The Lake Charles echo., 1883-11-10

SULPHUR MINE, La, Nov. s. 1888.
Editor Lake Charles Echo.


Dear Sir-You want news, and
have none. Without the political fe,
yer, now hecume epidemic, / imagine
it difficult for yon to find material for
your estirnable paper. Everything
throughout the state aud parish seem
to have given way TO politics of both
state, and local nature. Among the
many letters in this connection which
have attracted my notice, is the one
from our old friend john r. Smart.
Every word OF il evolves the sentiment
of I'D times--lionest Democracy. 1t
is a pity We don't have more of the
same sort. hear nf numerous candi-
,lates Tor sheriff aud clerk; but few
for Judge and district attorney, and
for senate and house of representatives,
the field seems harc-only one candi-
date as yet announced for the house.
How docs it happen, 50 many want the
office of sheriff and clerk, and 50 few
want state offices? Is it because they
pay best, ur what? II seems to me
that the state Offices are about the
most important TO the people just
now. There arc 50 MANY things of
vital Importance to the people of the
state and parish which need Iegisla-
lion, thut have remained unattended
to herctofnrr,) that ! am somewhat
astunishcd Al tbs apathy of tho pco-
pie in this particular Why the leg
islatlon needed hcrctuforc, and need
now more than ever, has been passed
10y, is confusing 10 contemplate. The
candidate announced for the house
pic 'gcs himself as being opposed to
the "NU Fence Law This is well
enough, but it, Of itself. Is no' eponah.
The mo Fence Law is Of minor i'm
portancc, rs view it, AS compared
with the Louisiana State Lottery, the
lcvce tax, our miserable Judicial sys-
TEN, the arrogance of our railroad com
panics, and the crooked character of
the executive department of state. Be-
fore these the fence question quails-
well! in fact, it is one which should be
let alone, at least for the present; for
lust 50 sure as it is allowed to become
a political question, it will breed local
contentious and strife, out of which
will cminatc a bad condition of So
cicty. deem it a dangerous subject
to inject into politics in this state Just
now I say, let it alone, aud time will
solve the problem. 1t is true we want
much legislation to protect and foster
the agricultural interests Of our state,
but we want no subject agitatcd which
if decided npon now, would prove Of
no benefit to any class Of our people.
What we really want is, that one agri-
cultural portion Of the state should not
be enriched at the expense Of the other
/ portion. For instance, say, We of the
interior, should pay lcycc taX, and in
| addition, as consumers pay the sugar
planter heavy protective tariff on
their sugar is unjust, and should be
Iegislatcd down. TO say and be com
PEELED to pay double fare to our rail
road companies, to that paved by Peo-
pie in other states is, again, too much,
and needs Legislation And why should
we still continue TO disgrace our state
constitution with snch lcprous insttu-
tions as lottery companies? Our ju-
diciaI system, so far as economy is de-
sired, is a most depIorabIe failure
For instance, the mayor of a town Of
two hundred inhabitants, (sec act 40,
1882 can fine and imprison for minor
offenses, and a justice Of the peace,
who may have several thousand inhab-
itants within his jurisdiction, can't
fine nor imprison for the offences
Notwithstanding he creates the town
all he can do is tU bond or remand to
the district court, where the whole
armament of our Jurisprudence is
brought to bear, and the expenses to
the parish often reach, as compared
with the magnitude Of the CRIME, pro-
portions totally inadequate. The con
sequence is, generally, these minor
offences go unpunished, and society
and the morals of our people suff, r.
OF course, therefore, until justices of
the peace are clothed with these pow
crs, competent men will not offer for
the places, because, otherwise, they
can do no good. 1t is said the con-
stitntIon will not permit legislation to
this effect. Then l say, amend the |
Our public road system
wants remodeIing, and can only be
made affective by additional legisIa-
Lion. Our public school system also !
wants work at the hands Of our legis-
Iators. Our revenue law wants i'm
Drovements, as does our jury system.
Now, Mr.. Editor, these are some of
.he subjects l like TO see the press
and candidates discuss for the people,
and not the splenetlc examinations and