St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1890-08-09

Its Principles and Purposes lilo.
auently Set E'orth-It WIN Labor
for Better Schools, Stronger Lee.
wees and Adequate Provision fol
public Charities by Advocating
the Lottery Amendment.
y. g. Timcs-Democrat.
There has been organized in this city
m association which proposes to work
foG better schools, stronger lcgces, moro
snoney for the charitable institutions OF
-ite state, better drainage for New Or
leans and other objects affecting the
public welfare. It is known as "The
Progressive League of louisiana The
and bylaws are given in full below:
PREAMBLE AND CONSTITUTION.
In the history Of tho past tie State of
Louisiana holds 10 unlmportant posi-
ton ia the annals of tho future she il
destined to be no loss conspicuous. A
generation has risen since the tormina.
ton Of the great interneCine struggle
that crippled her resources, destroyed
her power and rendered her efforts for
rehabilitation almost futile. Unlike
other of her sister Southern States, she
has Jagged behind In the race for i'm
pfovement by reason Of the peculiar
character OF her agricultural interests,
the tax upon her resources for the pro-
lection OF her alluyial soil from annual
ravage by flood, tile prejudice created
by former periodical peetIlence, her re-
mOteness from the established route of
immigration, and the pluDdering of her
values by the continuous hordes of ad-
Nenturers whom the whrl of revolution
brought to the surface of the political
sea.
But within tue last few years ihis
aspect has changed. Many OF the sons
of Louisiana believe that their beloved
State is fairly started in the race for
supremacy to which her natural posi-
ton entities her, and they hold that the
value and character of every project to
assist this Onward movement should be
carefully investigated and applied il
found satisfactory, discarding none
hastily through personal prejudice or
political jealousy.
They fully realize her wonderful re-
sources, needing but the hand OF i'm.
proyement to develop to the world the
fact that her territory is the Ell Dorado
of the seeker for health, happiness and
fortune. They realize that immigra-
ton is necessary aud Indispensable to
further this end. They extend hearty
welcome and outstretched hands to
themselves and their children in peace
and good fellowship on the most fertile
and productive soil Of this country.
But they also realize and thoroughly
understand that immigrants, as much
rs they may be desired, cannot, TO any
8ppreciable extent, be attracted hither
30 long as the levees arc insecure and
permit the drainage of nation to over
Whelm their homes and destroy their
crops; so long as the educational system
is based upon the occasional and entire
~ insufficient term OF schooling to
which the rural districts have been
subjected; so long as the insane, the
pauper sick, the manned and criDnled
veterans OF those who battled for their
ideas of right, are left unproVided for,
or subjected to the cold merciea of ext
gencies that are continually being
brought upon her No nation, no State.
is entitled TO the esteem of the world
that does not provide for the defenders
of her faith. No country is worthy of
the happiness OF prosperity that attends
not to the wants Of her helpless and !
witless unfortunates.
They further realize that largely
unprovided for State debt, consisting
of valid claims rendered almost invalid, |
simply from want of recognition owing !
to the lack OF resources, and of quasi !
repudiated bonds to which the faith of /
the State has been pledged and violated |
by the inattentioD to duty of her con
stituted officials, and further consisting
OF bonded and recognized debt, tho /
interest alone on which requires the i
greater part of her annual income, and |
tor which no adequate means of redue-
ton have been adopted--cnnstitute an
almost insuImountable barrier to the
ffyrrr ssr.r tfxrn afox II
her uudeveiOped regions, cultivate Der
waste lands, and gladly bring to her tho
tribute OF their plenty and prosperity.
RecogniZing with sadness and regret
the truth of these statements, yet en-
c0uraged to the hope of posi- bilities by
that very recognition and the knoWl-
edge of the remedies to be applied, and
by the partial experience of improve
ment which tho application of such
remedies has gained. it has been deter
mined TO form an organization. consist
ing of citizens of Louisiana, by birth or
adoption, who are willing to work for
moving or reducing the difficulties and
Gun barrassments that at present sur
round her, who prefer the development I
Of her own resources, tho use OF her own
facilities, and the capitalization Of her
own values and privileges, to appeals to ,
the nation for protection to our lands +,
and products; to almost inevitable re- ;;
pudiation of our State debt; to a con-
ditiOn OF iliiteracy which has SO increas-
I'd within tho past decade that
majority of our citizens cannot read or {
write; to treatment to our helpless
insane which would be a disgrace To I
,avages, aud to idly waiting for sfrane- |
srs TO come 10 and build up our waste |
places.
With this end in view, We, the under 6
'igned, adopt tile following @
RESOLUTIONS AND CONSTITUTION.
Whereas, according TO the foregoing .
of facts, our native State ia 9
d need of additional revenue for such
Internal improvements as will attract
immigration that will help to develop 4
Ter untold resources and increase her q
resent values and j,
Whereas, the State of Louisiana is a i,
OvereiRn State, whose citizens are fully n
bic and capable by all tests of WORTH !,
ess to decide all questions affecting Fl
er welfare without assistance, advice, L
r coercion from outside her limits; and n
Whereas, as citizens of Louisiana We n
refer to exhaust our own resources. n
nd to use all honorable means to
lrther the Improvement of our State
nd !,
Whereas tho present rate of taxation y
as reached the utmost limit that can - -
D borne by the agricultural interest of y
10 State; and ~ y,
Whereas, we have now an oppoftuDi- +,
| TO investigate the value Of a project La,
, assist in tho improvement of our II
,nditiOD, as our State Legislature. at III