New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-02-10
GORING THE WRONG OK.

| The Picdyure snaps so eagerly at q
c nance to assail Republican leader that
it not unfrequently overshoots the mark
and hits its own friends. A case in point
is its comments on the proposition to Gre
ate the parish o: Atchafalaya out Of por.
tons Of Avoyelles and Concordia. This
is Democratic measure. not at all popu-
lar with the Republicans in the Legisla.
ture. and even should the bill now pend
ing become law, it is by no means GER
tain the Republicans would not in the end
defeat it at the polls. Yet. in order to at
tack Mr.. Souer. the Republican Represen-
tative from Avoyelles. the Picayune de-
nounces it as intended ''simply for the
sustenance of hungry band of officers"
The truth is this. At the last election
the people of Simmsport, who designed
and petitioned for the change, voted
white and black. Democrat and Repub.
lica n. to man for General Souer's re-
election. he having been Of excellent SER
vice to them in the previous Legislature.
Consequently. when they appealed to him
for assistance in q measure which they
dee med Of highest concern TO their inter-
ests. it was only natural that he should re.
ciprocate. especially as the petitioners ac-
cepted his proviso that the proposed
scheme should be submitted to the people
OF all the district affected for final ratiti-
cation or rejection. So be reported to the
House of Representatives as follows:
Your committee in general are opposed
to creating new parishes for political ends
or for tho purpose Of creating officers at
the expense OF the taxpayers; yet when we
take into consideration that this bill was
drawn upon petition signed by some 800
citizens siding in the parishes proposed
TO be Elected we feel that we can not do
otherwise than respect their wishes. Upon
examination of the bill we find that those
features which are 80 Objectionable have
been avoided. and as The bill is contingent !
upoa becoming law by the sense of the |
people, who are first required to vote upon |
Its 'tlcceptance' or its rejection" before it |
can become law. We feel it our duty to |
recommend its passage.
Upon which the Picayune Indignantly /
gnshes in this mannes:
That is 20 say. because five hundred |
names OF colored men, who may not be !
able to read or write, or TO be identified
hereafter. have been secured to paper
drawn up by a few Office seekers an entire
population OK ten thousand citizens are 20
be subjected to the inconvenience and ex.
pense Of an election to decide upon 1ues-
tion which the office-seekers know very
well is already prejudged. Those who vote
n a q "a fi.h hn oh Sne% |
officers will be those who pay no taxes. An
application by these five hundred irrespon-
slbie persons is sufficient for Mr.. Souer and
his committee to forego their general oppo
slflon Ito the creating OF new parishes for
political ends. or for the purpose of Great
ing officers at the expense OF the Taxpayers
For once we think the colored people Of
,vo yelles will endeavor to please our inn
oUl5ive young neighbor. and not permit
he creation Of ills new parish and "hun.
Try band OF officers" They could never
nope TO carry the former or to fill the lat
er. as the five hundred petitioners-who
re not negroes. unable to read and write.
'ut the largest taxpayers in all that coun-
ry 70 und constitute a majority of voters
II the new parish as mapped out. and
ave always. with the exception noted,
oted the unadulterated Democratic
icket Yet after all, it seems, if not to
IL con:e nporary. at least to us, little
ard that the ''real people Of this Sec .
ion should be deprived OF the right of
e!f-g oyernment by the votes of colonies ,
; coiored people who live miles away.
;u. we must not let any such job as this
g carried OUT. En-, neighbor?