Feliciana sentinel. [volume] (St. Francisville, La.) 1877-1892, 1879-04-26
REPLY TO JUSTICE"

same issue wherein was produced his let.
Ter but for the fact that we had, with the
best of our ability answered former let.
ter wherin was enunciated exactly the
same proposition looking to satisfactory
adjustment of our political differences as
those in his last. Another reason for de-
clining to answer our friend was the hose
that some advocate of our side of the
question better acquainted with the
origin of the split and the attendant facts;
ono better qualified to delve down into
the mysterious depths of his confusing
arguments, and relieve our untutored
mind from the dreadful strain of a len gthy
argumaqt with so able a writer as "Jus
tice' has proven himself, would come to
our rescue. But in this as in greater
earthly hopes, we were doomed to disap-
polntment. The dwarf must take issue
with the giant. We do not shrink from
the duty our conscience imposes, and
neither do we wish to tread on any
ones corns, but in the plain statement of
facts we may aggrieve few who have
strayed from the Straight and narrow
path" marked out by old Democratic doc
trines. To these (and we arc constrained
to place "Justica" in the category we
have only to say, that we regret the con-
tingency which demands an expression of
(to them) unpleasant truths.
The proposition offered in Jackson, by
the delegation of which Judge Thomas
Butler was chairmain, in substance, was
MI Ss4y. r y.
two Executive Committees, for the sake
eft harmony, dissolve their respective
Committees, and to call an election for
new Executive Committee. =
The members of the new
Executive Committee to be chosen by the
white qualified Democratic C conservative
voters ofthe Parish" 1t was with u knowl-
edge of a rejection of this proposition by
the Stewart adherents that we remarked
to "Ju itice," III q former issue, our dis
belief in bis "hope for q reunion,
through the methods prescribed -
Whether the proposition submitted by
"Justicc," for q voluntary dissolution of
the two Committees, and the one sub
mitted ;.t Jackson with the additional
proposition that the now Committee be
chosen by white voters only,) are analo-
gous or not, we do not pretend to say,
bnt this we do know, the rank aud file Of
tho West Feliciana Democracy will ncrey
~it|i@9Iy submit to the full control of it's
destinies passing into the power half
dozen or moro of men who have more
than once avowed their antagonism to
Democratic principles. This is in rcali-
ty the sole Cause of the schism among our
people ; q number of honest and honora-
bic citizens following one or two demo-
Eogucs, because it is easier than studying
tho question really at issue.
"Will any Dcmocrat, in all sober seri-
BUSINESS, lay his hand upon his heart and
say that he believes without the shadow
of doubt, that the Firemen's Hall party
would have oojectcd to the admission Of
the colored men sought to be introduced
by Messrs. McGehee, Stewart, Barrow
and others, had they (onr party) had at
hlhu superior or equal number of color
ed voters to sustain, Or offset the first 9'
The above remark is an unjustifiable
assertion, aud scarcely to be credited to
one sympathizing with the Firemcn's
were rs well posted in the political histo-
~ of this Parish as he claims to be, or had
he that confidence in the integrity of the
organization to which he claims member
ship, sufficient to justify his support, we
are satisfied the imputation Oh the char
acter and intentions of tho honorable
gentlemen representing the white voters
of this Parish would not have been made.
That the negro vote of the Northwestern
portion of the Parish had been thorough
~ organized by a few individuals person.
ally opposed to the gentlemen who had, in
tue memorable fight of re, devoted almost
their entire time and considerable money
to the redemption of the State and Parish
from Radical oppression, was a fact pat
ent to the mind of every Intelligent citi-
zen long before the schism was made ap-
parent by the action of Mr.. Duncan Stew
art, ct ais, on the Goth of July, last year.
1t was not necessary to await the intelli-
gence of that extraordinary speech by q
prominent resident of this Parish to q
colorcd club in which it was said, while
referring to the coming convention; "I
want 200 of you, which, with what 7. J.
Barrow will bring, to so on the Rail
road and there will be enough to out
,,Rte them;' we say, it was not ne
-. .ssary for this and similar declama-
=. ions to be heralded abroad, to convince
the most ordinary that mischief YVES
brewing in the Democratic camp; that
some ambitious spirits were fearful lest
the reins of power would slip from their
grasp. "Justice'' must have known these
facts, at least he should have known
them, before opening the discussion.
For peaceable settlement of the very
6isrraceful state of our noI;tical affairs no