The Opelousas courier. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1852-1910, 1872-06-22
The ssEffOrts'' of the Courier to
Obtain the Public Printing. +


| Our readers are aware that the Opelousas
journal accused us of having naudc tforts to
| obtain the contract for the publication Of judi
cial advertisements in conformity with the arbi-
trary and odious law under which the Journal
is now doing thos: publications. We have re-
peatedly refuted this calumny, and still continue
to do so most emphatically.
The Journal of the lst inst, in an article of
nearly two columns, gives what it purports to
be reply to our refutation of its ISLANDERS, but
which in reality consists throughout of verbos-
ity, equivocations and Misrepresentation.
The Journal says it "never tried to get the
public printing until there was danger of some
other paper getting it," which piece of gratuit-
Gus information we would be pleased to accept
as truth; nevertheless, in 1868, on that critical
day, when the lives of men and their families
were threatened in their own homes, we were
not of the party who proceeded to destroy the
office of the PSogress which, at that time, had
the contract for the aficial printing; and We
have never been accused of participating in that
reprehensible act in order to obtain the official
printing. Nor can we be accused of having en-
deavored to influence Messrs Tucker and Bent
ley either by q pecuniary remuneration, or by
threats of violence, for the purpose of compell-
ing them to relinquish their contract in order to
secure it ourselves Neither can we be accused
of having made efforts of any kind to obtain that
contract on the terms and conditions it is always
obtainable, and it is not for the sake Of few
thousand dollars acquired ANONYMOUSLY that we
would barter our political opinions or ahiure our
religion, much less allow ourselves to be muz-
zled and compelled to daily belle our conscience.
In 1869 we would have accepted work from
Mr.. Thicker, who had at that time the contract.
and we would have done SO for two ressons 1st
the provisions of the Printing Bill" rendered it
impossible for us to continue the publication of
the COURIER, and we were compelled to close
the office; I'd, we were under the necessity of
earning living, and we would be sacrificing
neither political opinion nor selfrespect by rent
ing the material of our office (which otherwise
would be lying idle) or by contributing our man
ual labor for u salary. But if Mr.. Tucker had
offered us his contract ON the same terms he had
obtained it himself, we would have spurned the
offer as we have done certain others of the same
nature ~..5.n.
Mr. John Mccormick is cited rs authority to
prove that we attempted to get the contract for
the publication of judicial advertisements for
the COURIER. We brand that statement, as
construed by the Journal, as false ace aeuer at
tempted to get the contract for the osal printing
either for ouTselrcs or the COURIER. .
1t Is true that on a certain occasion, Mr.. Nc
Corlnick being out of employment and complain
ing of his situation, and of having abandoned
his occupation as printer, We suggested that
if he could obtain the contract (which Mr. Tuck
er then hadj that he could have the use of our
office. rs we were compelled to suspend the
CoURIER,-but under no circumstances would
we allow cur name or the name or the COURIER
to figure therein. .-.- |
Such are the plain facts of the statement made !
with such assurance, and any statement at vari-
ance with the above is as false as the Journals
contemptible position before the public.
And, again, to cap the climax. of this over
whelming mass OF. testimony gainst US. It cites
Mr.. P. L. Hebrard to prove that we had propos-
ed to do the work for somebody, if he could get
the contract. We have no recollection of having
made such remarks, but we repeat again, that
even to-day were friend OF enemy to obtain
the contract on his own responsibility. the ser
vices of the proprietor and material Of this office
would be at his disposal for salary and with
out detraeting from the principles Of honor and
integrity which we maintain. Consequently the
Journals two columns Of Misrepresentation and
by no means prove that we ever made !
efforts to get the contract which has to be |
paid at such a sacrifice of principles on the
contrary, it is the very evidence cited by the
Journal which proves that we did not want it, |
and would not now take it, on the terms and |
that Warinoth's triunvirate imposes
upon those in whose eyes the almighty dime as
sumes the proportions of o eart-w heel. /
Our patrons and friends may rest assured |
that while we are willing to give the labor of |
our hands for pay, both head and heart are
freely given for the support of truth. The |
COURIER is Democratic and shall remain so--
not all the money that Warmoth and his fol-
lowers have wrong from down trodden people
could purchase it its record of nearly twenty
years ought to be sufficient to establish that
fact beyond the shadow of Doubt and we havve
sufficient faith in the honest portion Of this |
to confidently hope for our reward
when dishonesty shall no longer be at a premi-
nm. stSs- EE4aI