The Opelousas courier. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1852-1910, 1890-08-23
The Franklin Meeting.


to give endorsement to those represen-
tatives in the Legislature who voted to
submit the Lottery amendment to the
people II was tremendous success.
About 1000 persons were present
many more than attended the Anti
meeting there a few weeks ago. Brief
but telling speeches were made by
Senator Hampton of Caleasieu, Repre-
sentative Sigur of st. Mary. Hon. G.. L..
Dupre of st. Landry, Judge Castella-
nos of Iberia, and Senator Cross of
Baton Rouge We regret that we have
room for only few brief extracts from
Mr.. Dupre's splendid speech and Col.
Cross scholarly address.
We copy from an imperfect report
furnished the N. O. Times Democrat /:
Mr. Dupr6 prefaced his remarks by saying
he had accepted the invitation with some de-
gree of reluctance. He was reluctant to come,
although hidden so to do and plant the stand
ard of pro-lotteryite in the home of Gallery
aud Foster. He was aware that the audience
had time and again heard the matchless ora
tory of the one and the eloquent and scholarly
addresses of the other. He had overcome that
reluctance and if o purpose to speak in per-
feet frankness and sincerity; If earnest I'M
a consecrating sense of what disaster may fol-
low further misunderstanding and estrange-
ment If these may be counted to steady un-
disciplined speech and to strengthen an un-
tried arm, then he would find courage to pro-
ceed. Continuing, he said
And right here let me say that l very
much regret the public excitement which has
prevailed in relation to this proposition the
uncharitable pfeiudgment of the proponents
thereof by their brothers on the other side;
the uncharitable prejudice aroused against us
because we choose to differ with them the
attempts which have been are still being made
to mingle with the discussion here of the foul,
bitter and slanderous accusations of bribery
and corruption leyeled indiscriminately al
those members of your General Assembly who
voted for the submission OF this proposition to
the people. This is wrong, very wrong. lam
sure cannot persuade myself into believing
that our opponents possess all the virtue ana
morality in the State. to the exclusion of our
selves. am satisfied that you, yourselves,
are not likely to accept it-and why Be-
cause know, and you know, that on both
sides OF this question are ranged gentlemen of
unimpeached character; men to the manor
born; ulen who are above doing a mean, q
cowardIy or dishonest action, whatever may
be the temptation men who have their own
standard of right, and will not swerve from
it; who regard the opinion of the world much,
but who will not yield thereto when convinced
He said he had no apologies to make for
voting for the submission of this proposition
and to him who said he had been moved by
impure considerations, in the language Of an
other he would say
If thon saidst am not peer
To any man in Scotland here,
Lowland or highland, far or near,
Lord Angus, thou hast iied!n
lie said the solveneY of the State was a
xo1.s1, r.
ceptanee of the proposition, and drew two
pictures of the State, one under the influence
of the acceptance, the other without. His
word painting was very chaste and elegant.
He said aShield this land from the rush-
ing waters of the mighty Nississippi dot it
with sehoolhoHses for the education of the IL
literate masses within her borders maintain
her charitable institutions, pay her debts,
restore her credit in the markets OF the world
and she win be the place of untold delight, a
terrestrial paradise, famed by the balmy
zephyrs of an eternal spring, clothed in the
gorgeous sheen Of everblooming flowers and
inhabited BY a happy, contented, generous,
liberty-leving people.
Col. Cross said in the course ose Ills Ills
remarks:
tsThe lottery has been made a spook to the
popular inauguration, and women and chill
dren have been frightened lest it should APP
pear rs i ghostly apparition, with hoof and
horns. to carry them off to the 'undiscnyered
bourne Inyeterate gamblers have been
torn with soiicitude for the public immunity
from the coPrupting influence of the blind
goddess and hoary old sinners have been
worked into a Pentecostal passion for the pu-
syfication of society. Sedate professors OF re-
ligion have exchanged gales with pothouse
politicians; for the politician has been going
around preaching righteousness, while the
iaeek and lowly disciple has been lending iil-
ctement and moral sanction to violence and
mob law.
.sFor this agitation lends itself to violence
and mob law by a logical and necessary eyo-
lution. Some of its more astute leaders have
evidently gained clear perception of this
danger; for Senator White and Chairman
Bell earnestly conseled the late convention to
moderation and prudence.
ut ia ii fact, never sufficiently noticed, that
the deliberations of onr side were conducted
in open conference, while every movement of
the enemy was guarded in the impenetrable
reeesses of the caucus. We can therefore,
only sHrmise the motives which guided their
connsels, but we can find ground for eoniec-
ture in the development of their policy since
I the adjustment. Never in the history of
American politics have such heterogeneous
and unrelated forces been brought into casual
association
In the first place, the administration has
brought into operation all the influence of
the vast patronage It controls, and the word
has been passed around that every employe
Ct the government must pay ooeIsance to the
fetch Of anti lottery agitation. Never before
was the complaisant compliance of officehoId-
era % ehe benest q power more signally IL
lnstrated lor g most singular nnanlmity was
aladdehliy deVetopea, ahd laeif whole power
ana lnHnenee We're eo,neIned e ~ Vociferous
ciaHor ior 9 cause 70 Wllel; put lew months
before. they had taken mild and contempla.
/ five iTaf4reat
ln me merits OF Inc proposition thus re,
fefred we nave never heard q word o. adverse