The Opelousas courier., 1884-08-16
The Spirit Of Intolerance.
Capitolian- Advocate.

Some days ago a responsible citizen
and an unimpeachable Democrat from
St. Landry, requested us to insert, at
our usual rates, an announcement OF
Hon. w. A. Robertson's candidacy for
Congress, subject to the action of the
District Democratic Convention. We
did so, and noticed the announcement
in courteous terms, as it is the custom
everywhere of the press to do. We
have always done this IN the past and
intend to continue to do so in the fu-
ture, especially when the candidate is
a Democrat. We have never consld-
cred that such notices committed us to
the support of the candidate thus an
nounced, and nothing in our notice of
Dir. Robertson's candidacy justified any
one in concluding that we were COM
mitted to his support and that we were
urging his nomination.
It has been our intention in the
pending contest for Congress in this
district to abstain from expressing any
preference for any of the candidates,
and no one can truthfully say that we
have done otherwise. We are abso-
lutely free from any promise OF sup"
port to any one.
The mere announcement and notice
of DR.. Robertson's candidacy, under
the circumstance we have related, has
been adjudged a sufficient provocatlon
by the Southern Watchman, OF Clin-
ton, to open a broadside upon Cover
nor McEnery and the bugaboo-the
administration whom it charges with
the heinous offense of conspiring to
have DR.. Robertson nominated. We
deem it unnecessary to reproduce the
utterly groundless and ridiculous sur
misses and suspicious expressed by the
Southern Watchman in relation to this
matter, for they merely exhibit the
pitiable spirit of intolerance and in
Justice towards Governor McEnery and
his friends, that animates that paper,
We don't believe that anything has
been farther from Governor McEnery's
thoughts than to attempt to exercise
any influence whatsoever in the matter
of the selection of Congressional can
didates in this or any other district,
and it is unjust in the extreme to
charge him with the bare intention OF
so doing.
But it seems to be a favorite pas
time of the Southern Watchman, to
ego it blind" at the Governor, on the
very thinnest pretext. So much so'
that we wouldn't be astonished to see
that paper charge the Governor with
maliciously holding back the rains
needed in some portions OF East Fe-
lic;ana.
The Watchman's onslaught upon the
Governor, propos of DR.. Robertson
candidacy, is fair sample of the kind
of political information that that paper
has been furnishing Its readers, who
are too intelligent, we trust, not to dis
cover thatits warefare against the Gov
ernor has been run out of sight into
;, the ground.
The Waterman can rest easy. Gov
ernor McEnery is attending strictly tt
his own business, and we do not think
that he considers DR.. Robertson's ol
any other mans candidacy for Con
gress as any part of his business. ID
: has had to shoulder a great deal, anG
he is prepared to shoulder much more
but we submit that common Justlc'
suggests that the Congressional con
test should be allowed to run it's cours
without dragging him into it.
: In so far as the Capitolian- -Advoeat
is concerned in this mater, we will sa,
, that we know no statute prohlbltin
us from inserting the announcement G
, any body's candidacy who is willing t
pay the price fl ID for such announce
: ments, and that we are ready to an
nounce some more and to give all
; courteous rotiee, the editor of th
Watchman included, who will mare
up to the Captains Office and pay u
OF let us know upon whom we ca
> draw for the amount of our charges.