoption in all The states. 1t is la
of many merits and may be justly r.
garded as the best that has ever bee
devised.
If the Australian election law n
: fered to, is adopted by the state I
Louisiana, we can safely Deepen
upon having, to considerable e.
tent,
"A FREE BALLOT AND FAIR COUNT,
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