St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1889-04-06
UNFAIR CRITICISM.

iHc SHTeVCp0ft lines mas not aDatei
a particle tue bitter partisan spirit wit
which many of the opponents of Gov
Nichols carried on the last gubernato
rial campaign. It gays in recent issu
of McEnery, that when he held th
same office he was denounced, slanderet
and nialigned more persistently ant
more bitterly by the then responsible
editor Of the Picayune than any Gov
ernor in the Union ever hefore;" adding
that the Nichols press, to a great ex
tent, took their cue from the Picayune
and "joined Justify in the chorus."
Other journals, besides the Times
have made the same charge, and there
seems to have been a sort of preconcert.
ed outcry, as if to educate tho public
mind into the belief that Gov. McEnery
had been persistently "slandered and
maligned," in order to prepare it to ac-
cept the abuse that is now being heaped
upon Gov. Nichols, as in some measure
u kind Of just retaliation.
For one, we do not propose to admit
by our silence, the truthfulness of this
saying. We are not the apologist of the
Picayune, for it has ample ability to de-
fend itself; neither do we take our cue
from that journal, nor do we wish to re-
open an irritating campaign issue but
in the interest Of truth and fairness. we
protest against such charges. We were
an attentive reader of the Picayune du-
ring the campaign, and do not remem-
Der to have read in it's columns single
line, phrase or word concerning Gov.
McEnery, which any fair-minded man
would style slanderous. And right here
in order to test the justice Of this charge
so often and persistently uttered, let our
Shreveport contemporary turn to it's file
of the Picayune, and reproduce from it
IA single sentence or epithet applied to
Gov. McEnery, which in the ordinary
aeceptation of wor'is can be styled SLAM
derous. The trnth is, that the McEnery
people had been 80 long in undisputed
control of the Democratic party machiG-
cry, and of the administration Of the
State government, that they could not
brook criticism. The arraiEnMent of
the McEnery administration, and the
criticism of his political methods as
Governor were, iH their view, Islander.
But that the criticism Of his admiuistrs-
lion was not of the character charged,
Is fairly shown by the issne of the CAM
oaign after free discussion of months,
turing which period many of the a',est
men in the State took the stump in his /!
license. The Democracy of the State, |
sfter /, full hearing of the issue, render
ID decision. Let US abide by it, for no
'ther tribnGal has Jurisdiction Of this
question. We fear and believe that |
uch style as that of some of the oppo-
ients OF Gov. Nichols, will breed dis
ord in the ranks of the Democratic
arty, and to what end
Let us stop aud reflect. We cannot
ford 10 be divided in the face Of Re-
ubiean Federal administration. In
tead ut stimulating antagoDisn and
istrust, VIC should strive to heal the
reaches IN our ranks. we cannot agree
nth the Iimes either, when it charges
nat Gov. Nicholfs is wanting in magma
unity. His act in placing Gov. McEn-
ry on the Supreme Bench was one Of
,nepieuaus msgnanimity. and in direct
pposition too, with the line of conduct
hich Gov. McEnery himself during the ,,
,nvas said ho would continue to pur-
le if reeiected-''stick to his friends"
These attacks on the Governor cannot :.
. justified or defended upon any of the
rounds alleged by bis opponents. They
i've not the merit of honesty or trEth-
Ilness at the bottom of them. On the ,
'ntrary, we believe them to be in pur-
ance OF plaa Of campaign begun just
ter the last election ana locking 10 the
ut election, three years hence. The !.
ea 10 to break down Gov. Nichols aud
8 friends by this persistent 0utery. It
an unfair and unjustifable warfare.
liolesale inuendo aud harsh criticism =
thout specification or detail are pub !.
he'd apparently to instil into the pub :
aiind q prejudice against the Govern 9
, and the Journals that refuse TO be :
iven into the opposition. This kind :"
warfare wouid hardly be justified as !,
ainst political enemy; much less =
ainst members of the same party, and !. ..
others of the same household. =