The Opelousas courier. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1852-1910, 1891-05-09
The Opelousas Postmaster.
Crowley signal.

25th INST were vigorous and Of no doubtful ut
terance in denouncing The appointment OF the
colortd man, Henry Bloch as postmaster. ana
protesting against the humiliation sought TO
be inflicted upon the people, yet there was a
dgnitied ealmness throughput the whole pro
eeedings which contradicted any charge or IN
timidaIion " against the citizens. or OF their as
sumlng the role of regulators and oRerlng
any violence to Bloch, the appointee: Bloch,
emphatically stated in New Orleans " that he
did not leave through fear Of any personal V1o-
lence and that he would dread no bodily harm
on his return home" The people never con
templated any disorder or violation of law from
the first, but did want TO let President Harrison
and others know that negro postmaster was
not desired by them, and that the humiliation
would not be acQuiesced in without most
emphatic protest from them.
Here, again, Judge Lewis made grave po-
litical blunder by mounting the rostrnm ana 1
boldly intimatfng that his constituency In
tended to intimidate Bloch and drive him from
the field by " regulator" methods.
The people have the legal right OF protest
against any authority, or public funetionary,
when thew feel they have been aggrieyed or
that they have been mtsrepresented. The
people are the source OF all authority In q re-
publican form of government and tho officials
from the highest to the 1owest-are the pub
lie servants and should have some regard for
the feelings and privileges Of the people, VINO
honor them with delegated power. This last
act in the Opelousas postoff1ce drama, will do
Judge Lewis more harm than ever: His over
zeal for Bloch and unwarranted tnsinuatlons
%
pass unheeded by them. They viii not submit
TO dictatton nor to detraction.
Shreveport Times: The citizens of Opelousas
are Justly indignant at the appointment OF a
negro as postmaster az that place over d mFs .hs
widow Of a strong Union man. A meeting of
white citizens was held last Tuesday, protesting
against and denounclng, the appointment, ana
will probably result in the negro Bloch, the ap.
pointee, declining the office. The paradox OF
the case is summed up by the States in the fact
that Mrs Bailey was endorsed for the once
"by such influential Republicans as Judge E. C.
Billings and Chauncey F. Depew," while the
negro Bloch's appointment "was made upon
the recommendation of a democrat, Judge
Lewis" In it's comments upon the appoint
ment, the states pays Its respects to Judge
Lewis in the following forcible language:
"It is to be regretted that Judge Lewis
should have prostituted his otlclal ana SOCIAL al
Opelousas, and to turn out of office respect
able lady, the sole support OF several fatnerless
children, in order to make place for an OBJ
scure negro politician. 1t is not to be wonder.
ed at that the white citizens, Republicans and
Democrats, are indignant, and II we are not
very much mistaken, Judge Lewis will never
again receive political honors from tneif
hands"
The states should have aleo devoted attention
to the vindictive policy OF the little president,
as evinced towards the South In the appoint
ments of both negroes, dill and Bloch, to post
masterships. The nominations were an 1nsu t
to our people, as well as to a Republican Senate
ana the pest elements Oh UudI party, anu WIZ
recoil with tremendous force upon the presi-
dents hopes for a second term NOMINATION
Harrlson's policy seems TO De tendlnS towards
political suicide, while his obliterat1on from
public life is only question of time, aud Will
be equally welcomed by the Southern people.
whose sentiments he has SO grossly outraged
and the hest element OF his own party, who can
not he p but feel ashamed OF his petty malice
and gross incompetency for the position he oc-
cupies.
Baton Rouge Advocate: There Is a political
side show in ST. Landry parish that has devel.
oped some very lively features colored
postmaster was appointed for Opelousas, and 1t
was aSctrtained that his petition was signed by
Judge E. T. Lewis, who was rather prOfuse in
his endorsement. Judge Lewis was leading
white Lacquer of former days. and holds the OF.
fee of district Judge at the present time. He is
also an intense antilOttery man and the con
trolling spirit of the Clarion, newspaper esta b.
lished by him with n the past year Tor the ad
yocacy and defense OF his political ideas. The
situation In the parish seemed to be rather qul
escent until the appointment of the coiofed
postmaster. when the usual excitement follow
Ell. ending IN numerous protests by the Farm
ers' Unions and finally eliminating in mass
meetings at Washington and Opelousas, where
denuneiatory resolutions We're passed, not only
against his appointment but against those who
recommended it. This general movement OH
the part OF the white people put Judge Lewis
in an awkward position, where he will ind II
difficult ta defend or excust his action In the
meantime the c0lored postmaster, who seems
to be q rather worthy man OF respectable char
acter, left st. LanQFY parish anu sought refuge
in New Orleans until the excitement subsidies
being perhaps influenced by fear OF persona
violence also, though no such design was prob
ably entertained against him The farmers o.
st Landry are evidently wrought up to con
siderable pitch )f feeling and indignation oVel
Htht matter, and Judge Lewis. as the leader 0.
the anti-lottery faction, can hardly nope TO re
tam his hold on them after his bad break in thu
direction Of restoring negro government IN tne
parish. His opponents have got the inside
track on the situation, and they are likely Z
keep 1t.
/ Bastrop Appeal, Anti: # Benjamin Harrison
/ has disclosed any one thing eonspicuonsly since
i his occupancy of the great Office held by him i
is his prejudice toward the brother IN black
4 He tbounced" all the negro servants from tht
White House Immediately arter le took cla,rg5 n,ga
4 leaders in his party for fat and lucrative ap
pointments He has dipped out few crumbs
from the Presidential table; but to all applicant
for positions which should be considered h1ghlJ
ornamental in more ways than one Harrison
has turned q deaf ear.
Upon the people of Vicksbnrg, Miss, ant
Opelousas La, two offensive negroes have beeI
inflicted. not because OF the Administration
respect for the appointees, but evidently fo
the purpose of humiliating the white people o
those two towns. And those people do no
propose to be subjected to such humiliation
Vicksburg has fled protest against Jim Hill
which means, when literally translated, tina
drawn from Harrison's lottery. Opelousa
i people are making vigorous KICK agains
their mail passing through the hands OF Harr,
4 Bloch, another detestable character seined NJ
from the muddy political ponds OF our grea
Presidents shop. Bloch is odious to every re
spectacle man and woman in Opelousas as I'll
inspector and manipulator OF their malls. Han
risoI would never have thought OF making II
indiana such an appointment. If he had an.
respect for Hill and Bloch he would not hav
placed them where he has. IL may be tn
j best and speediest way to get permanently Ri
] Of them
Houma Courier: It seems that the appoint
ment of negro postmaster at Opelousas ha
created q strong feeling of indignation through
out the parish of st. Landry, and the peopl
were further incensed upon Learning that Dis n
4 frict Judge Lewis (Ref0rm Democratl hai
written strong letter OF recommendation II
favor of the new appointee.
Last Saturday a mass-meeting OF the citizen
Of ST. Landry was held at Opelousas to protest
in Wis orous terms, against the appointment
The meeting was largely attended and resolu
tiuns appropriate TO the occasion were unan
/ imously adopted.
/ of Reform and antlisns, with what purport
to be special from Opelousas under date o
April 26th. The special has flaming headlines
ana the gist of the article is to make the peopl
Of the state believe that the whole affair wa
gotten up la the interest of the lottery but tn
& real object of the special Is TO cover up tn
y ffe anti leader of st. Landry, Judge Lewis. ]
4 the meeting was gotten up in the interest O
the lottery, why is that the Farmers Aliianc
4 of that parish nave protested against lHt dk
nointment, aud denounced in severe terms al
those connected with said appointment. an
pledged themselves not to support for otslee an
in eenring the appointment of Bloch.
The New Delta should caution Its correspond
anfs 10 use little more discretion in nlxin
ttp lottery matters with politics
st. Martinsviile Messenger The appoin
fnent If Harry Bloch. q colored man, as pos
master at Opelousas has created quite a senss
!, fifln IN that town and the entire parish OF 81