The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1869-07-31
K.avvaessness fin st Lnndry--Per-
: secueaOm and Murder of Re-
G apubiicanS. Q

aara for the following complimentary no.
4eice:-. ~ ~ ~.
a.. The Opelousas Journal comes to US this
week enlarged and improved in q manner
that must commend it to its friends. We
are glad to see this evidence of prosperity
in the Journal and the parish Of St. Landry.
We believe in newspapers, and are glad
to see that pc pie who will not patroniz
Republican papers will take Democratic
ones. as they are us ually better than none.
1.-THE Journal would rebuke, as they de-
serye the lawlcss characters that infest the
parish of St Landry, armed with revolvers
and knives, and who threaten to kill or
drive out every Republican in the parish,
its course would be as creditable as its
ability and energy are comnendable.
While sppreciating the courteous terms,
in which the Standard commends our ex-
ertions to serve the public, we would be
faithless to our duty, as independent jour
nalists, not to correct the error into which it
has fallen. It is @ mistake to suppose that
there is any more lawlessness ia st. Landry,
than falls to the lot Of other c~ommunitiss,
having an equal population. The effect of
she war was to denoralize, to some extent.
the entire country. From this, it is how
ever recovering. Law is taking the place Of
arms; and the people are settling into their
former habits. Here, as elsewhere, the civ
il authorities are competent to maintain Or
der and Q liet. 1t is true, there is occasional
" q homicide, the natural result ofthe un-
bridled passions Of men in every communi-
tv; but these homicides, we believe, are
not more numerous here, in proportion to
population, than elsewhere. We have some
horse thieves and cattle thieves, whom the
arm of the law is sometimes too short to
reach, owing to the difficulty of detection
and the, facility ofe,cape, afforded by our
vast prairies, stretching westward to
the Sabine. But these are not 1.-The
law.ess characters" spoken Of by the
standard. It has ~allusion to those who
a9threaten to kill or drive out every Repub-
iican in the Parish" and these are the per-
sons we are called on to rebuke. We
have. none Of this class Of desperadoes
in our midst If W. had, they would re-
.ceiye BUR denuneiatins. But SO far from
being infested with the rufians spoken of,
our people are quiet, peaceable, and en-
quire but little into the political complex
ion Of those who come to settle in their
midst. Since the troubles of the lat year,
we have had uninterrupted peace. The
whites on that. occasion, through the
Vaccinations Of bad men, were threatened
withvas conflict ofraces, in which their prop
erty was to be destroyed. and their lives
in1periled. An attack was actually made,
and there was but one alternatiye-to
sepel it or be conquered. The result is
known. The conflict lasted but a short
time and the very humanity with which
our colored people were treated, attached
them to the whites, with whom they have
been on the best terms ever since. Politi-
cally, they are free to do as they choose !;
and their vote at the last general election
was one of choice. We mention these
facts, because it is often enormously asser
ted that the whites hold them in subiuga-
ton, and allow no strangers to attempt to
control their political action. This is a
mistake: it is the colored man himself
Arhkt.& E@7Tt@%# - TIT .-
who turns q deaf ear to the political char.
latan or demagogue, be his politics what
they may, who would estrange him from
his employers. None knows better than
he, that the casualties of last year, were
not attributable. to his politics, but resulted
from IL an actual physical attack pre-
viously made by him. None knows better
than he, that if false friends should ever
drive him to make q similar attack, it will
be followed by q similar result. If it is
not intended IS q misrepresentation, it is
ascroel mistacke, TO say that every homi.
eide in this large parish, has some connec
ton with politics, and is the result of a
fiendish desire TO shed the blood of Republi-
cans. Our people, SO far from it, are hu.
name and tolerant and it would be but an
actofjustice on the part of the press, to
inquire carefully into authenticated facts,
before indalging in wholesale and indiscrim-
inate denuneiations against IN entire com
munity. On the contrary, if the press is
disposed to serve us, let it publish our in.
y~itation to immigrants, to settle upon our
soil, under. the assurance of our friendship
and protection. Let it renew our invita-.
tion, as conveyed in tho concluding para
graph of pamphlet, published by authori-
ty Of many Of eur good citizens, and which
we here repeat with honesty and sincerity
u" In concluding this cursory but PLAIN
statement Of facts elativei to this section Of
couiitry Isl. Landry, we cannot refrain
from reiterating what has been SO often
said, that the newcomer will reci.ve a cor.
dial welcome from y generous people, and
will receive that hospitality for. when they
eser been 50 renowned. Owing to
their poverty, 1t may not be as varied and
generous as 10 former times, but in its spir-
TIT win be as cheerful and Universal; no
man Of intelligence, or industry, will find
aught That can In the least be offensive,
ole on she.contrary, he will find a kind
solicitude for his ". lfare-as well in the
hour Of his prosperity, as in the time of
ro1bie. Ii he be alnver Of peace /; ifhe can
appreciate the gentle graces, of social inter
course, ana admire those qualities which
spring tron . sense Of selfresptct and the
elements OF true manhood, we bid him well
come, and offer him 0 rich field for the ex.
eFflHe of.his skill, talents, and intellectual
We invite him to a yfertiieg
SOW, 2 genial climate, o range of productions
uaeaualled,e . heathful location. and nnsur
passed means Of transportation to o market
second to none Cd this continent
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