The Opelousas courier. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1852-1910, 1882-09-16
Address of Hon. A. 9. HERON.

MAJOR Andrew 5. Heron, the Demo
cratic nominee for Congress in the 9th
congressional district, arrived in Opel
ousas on the sth inst, meeting num-
Der of his old acquaintances, and max
ing host of new ones, during his
weeks stay in our midst. According
to previous announcement he delivered
an address at the Courthouse on last
Tuesday night, upon the political top
les of the day
He opened his speech by alluding to
his acquaintance with the people Of
Opelousas, which dated 80 years back,
yet 90 years had elapsed since his last
visit to St. Landry. He paid nice
tribute to the hospitality Of our citi-
zens, and extolled the beauty, worth,
and influence of the ladies in terse and
appropriate language. In approaching
the main subject of the evening, he re-
marked, that it was rather awkward to
begin canvass with no known oppo.
nent to meet in the political arena,
with whom to discuss the opposite
questions now dividing the two great
parties in their national and State pol
icy of government. He arraigned the
Republican party for it's signal failure
in carrying ont the principles set forth
in its various platforms adopted and
promulgated at each recurring elec
tion; and which did not differ materi-
ally from the Democratic platform, ex
cept in the one idea of Capitalization of
power in the national government,
where the Democrats supported States
rights as constitutional reservations
aud guarantee Maj. Heron then re-
ferred to the shameless system of po
litical assessments levied upon all
those holding federal appointments
under Republican administrations, and
numerically eontrasted their theory
of civil service reform SO loudly vaunt-
ed before elections, and the practice of
it, by the same men, after coming into
F. Office and into power. He recited the
fact, that it mattered not how capable
and honest an official might be, if he
failed to make the contribution exaeted
for political purposes, he would be dis
missed from his position without mercy
or consideration.
He promised. if elected, to favor
what jackson called ''judicieus tar
iff"; with such incidental protection
to sugar, rice, &c, as that modification
would afford such products. He con
demned the present system of internal
revenue rs being oppressive and un-
necessary that it was war measure
and should be wiped out. except posi-
bly, the tag on whisky; and that the
government should be supported by
taxes on imports only. He reminded
his hearers that the influential men of
each neighborhood should see that q
fall vote of the party be brought out in
November, as there were no local can
didates in the field to bring the people
ont. or to arouse their enthusiasm.
That unless this was done, the voters
would not realize thatit was of infinite
Iy more Importance to their material
and political interests to vote for a
congressman now, than for their friends
neighbors as merely local candidates
where no national and State interests
were imperiled.
Maj Herren closed by again ccmpli-
] iDenting the ladies, and reminding
them Of the influence they could exer
else over their husbands, brothers and
sweethearts A large audience was
present and listened with the CLOSEST
interest to the telling and forcible Mt
teraRces of the eloquent speaker.