The Opelousas courier., 1891-11-21
oPELOUsAs PARISH OF ST. LANDRY, La
Trading off the Legislature.

While the elections so far held leave
little doubt now of the nomination of
S. D. McEnery as the Democratic can.
didate for Governor by a majority OF
200 in the State convention, it would
be we'll to watch the Legislature, and
make sure that the Anti-Lottery
faction does not trade it off. to the
Farmers Alliance, and thus give US
an Ocala Senator instead of true
Democrat.
1t will be remembered that candidate
Adams told his Alliance followers,
some weeks ago, to capture the Legis-
Iature at all hazards, because more can
be done for the Ocala demands through
that body than through the State otfi-
cials. For the Alliance to capture the
Authorship, Attorney Generalship and
similar positions would be moral vic
tory, but for the practical results the
Legislature would be of far more i'm
portance, since it could call upon Con-
gress to pass the subtreasury bill,
elect Senator favorable to that alb
surd measure, interest the other Sen
ators therein, and appeal to our Repre-
sentatives in favor of the proposed
law against banks, merchants, rail-
roads, etc.
Mr.. Adams supporters appear to
have profted by this advice, and are
determined to control the Legislature
if they can. For some days past the
two factions which make up the oppo-
sitioD have been negotiating in st. Lam
dry for a division of the local offices.
It was the same high order Of moral
craftsmanship as was seen at Lafay-
cite some months ago, the same
haggling and bargaining. the offices
being snapped and traded off with a
complete disregard of the people, as
though the latter had no interest what
ever in their offices, or right to say who
should fill them. We may remark, by
way of commentary, that as the Ants
are strictly moral and virtuous politi-
clans, this trading in which they in
dulge is not only legitimate, but pro-
badly holy.
The Alliance in st. Landry, follow
ing Capt. Adams suggestions, de-
clared that they wanted the Legisla-
ture. They must have the four mem
be,s from that parish under all and
every circumstance; for the other
Offices they did not care so much, but
the Legislature must be theirs, as they
had been ordered to bargain on no
other terms. This proposition was
perfectly satisfactory to the Anti-Lot-
terry people, who, as they are hungry
for the local offices, were willing to
trade off the Legislature, the Demo
cratic party, or anything else. Both
of the traders being satisfied, another
compact was formulated on the La
fayette dicker basis, by which the ALI
ance gets the Legislature and the Ants
the shrievalty, clerkshlp and Other
local offices.
We are pot surprised by the trade
nor any one else, we suppose. The
leaders of the great moral Anti-Lottery
party set the example with the farmers
barter at Lafayette, and they should
pot feel hurt if their followers in the
various parishes and wards show {
desire to go into the trading business
'"on their own hook" and get as mucl
as they can. But it would be we'll To-
the regular Democrats to watch these
tricks of Ocala Adams and his Ali
ance hackers. McEnery as Governo
will be greatly hampered it we hay'
40 Alliance Legislature. We do no
want to see a PETER to represeD
Louisiana in the United States Senate
nor to be hampered as South Carolin'
or Georgia have been by Legislature
pledged to the sub-treasury bill ant
other dangerous and cranky theorie
and semi socialistie legislation, but W
want Democratic Legislature as wei
as Governor The latter is fortunatel,
assured us, but there is some DANCE
that the Anti-Lottery League will be
tray the Democracy to the Alliance am
the Oeala demands, and trade off th
Legislature unless the regular Demo
Gratis are watchful and prevent or de
feat compacts like that just consum
mated at Opelousas. 1t is not pleasan
to know that the Alliance has starte'
so early and successfully in its cam
paign for the Legislature, and tha
it has secured the delegation, or rathe
the promise of it, from the larges
parish in the State except Orleans
Times Democrat.