The Opelousas courier., 1886-10-23
An Appeal to the Louisiana
Press.

Bossier Banner.
AT a meeting of the citizens of North
Bossier aud Caddo parishes, held at
Cottage Grove, Bossier parish, Sept.
a, 1886, the undersigned committee
was appointed aud instructed to ad-
dress you for publication the following
letter, aud also us an appeal to the
Louisiana press to copy and comment
on the same.
In ancient times the voice of the
people was s~nbservient to no power
under the sun. Even when our Savior
reigned upon earth, the Voice OF the
Jews crying cruelty Him, cruelty Him,
overawed the rulers and they had to
s6ccumb to the cry OF the populace.
Moving with the speed of electricity,
the voice of the people Is still acknowi-
edged ms snpieme law. But the power
that is behind the throne, shaping the
opinions nf the people morally aud
politically, is til" great American free
press. This power yields II salutary
Influence upon the mind of the public
that will never cease so long rs the
press remains uutrammelled and al
lowed to exercise it's functions in IA
moral way for the good of man and so
ciety.
The citizens of this community have
met in mass meeting on several occa-
sions and took decided steps to break
up miscegenation and it's evil conse-
~qnences, and their efforts have been
crowned with unparalleled success
without resorting to the use of coercive
measures in II single case.
The press in many instances have
denounced miscegenation and it's IT.
fects upon the Anglo-Sazon blood, in
unmeasured terms, But a very large
majority of the newspaper fraternity
have failed to comprehend the magni.
tude of this widespread and growing
evil, and pass it unnoticed.
Perhaps it may be considered matter
not sufficiently chaste to appear in pub,
lie print. yet they publish the most
fragrant acts of the rapist, and com
ment upon it in very decided terms
Why then hesitate to expose and de.
%nounce the miscegenist whose very acl
destroys the purity of society and OF
the Anglo. Saxon blood
We venture the assertion that there
ia not a mother in the land, who does
not rejoice at the effort of the people
to purge society of this disgrace, and
who would not eagerly read all edito
rails denonncing this abominab}e prac
tice.
Although the citizens of Bossier ant
Caddo parishes have done much to at
$3.50 IL. ,k.-o al AI,> n1nDIa ~
other portions of the State, still ther'
remains much to be done 10 order tina
like associations may be established il
every neighborhood throughout thu
State, where miscegenation exists.
May the great dailies of New Orlean
and all the journals of the State tax.
hold of this matter, and treat it in sucl
language as is necessary to arouse tn,
people to the enormity of the crime.
We rs citizens of Louisiana, appra
most earnestly tn the newspapers u
the State To agitate and continue t.
agitate this subject, keep it fresh be
fore the minds of the people. make
an Issue. if possible. before our mex
General Assembly, that possibly n Lax
may be enacted to prevent the inter
mingling of the Caucasian and Africa
blood.
tn conclusion, for the benefit of rae
purity to save onr SONS from this dir
calamity to uphold the moral precept
e~ngendered by society. W most res
pectfu1ly nrge co operation of th
Louisiana press in taking IL decide
stand against this incubns on societ
that is prevailing to such an alarmin
extent throughout the South.
JOHN PICKETT,
w, j. HUGHES,
w. j. FISH,
j. A. SNYDER,
Al Anrov, -