St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1888-04-14
TO THE PUBLIC.

In the last issue of the Courier and
st. Landry Democrat appears a card
signed by Mr.. j. G.. Lyons, candidate for
| senator from this district, in which he
| denies having received consideration
| for his vote at the last session of the
| General Assembly on the Enabling act
to submit to popular vote the question
of the removaNof the parish site from
Opelousas to Washington.
| With his we'll known record upon this
public question it was the height of fol-
ly, not to say boldness, for Mr.. Lyons, at
so early day as this, to have again an
nounced himself as a candidate for leg
slative honors. In assuming to do so,
he has exposed his official record and
character to public criticism and COM
ment, and he has only himself to blame
it either, or both, do not come out quite
the high standing of his family connec-
tions, and the intimate personal and So
cial relations existing between them
and myself, would much have pre-
ferred maintaining silence about this
matter, and would have done so, but
the statements in the card above re-
feIred to, have directly, or at least in
directly, raised an issue Of veracity be-
tween him and myself, Besides, the
question is a public one, and at this
stage of the controversy between Mr..
Lyons and myself, duty to my constitu-
ents requires me to disclose the whole
truth about this matter, regardless of
personal considerations or consequences.
In answer, therefore to the denial
contained in Mr.. Lyons card, | res
pectfully and positively state:
1st. That at the last session of the
Legislature, Mr.. Lyons advocated the
passage of the enabling act for the re-
moval Of the parish site from Opelousas
up to within a few moments of a vote
being taken upon that measure, disre-
garding all appeals from the mem
bers of the House and his friends who
were opposing its passage, and who
were aware that only unanimous vote
of the St. Landry members, would de-
vote on advocacy of this measure at the
last moment.
I'd. That he demanded the surrender
of mortgage note of one thousand dol
lars held by we'll known firm in Ope-
lousas but he received in considera-
ton for voting against that measure,
an extension of time for two years upon
said mortgage note, with a release of in
terest on it for two years, and five hun
dred dollars in cash, which was paid to
him by the citizens committee at the
moment that his vote was cast. His
mortgage note was over due, and
though no demand for payment of same
was insisted on at the time, be gave rs
an excuse to his Washington friends
that he had been coerced to vote as he
did by threats of foreclosure.
This excuse was falsehood. He
offered to sell has cote and 1T acas bought.
This can be proved by living witnesses,
now and then cognizant of the facts
above stated.
This communication is not made
through malice, but only from a sense
Of duty to the public, and not prompted
by any unkind feelings toward Mr..
Lyons personally,
I am known to be pecuniarily respon-
sible for any reasonable amount, and
what is above stated, if untrue, or ma
liciously written or stated, leaves open
to Mr.. Lyons ample methods of vindi-
cation by an action at law before the
courts. &C. DUsoN.