St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1884-04-12
A CAESD.

Iregret that am forced into person
al controversy with the Courier, or rath-
er with L. A. Sandoz, one OF the editors
OF that paper, whom / know to be the
author of both of the recent articles con-
corning myself. II the relations Of that
individual with myself had been OF a
friendly character, or even it this had
been the first instance of an attempt
| through his paper, to cast slur upon
me, should probably have passed over
in silence his recent covert reflection
upon my ability as lawyer. LA. San
doz knows the other occasion to which
/ refer, and that when taxed with it, he
admitted it. The only cause that lLave
given to incur bis enmity, is the fact
that the advertising patronage which l
formerly gave to his paper has been
withdrawn and is now given exclusive
| ly to the Democrat. Of course, every
man with properly balanced faculties
understands his individual right OF be-
slowing his business patronage upon
whom he pleases, without being thereby
subjected to the i'll will of anybody. 1t
was enough, however, to int1ame the
small mental and moral calibre OF l.. A.
with an unquenchable hatred. Being
concious of these feelings towards me,
it is impossible for him to use my name
in his editorials, without understand
ing the full import and meaning of his
words" Still less possible is it that he
meantime offence, when he editorially
mentioned my name as the attorney
that made the only failure in series OF
successfully prosecuted State cases. But,
Prescriptions need not be invoked to
establish the animus of that publication.
The malice prepense, lOng-nursed, is
conclusiyely nroven by the disprOpOr-
tionate rage since exhibited.
was willing, however, to pass over
the matter, by suggesting III my card
that somebody else was responsible for
the suppression Of the facts connected
with my management of the Blanchard
case and ending with simple protest
against the use made OF my name,
c0uclled in temperate and proper lam
guage. desired to avoid provoking a
newspaper ontroversey. but this being
the second offense could not let it pass
entirely unnoticed, knowing that such
f0rbearance and patience on my part
would be misconstrued and be taken.
advantage of for other attacks. Under
this view, | sent my card to the C0ur-
Ter, in which there is not word or SEN
timent at which, ottense. can justly be
taken. l.. A. Sandoz to whom Mr.. Fra
zee handed the card, stated to him that
I L Ia
ton was stricken off, or that he would
but that would probably involve me in
a controversy with him, a contingency
which he states, he knew | did not
"yearn after" That the alternative of Il
"disagreeable controversy was thus
thrown out as threat, to induce me to
strike off the latter portion of my card,
| / thought at the time. am now fur
nished with the proof, by the individual
| himself, who unwittingly admits it, in
/ the above quoted vulgar remark telling
| what he thought when he sent me that
message. Under these circumstances,
did not parley, or negotiate with that
| individual to get him to do me Justice,
nor would I have trusted to his "fair
play Still however, wishing to avoid
a personal controversy, wrote the in
| troductOry note to the Democrat leaving
out any mention of the aforesaid often
| sive restrictions and conditions, and
useing in lieu thereof, the moderate and
| inoffensive statement, apparent unWil-
| lingnessn to publish. And it is this ex-
preston that is seized upon as a pretext
| for the malignant and mendaciOus at
tack upon mean attack which, consid-
erfng the triviality of the alleged cause,
was most manifestly prompted by a
previously existing and unVenomed ha-
tired.
/ have said that under most circum-
stances the slnrs eminating from the
source in question, would best be passed
over in cOntemptuous silence. Some of
my friends thought that | should have
taken that course toward this individual.
But it must be remembered that no
professional man, dependent upon his
profession for maintenance for his
family, is independent of the influence
of the press. 1t speaks with thousand
tongues, and influences thousands be-.
you'd the immediate circle of the indi-
viduals concerned, no matter how con-
temptible, or mean, or unworthy OF no.
tlce the individual may be, who holds
the editorial pen.
And the only effectual mode / know
OF to remedy such assaults, is
to repel them through the same me-
dunn, to expose the malice and baseness
Of the attack, and to publically assign
the offender and anybody who may as
sumo the responsibility for the libel, to
tile category of the liar and the SLAM
derer.
4 have but a word to add. ] think
this controversy with all its unpleasant
ness, to me, may result in some service
to the public, and especially to that
tronage to bestow. It has forced ME to