The Opelousas courier., 1872-12-07
The Opelousas ssJournal,, and
the Senatorial Election.

In its issue of the 10th ult the Journal,
among other ridiculous and extravagant
thlngs says that knowing Senator Andersons
strength with the colored voters it was the
policy of the "Bourbons'' that Riard 1.-THE COL
ored Radical cagdidate) should be candidate
TO draw Oft the colored vote, and states that
1t had heard it said' that the "Bourbons pre-
vailed on him to run &C." and assured him
that the chances was in his favor as the
white vote would be divided between Ander-
son and the Democratic candidate whom they
would run to elect Riard" etc. This was one
OF the ridiculous and absurd stories circulated
during the campaign throughout the District
by strikers Of the clique, one of the slv under-
ground tricks and "unworthy means" resorted
to by them toprejudice the mind of white vo-
ters against the nominee of the Democrats 1t
succeeded with some who were not well in
formed in regard to the situation 1T afforded
an excuse to others for voting for the Journals
independent candidate. There may have been,
both in this Parish and the Parish of Lafa-
yette, individuals belonging to the Democratic
party who preferred Riard to Anderson, and
would have voted for him if they had not a
is no doubt that they could have given for
their preference, a reason entitled to respect.
tul consideration. They knew Riard some
what, and Anderson better. The one had never
professed to be anything else than an open
enemy OF the Democratic party. He had
never concealed his membership of the Repub-
lican party. Whereas there was great uncer-
tainty in the minds of many in regard to Mr.
Anderson's political status he was known to
have been nominated in 1868 and elected to
the Senate by the Democrats of his District:
but it was also well known that he was soon
after found clinging to the skirts of Governor
Warmoth who had been elected by the Repub-
ican party,-that he had clung to.the fortunes
of that arch-enemy of the Democratic party
and OF the good order and prosperity of the
state,-that betrayer of the party which had
raised him from obscurity and poverty to high
political position and wealth and we have no
doubt that some who may have preferred Ri
ard to him did so for the same reason that
brave and generous man prefers high-toned
and open enemy to one who conceals his ami
mostly under hollow professions of friendship
and good will However this may have been,
we undertake to say, for the Democratic party
within the Dietriet, that as to them, the charge
that it brought out candidate for the purpose
of having him defeated, and one of his oppo-
nents (RiardI elected, is utterly without foun-
dation and is simply false and absurd. But
the Journal may say that it merely relates
what it "heard said.0 The Journal is fond of
''hearing things said' and of repeating what it
hears. 1t never stops to enquire whether the
thing said be slanderous or not, if what it hears
is considered by it as discreditabie to the Dem
ocrats of this and the adjoining Parishes of
this Senatorial District. Our neighbor is as
much addicted to the practice of referring to
that very irresponsible and unreliable author
ity known as Dame Rumor," or ''they say
or tive have heard it said" as was ever any
set of old female scandal-mongers assembled
in solemn conclave around a tea-table "with-
out the fear of the Lord" before them and
fatally bent on mischief"