The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1896-03-14
A Call to Duty.

There are class of citizsns IL
every community in the state WIZ
seem to undervalue their rights o
citizenship. They are men of intel
1ligence; upholders of law and order
whose tendencies are largely in sup
port of the better Influences il
society; jealous in business pursuits
and commendable providers fol
home comforts and who love the in
| flnences of the domestic circles,
But when it comes to the dis
charge of that highest duty of the
citizen the use of the ballot-they
either express a reluctance to mingle
in political struggles, or a distaste
for having aught to do with the ex
ercise of a privilege which they pro.
claim as having degenerated into
disreputable methods that are alb
horrent to the honest, conscientious
and intelligent citizen.
Herein lies the great danger to
good government and the very
liberty aud institutions of the repub-
lie. 1t is because of the profigacy
and corruption that have crept into
political circles, that the honest and
law-abiding citizen should show a
deeper concern and take a more
active participation in the affairs of
government. 1t is only by concert
of action and the most determined
efforts that the more intelligent and
better elements among the people
that the reins of power can be
wrested from the demagogae and
ambitious professional political as
pirants.
The danger that threatens liberty
and the state, Is because of the de-
based and ignorant, shown In the
character of many OF those who
make the laws and occupy response
BILE positions. They are the reflex
of the .hoodlums, The vicious and
depraved, from the perlieus of the
towns and cities, and from the by
ways and the slums of society. 1t
is because of the danger and the in
fiuence of such elements that the
true, upright ana patriotic citizen
should emerge from bis inaction and
obscurity IN political life, and bestir
himself for the good of his home
and his country, and for securing to
both the highest privileges and
greatest blessings.
Louisiana is being precipltated
into the pending arena of politics
under circumstances that demand
the active energy and the earnest
efforts of every citizen who is deep
ly concerned in what pertains to his
social and political welfare and eleva-
ton. Arrayed against democracy
with its benefcent rule and brilliant
record for the past twenty years, are
elements that proclaim no pretense
of principle, that dare not give them
selves name and bare no aim save
the ambition to rule. Behind an
element that has claimed some share
of responsibility and intelligence
heretofore, in political circles,
stands arrayed the great mass of
ignorance and the corrupt leaders
that made necessary the revolution
of 1876.
Here then is the incentive that
should arouse every citizen from
even the semblance of lethargy and
make him take a solemn oath to
neither rest nor desist from his
efforts until this combine, in which
the colored element is the most con-
splcious ingredient, shall be utterly
overthrown, overwhelmed repudi-
ated. Here is the target for the
honest and intelligent citizens bal
lot. This is reason sufficient to up
hold the standard of democracy.
This is the clarion call that gives
warning to the white yeomanry of
to defeat, horse and foot,
the pop.-repub. heterogeneous COM
blne. Shreveport Times.