The Opelousas courier., 1890-08-16

majority OF QUE CttlZonS caHnoe lGau Vi
write to a treatment to helpless
insane which would be a disgrace. to
sayages, and to idly waiting for strang-
ers to come in and build up our waste
places.
With this end in view, VIC, the under
signed, adopt the following
RESOLUTIONS AND CONSTITUTION.
Whereas, according to the foregoing
statement of facts, our native State is
in need of additional revenue for such
internal improvements as will attract
immigration that will help to develop
her untold resources and increase her
present values /; and
Whereas, the State Of Louisiana is q
sovereign State, whose citizens are fally
| able and capable by all tests of worthi-
ness to decide all questions affecting
her welfare without assistance, advice,
or coercion from outside her limits; and
Whereas, as citizens Of Louisiana we
prefer to exhaust u W resources,
and to use all honorable means to
further the improvement OF u State !;
and
Whereas the present rate Of taxation
has reached the utmost limit that can
be borne by the agricultural interest OF
the State ; and
Whereas, we have now an o%pportuni-
ty to investigate the value OF a project
to assist in the improvement of our
condition, as our State Legislature, at
its session in 1890, decided to submit to
a vote of the people, to whom all such
| questions should be submitted, and
from whom all authority comes, the
question of The amendment OF the Con
stitution of the State to provide for the
granting of a Lottery Charter at an
annual license of $1,250,000, which sum
shall be applied to the support OF the
State funds for education, leyees, chart
ties and drainage, to take effect Jan. l,
1894 /; therefore be it
Res0tved, That it is manifestly to the
advantage and benefit of the State that
such amendment to the Constitution
should be adopted.
ResoIUed, That while maintaining the
correctness of our position in this mat
ter, yet a difference of opinion among
the citizens of Louisiana is recognized
as conscientious and sincere; that a
clear understanding OF the subject can
only be achieved by, and only good re-
suit from, a full, open, fair discussion,
which, producing sober thought, will
impel each man to cast his vote accord
ing to his matured convictions, unde-
tered by the clamor OF ~fanatacism, OF
the gloomy forebodings Of self-appolnt-
ed but unfried prophets that, as a class,
whatever their opinions, Lonisianians
can be and will be accorded by each
other full credit for ability and jndg-
ment and integrity of purpose to decide
all questions submitted to them and
be it further
ResoIued, That we resent with indig-
nation the interference of other people
in our internal affairs which concern
them not, except as they voluntarily
submit themselves to the effects thereof,
and we hurl back the charges brought
against the honor OF our State with the
pregnant intimation that the manhood,
the valor, the integrity, and the patriot
ism of L~ouisianians have been tested in
war, pestilenee and flood, to their eve
lasting credit, and that their training
and their record amply qualify them to
judge the character of their actions.
ResOlved, That it is our purpose to
have this amendment 10 u ConstItH-
ton adopted, using all honorable means,
and reposing full trust in the discretion
of our fellow-citizens; with abuse fol
none, with tolerance for all /; d~iscarding
all suspicion, yetTequiring equal esteem;
abhorring yituperati0n, still determined
to present our views; hoping for a
b~rotherly meeting and discussion, and
deprecating all bitterness, passion, and
factional disintegration. Keeping sing
ly and conscientiOusly in view through
out the good of our beloved State, we,
the proud sons OF her motherhood, with
full belief in the integrity of our posi-
ton, with no consciousness of aught in
our actions that can bring discredit to
our State, ready to submit to the ex-
pressed contrary views OF a majority OF
our feliow-citizens, if so it should be,
adopt, as the guide for u course. the
following
CONSTITUTION.
ARTICLE NAME.
The name of this association shall be
the Progressive League of Louisiana.
ARTICLE n-oBJECTs.
The objects of this organization shall
be to urge before the people, and to en-
deavor to foster, all measures calcu-
lated to promote the public welfare, par
ticularlY in the matter of the improve
ment of the school and levee systems
of the State, to provide for the payment
of the public debt, and to promote inn
migration, and, with these ends in view,
to use all honorable means to secure
the adoption by the people of the pro-
posed lottery amendment.
ARTICLE III.
This organization shall be non-fac-
tional in it's natuTe-f0r measures, not
men.
ARTICLE IV-MEMBERsH1P.
Section L. All white citizens of good
moral character shall be eligible to
membership in this organization, except
employees of lotteries.
Sec. 2. All applications must be sub
mitted in writing to the president, and
by him referred to the committee on
membership.
ARTICLE Y-oFFICERs.
The officers of this association shall
be a president, one yice-president from
the parish Of Orleans, and one from
each other parish in the State, who shall
be the president of his parish league, a
secretary, q treasurer, an executive com
mittee, a finance committee, a member
ship committee, and such special com
mittees as the president, with the APP
prevail of the executive committee, shall
from time to time appoint.
The officers of this association shall
hold their offices respectively for the
term of two years, or until their sue
cessors are elected and have qualified.
ARTICLE yI-DUTIEs or OFFICERS.
Section 1. The duty of the president
shall be to preside at meetings, to make
such suggestions as he may deem pro-
per for the welfare of the organization,
to appoint all committees, to supervise
the work OF other officers and commit