The Opelousas courier., 1888-03-17

GHdDeA ueSIShlUA anu ahI' ~
acquire an unwarranted and preponderating
control over the affairs of the parish. to the
utter exclusion from its government and au-
minlstration, of our own class, and OF those
who, vfth us, bear the burthen of taxation.
and cast the majority of the votes.
We would first remark on the abuses Arls-
ing from the system of dual Office holdiDgs1hn-
der which system dange9ous powers are con
fded to the sheriff of the parish and to the
clerk of court, who in addition to the emoiu-
ments and privileges attached to these offices
control respectively the heavy receipts and
important patronage OF the tax collectors ana
recorders offices. 1t is needless to dwell on
the dangers to which We. are exposed from
the facilities afforded for the formation OF
rings, by the concentration in the hands OF two
mon of the entire control of the most Iaeratiye
and most powerful offices of the parish. We
have too recently felt the power OF q ring That
sprang chiefly from this source, and seen the
desperate efforts required by the people to
throw off its yoke, for much comment to he
+ necessary.
We see also the coroner of the parish, filling
at the same time the important office OF par,
ish physician, with the power II accompanied
by the will, to aid and shield the ring ana lis
allies.
When We come to consider the power and
patronage eonfded to our senators and re-
representatives., we find an even more appalling
state of affairs. Through them, are appoint
ed our assessor, oar returning ethceF, our po-
lice jury, our school board and our notafies
public. Nominally, the appointing power Is
in the hands of the governor OF the state 10
be exercised according to the reeommehda-
tions of the senators and representatives, euf
it is @ notorious fact that, under the present
administration one senator has had the ylrtu-
al control of the appointments, and has praes-
| tically monopoiized the patronage ofshese Of
fees TO strengthen the hands of the ring.
The police jury is supposed to choose its
own treasurer, but who is ignorant OF the fact
that the majority of the present police jury
were appointed in the interest of the treasu-
| rer? Who has forgotten how Governor MeEn-
ery, in appointing our police jurors, disre-
! garded the recommendation of then senator,
| based upon the votes of the Democrats OF the
parish at an election held for the purpose,
/ sanctioned by the Governor, and ignored ~
| him, when it was found to be against the
treasurer and the rings
/ And what are the results of this system un.
| der which the police jurors, and the school
| board may safely disregard as, il they satisfy
| onr ssa.pants to whom they owe their appoint
/ mentsY Taxation as high as the Law permits.
assessments increased beyond reason for
some, ridiealously insufficient for others, par
/ sh warrants at heavy discount, pubic
roads impossible, without even pretense OF
devoting any portion of the taxes to improve
them, bridges broken down, the pretended
repairs to which disgust even more profound
" than the ayowed neglect of the roads, pub
/ lie schools, few @nd far between, destitute
| not only of comfoA for teachers and scholars,
but even of the i pst necessary fittings and
| attachments, all lese tell the tale OF bud
get made up, and administered by men whom
the people may not call to account
Why is this' Why must ere accept taxation
| without representation when our toretathers J
/ defed, and defed successfully, the power Of
| the mightiest empire under the sun rather
/ fhan submit TO such ign0mIny
/ We are told we must sacrifice our precious
birthright to save our brethren in the .shlack'
parishes from being governed by ignorant col.
ored police iuries, as was the case when police
jurors were elected by popular suffrage II
our legislative bodies could find no other way
of averting this danger. it says little for their
ability; but granting that tins was the only
solution possible, is not tho sacrifice demand
i ed at our hands too great, is it not too great
Eyiolation of Democratic principles, to place so
much of the taxing power in the hands Of one
man, be he ever so pure Z The colored people
paw the same taxes and have the same rights
of suffrage as the whites, and in all law u
Justice are entitled to 3 hearingE Has our eS-
8 perience shown that taxation is less oppress,
I've, that expenditure is less extravagant, that
administration is less defective under interest
ed white appointees than under ignorant col
ored representatives
!, Besides. who tells us that in one of the crl
ses arising from the bitter quarrels within tlle
II
can occupying the gubernat8rial chair ant
q conffding the taxing power, even IN the Whtts
s parishes. to Radicafs-white and coloreds Al
| q recent date this seemed no remote eonfin
geney, and what guarantee does theBfntnrt
. offer against such q catastrophe
! Brethren OF the Union and feliow-citizens i
behooVes us f. reflect wen on these points
/ now that we are on the eve of electing mel
: who will have charge of the affairs of the par
ISL for four dong years. We have shown j,
thelate election for district judge that VIC vii
have no more of the ring that has ruled us 8
long; let us be careful now not to allow 8
much power to fall into the hands Of q fey
! men that they will be tempted to form q ney
ring to continue the misconstruction OF tn
adage g To the yictors belong the spoils, a
!. it has always been misconstrned IN the past.
We are the vietors. but the Vanquished rim
/ lretire with the plumber acquired from us, an
: the men chosen to lead us form new rings an
despoil as in their turn, aud all we gain fTOI
n our victories is q change of tyrants For y
rants the men now in power have shown then
g selves to be, and tyrants those who expect
. succeed them have shown they will be, II the
3 get the opportunity. Tho accidental publie'
2 fion of the Hon. T. s. Fontenot's letter of 4t
II February last, TO nc. L. Swords, Esq, forema
it of the grand jury then in session. may be iool
it ed upon as q proviaential act, for il reveals
the people how even their most trusted lea,
9 ers are influenced in the administration of ju
y e tiee chiefly, indeed almost entirely, By peiit
2 . cal expediency The letter shows clearly th.
Il caucussing went on between the Hon. Il.
81 Fontenot, the district attorney af
n the foreman Of the GRANDEUR as to 10
ID . iDindicious or partisan appeals on behalf
ID accused persons should be treated, and u
=. decision come to is that Justice must be dol
4, " because il aciN pay politically. Must We n
=. =. conclude from this letter that the Hon. Il
80 Fontenuts instructions would have been d
ae farent if the impartial application of the 10
xvasxJA iYfh Tov ssrnSndfrnd ne n
i'd iitical interests of himself and his frieaSaa
~ The result of the last term of the crimin
n court tells us what improvement there b
been on e Estilette's mode of treating b.
a Furnishing criminals which killed the rit
q and which the Hon. !. s. Fontenot predis
n will kill his friends il continued.
b. win this disclosure of moral corruption
ie, the men who have had our implicit confden
al | awaken as to full extent of our DANCE
,oI May not new leaders now we'll be encourage
Fl Fl presuming on our suplneness, to form u
81 rings, If even this fails to rouse us TO stro
ls and united action
he Our Welfare, our manhood, our very ez
lat tence demand of us that We shake of our Ii
lekhargy for good and all, that We do not
nd low ourselves TO be again lnllea into a IN
sense Of security By the soft words and ?
- - cious promises of Interested politicians. !
ss ses that NO take into our own hands and carry
lst successful issue, measures OF Reforin,
be solemnly and 80 regularly promised before g
eC- Ei0ns by aIl candidates for Office SO careiu
lost sight of afterwards by those elected
as For she coming election, the Farmers. un
ga haYe formed platform, that may not iEtaa
gnr have ths tine external finlsh aila allIaeI
s r'sa appearance with which profess pollsI
so skilfully conceal rotten material and III
work, but ono that is strong and homes
STilt whose eFary plank Is seasoned
sound, whose every nail is driven home.
Rails to It farmers, laboFers and naeshaI
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