The Louisiana populist. [volume] (Natchitoches, Natchitoches Parish, La.) 1894-1898, 1896-05-08

w tHc l'ditSu III ANOltlleS. MHtTc
the ballot-bcXes were stuffed with
over 1000 votes, and so OH through
out the black belt; when, we say,
these facts are known to everybO-
dy in the State as having taken
place, then for the State ring COM
mittee to allege that the installa-
ton of the Governor whom the
people have so overwhelmingly
eIected-Capt. j. n. Pharr-wOuld
result in 'snegrO domination is a
charge so monstrous, so transpa-
rent and so weak that the wonder
is that any decent man would dare
sign it, or be party to it..
What have the people of the
fair State of Louisiana come to-,
that a body of men, claiming to he
reputable citizens, should lend
themselves to declarations so false,
so infamous and so calculated to
stir up trouble in the State, as this
address embraces?
We assert that the fusion ticket
has been elected, fairly and owe T.
whelmingly, by the legal, honest
and public-spirited voters of the
State, and that the greatest fraud
and outrage ever perpetrated I'M
der free government of the PEG
pie, by the people and for the peO-
pie, is being attempted by Gov.
Foster and his partisan friends in
the manufacturing of majOrities
which were never given him in the
black parishes of the State, solely
that he might overthrow and tram
pie upon the will of the majority of
the white people of our State.
We are all law-abiding citizens,
having the peace, good order and
prosperity of the Commonwealth
at heart, and we propose to employ
only legal and honorable means to
vindicate our cause. And we are
going to Baton Rouge tor that pnr-
pose, and we will not tolerate any
armed interference or armed dem
Onstration by any one.
We demand, first, that the legis-
lature shall examine and count the
honest votes of the late election,
and exclude those fraudulently re-
turned.
Secondly, that the returns of the
election shall be brought before the
Legislature, and when we say "the
returns,n we mean the returns of
election contemplated by law, duly
sworn to by the commissioners of
election, with the list of voters at
each poll, and with the tally sheets
from each poll, which is required
by law to be sent by the commits
sIOners of election at each poll di-
rect to the Secretary of State.
When these returns are brought
before the Legislature, ii, upon an
honest examination, the Legisla-
ture finds them duly sworn to as
by law required, and further finds
that the said tally SHEETS and lists
Of voters have been honestly and
made ont, we will SUBJ
nit to the decision Of the Legisia-
ture.
But we insist emphatically that
the Legislature shall have "the re-
turns" of the election required by
law upon which to act. We de-
mand that the Legislature shall
have in its possession "the returns
themselves that they shall exam
inc them and see if they are fraud
nlent; see if they agree with each
other; see if they have not been
manufactured see if they are not,
in fact, wanting entirely.
We protest against the accept
ance, as "the retuIns,n the sproces
verbal" from the supervisors Of elec-
ton, one of whom is "a direct APP
pointee OF Gov. Foster, and the
other Is the app0intee OF his police
Jury, which Is also appointed by
him.
These 'proces verbar are not re-
turns. They do not purport to be
returns. They are Jmerely cOmpi-
ations or tabulations of sthe re-
turns.n They do not purport to be
else, and are in no sense
sreturnsr under the law. The Leg
stature could declare the result
them, having s'the returns"
n its possession required by law.
But the Legislature cannot declare
The result, having only these tabu-
ations, or compilations or ''proccs
signed by two appointees
# Gov. Foster, and not even sworn
o, in the absence Of the lawful re-
;urns provided by the statute. See
lection 36. Act of 1894.
No fixed-up, trumpcd-up or cor
n, nf oorfi fipofoc of sSnroeaS varlsu ~