Year: 1876

! we, the representatives of the Democrat.
| lc-Conserva:ive party of the State of Loui-
| slana, in Cor ventiOn assembled, do herebv


declare administrative and political reform,
| 10 he the paramount issue in the coming
general election, and we earnestly appeal


to our teiiow-citizens OF every former poiiti


cal association of white and colored to zeal.


ously cooperate with us in our pronounced
effort to effect such reform.


We arraign the Radical party of Loui.
siana for marked and frequent violations
OF the letter and spirit Of the constitution:
for the assumption of illicit powers for the
benefit of party. and to the grear injury
and almost total ruin of the State; for for
! ment'ng dissensiOns between the races and


deliberately existing strife and turmoil.
thereby crnely sacrificing the lives of col.
oied and white citizens. with the intent of
procuring unwarranted and unconstjtution
al interference in our State affairs.
We denonnce the usurpative and bad row
ernment which Louisiana has suffered for
the last four years, n usurpation under
which officers elected by the people have
Deeh displaced, the government arbitrarily
overthrown by federal power, the Lepisla.
ture invaded and dispersed by bayonets in
time OF profound peace, and sucti violent
ana unlawful interference adds but another
to the long list Of crimes for whsch the Ne
publican party should be held to account in
November next.


We hereby proclaim that it is our desire
anu nxed purpose under any and every pro.
vocation to have fair and peaceable cleo
ton; but we demand and will insist that
ther shall be no violence or Intimidation ox
ercised towayds such Of our colorcd fellow
citizens as may wish to cooperate with
us Tor the redemption of the State from
misrule


we iuily recognize the binding effect Of
the three recent articles of amendment to
the constitution Of the United States, and
accept the same as final settlement of
the controversies that engendered civil
war, and we pledge ourselves to protect
every citizen i'll the exercise of the rights
acquired and guaranteed by said amend
monts. whatever be his race color or prc-
viOus condition


we hereoy pledge our party to the satls-
1actlon OF all the legal obligations issued
by the State of Louisiana to ihe most sire
nuous efforts in the direction of reform and
ohd economical administration of the gov.
ernment, and especially to the abolition OF
an unnecessary public officers ~ the re-
dnction of the fees and salaries Of officsrs
to the standard of a fair remuneration and
the consequent reduction of taxation to the
lowest possible limit commensurate with
Tue necessary expenses of the Government
ana the preservation of the public faith.
ana to the curtailment of the dangerously
large patronage of the chief executive of
the State.


we declare ourselves in favor of the pas-
sage OF the Texas Pacific Railroad bill. now
pending before Congress, and recommend
our members of Congress to advocate its
passage at an early date.


we advocate the fostering Of the public
sehoois Tor the benefit Of all the educatable
chlidren OF the State. and that equal adyau-
tage be given toall children, colored as
well us white


we cordially approve of and endorse the
piatlorin OF the national Democrrfic party
recently assembled in convention at ST.
LOUIS, and feel inspired with the hope of .
better Government in the future; but the
great question Of reform is brought before
tne people of the whole country By . great
national party. and We pledge ourselves to
use our utmost effurts to secure the success
OF those great exponents OF national refor4
sam'i j. Tildep and Thos A. Hendricks.