Claiborne guardian. [volume] (Homer, La.) 1877-188?, 1882-08-09
TOTE FAIR"

Under the above hrad the Minden Demo
crat publishes an article Of some length in
reply to an article which appeared in toe
Guardian Of two weeks ago. To this
article it would perhaps be proper for Ar.
NcClendos to reply, as this discussion
originated while the Guardian was tempo
rnrily under his management, but he Is
not in town to-day, and we undertake to
say a word ~ To the position Of Homer on
the tap road TO Ninden and on the station
ary bridge on the DOrchete. Says the
Democrat: =" But Homer does not base
her objections upon the liberal grounds
that it would be- rubbing them of an ad-
vantage, but upon the narrow and selfish
one that they might 10y boiling the key to
the situation coerce the Erlsuger Syndi-
cate into giving them tap" The objec-
ton Of the people Of Homer to closing
navigation in Bayou Dorchete was just
this: The navigation of that bayou nns
wish to give up IN advantage for nothing.
While the navigation of the bayou was
an advantage, our people knew that n
tap road wuuld be of greater benefit than
the navigation of the bayou and were will
ing for the railroad company to build n
permanent bridge across the bayou, pro-
vided the company gave us terms for
tap which would enable us tn secure the
same. This was just the position of the
people Of this parish Now, if we did not
object on the ground that it would be rob
bling us of an advantage, upon what
grounds did we ohjrctf We were willing
To trade one advantage for another, but
not 10 give mp one advantage for nothing
Was there anything narrow and selfish
about thisi We had a right to take care
of our own interrst-we did so, and are
accused nf having been actuated by mar
row ant selfish motives. We were anSien-
to secure a railroad and we're willing TO
utilize the control which we held over tho
navigation of the bayon, if il could be-
made to facilitate this purpose. The con-
pany refused TO give Ms terms, and we
refused to consent TO the bayou being
closed for the reason that 1t would de-
privr rs Of an advantage.
The people of Mindrn traded the navi-
CATION of the bayou for tap road. We
had an interest in the navigation of the
bayou aud refused to ratfy the bargain
which Mindrm had made. The Democrat
asks, did Homer or Claiborne parish Of
fer the syndicate straight ont terms like
Miudcn" &c. We cnquired merely what
terms the syndicate would give US, If we
understand the proposition made by our
people; but what has that to do with the
question: Does it matter whether We offer
ed straight out terms, or merely enquirrd
what terms could be hadi The boast
ahont the liberal terms offered by MIndcn
has nothing to Ito with this question. Ho-
mer was 10 share in these terms, we are
told share in them howl Mindrn would
not have been the point at " h.h We would
have received onr frrights from the rail-
road. The greater portion of the parish
would 90 to the nearest depot south or
here which would have been accessible at
distance equally IA near and hy much
better road. We acted a. we believed our
Interest in THIS matter demanded that We
-hunld act, aud dislike, when we have 81
acted. To br accused of having acted mar
rowly aud srlil-hly. We do not believe
that the good people of Miudcn believe
that we acted thus.