The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1874-05-01
Public Meeting a Z the Court House I'm
che Town Of O~pelOusRs, held April
QSth, 1874,

g. E@Na~4 %E~~-WE- @ 80 Sc
The meeting was called toorderby E. Z. Lewis
On motion Of same. AlceeDupre was called
upOn to preside over the meeting. 7
OnInotton OF same, Messrs. A. z. Wllia1na and
j. Frank Knox were appointed Secretaries. +
The meetilg having been organized the FTes1-
dent proceeded to- explain to the assembly the
object of the same, which was for the purpose
of organizing q "White Mans Party having
for its object the election of honest white men
for office, and to unite upon one white man Tor
each office.
Mr.. Laurent Dupre having been called upon
delivered a short but stirring address. .
+. 7. Lewis then addressed the assembly in a
lengthy but earnest appeal to the white mento
unite in this movement.
The following resolutions We're then read and
unanimously adopted:
Whereas, Tie colored people of the State of
Louisiana, organized under the name of Repub"
licans, have had undivided control OF the legis-
latiOn of the State since 1868, a period or six
years, within which, although abundant oppor-
tunity has been given them to demonstrate their
capacity aslaW-makers, it can no iongerb be ques-
toned that, that capacity whatever be Its intel
lectua1 and moral measurement, has not been
used for the good of the country, but, on the
contrary, for its degradation morally, socially
and politically. And
Whereas, The Republican party being COM
posed almost entirely of negroes, without whose
they, the black people, are responsible for the
abuse of office and corrupt legislation under
which the State has become bankrupt and pub
lie virtue ostraeised from among Its rulers.
Whereas further, Every etfOrtheretofor made
by the white people TO cOnciliate the negro and
induce him to act with them, without reference
to party distinctions, for the common good, has
failed whetherhe unsupported to by Democrat,
Liberal or Independent, and whereas, finally,
the very efforts we have made In this direction
is the true cause of division among ourselves.
Therefore
Be it Resolved LIST. That we hold the eoIored
people responsible for most of the evils arising
from fraudulent and corrupt legislation of which
they have been masters since 1868, and While We
r,AuJr 1aaiifxr hnlipY-a lIIR Dir hp1ipCp that m0nV
colored men are upright and honest, still as a
class they have been made the instruments, in
the hands of designing men, both white ana
black, through which the white taxpayer must
eventually he beggared and driven, with bis
family, from the State q paaper.
Resolved cd. That our past experience with
the colOrea people demonstrate their utter inca
paeity for good government hilei in the ascend
ant, and that unless some effort be made to de-
prive them of their control OF legislation in the
state the evils we suftertmust continue ana .ac-
cuInulate. ..s II s..=E a..
Resolved Sd. That the failure OF our past. eff
forts at Cancellation forbid Il renewal OF any
further attempts at compromise, and that we
deem a telnp0riZing policy Oh this subject al, Ia
tai to the substantial interests of the State, det-
filnental to public virtue and destructive TO our
sels-respeet and manhood. ~
Resolved 4th That the Issue in the next cam
paign is not between Republicans, Democrats,
or Liberals, but between the whites and the
blacks and that, that issue is, shall the white
people of Louisiana govern Louisiana or shan
luC DLiLI pSOk1SO u ALONlE01uDO SOFSLh .
In which we, whether we be Democrats, laber-
ais or Independents, unhesitatingly declare for
the aseendancy Of the white man. ~
Resolved 9Th That the conduct OF the black
man, as a politician alone, has forced upon the
white man the necessity of making this issue III
elI-qefence, and though, we may not nave uni
TED hitherto rs Democrats or LhDefais, we can
ana viii unite as q race to pfoVecb ourselves
against the unmeasured public ana prlVate
pIundeP of the other race; fF'
Resolved 9Th That in uniting "a Whlte men,
pledgedt to labor for the aseendaney of the white
race, In the State, our object. is;to place the law
making power IN the hands of those VINO VIII
protect otfr property, and notrob usfhroughG the
medium of taxation, wh0canfead and WrIte ana
understand something about therights OF person
and property, and not to ahRidge any rignf the
negro has under the laws. Weleaye him 10 vote
as he chooses, and run for office if he wishes, Dug
we. tell him plainly he canHo get our vote, ana
that we'd not want hinla as q party OF. race 20
make our laws. -
Resolved finally, That We recognize the ne
cesstty of union among ourselves upon one white
man for each office, and THAT We earnestly invite
all white men, without regard to former party
affiliations, to unite with US under the banner
OF the " White League" which alone can rescue
us from dissension and defeat. EIa
On Motion of e. 7. Lewis It was ordered that
the proceedings and resolutions of this meeting
be published in the 0pelousas Courier and at
the request of the Editor of the Opelousas JoURE-
Al, the Secretaries were ordered to furnish him
with q copy also. lttE ,z.s E..
The meeting, then adjourned.
na ALGEE DUPRE, President.
4 J.. F f NIEF KsoS, Secretaries,