St. Landry democrat., 1891-09-26
" So Far and no Further.

Baton Rouge Advocate.
The Homer Guardian Journal is an
earnest aud honest anti-lottery news
among an enlightened constituency
who hold to similar views on that ques
ton. But the Guardian-Journal is also
Democratic, and under the heading
above given 1T presents to its readers
what it considers the vital issues OF the
pending campaign, and for its text Sc
lects an extract from communication
which appeared in the Alliance Farmer,
also published in Homer, written by Mr..
J. G. Copeland, one of the delegates
from that parish to the recent alliance
convention at Lafayette. AS quoted
by the the G uardianJournal, Mr.. Cope
land says:
We have agreed to combine our forces with
the union, ant-lOttery element OF the State,
in order to defeat the lottery amendment to
the State constitution. And while respecta
BILE portion of our delegates to the State union
opposed this agreement, and while we admit
that there are some Objectionable features to
be considered, still we believe that in working
for this "gfeatest good to the greatest NUM-
ber," we have made no sacrifice, nor surrender
ed no principle. We simply obtain, ii success
full, the governor, treasurer and superintendent
OF public education, which gives to lis the COM
petc control OF all the machinery of the State
government. And this Will certainly strength
en- US as an organization in all OF our future &C
tions. And will further state for the informa-
ton of the order, that the agreement entered
into is only binding as regards the selection of
delegates to the state convention. All other
necessary information will be handed down
through the proper channel.
This confession is as honest as that
made by Brother John Pickett, who
said that by the Lafayette compact "al-
lance principles were set aside for the
time being, in order to reap a little
advantage at the ballot-b from the
ranks of the democratic party
But we digress. The object of this az
ticle is to set forth the views of the
Guardian-JOurnala and not of the Advo-
cate-to give the ring of true democra
cy as it comes from a bold and fearless
auti-lottery newspaper, which holds it's
primary party allegiance higher than
the behests of faction. The Guardian
Journal briefly states Alr. Copeland's
position to be as follows:
l. The compact, il successful, will put the
alliance in complete control OF the machinery
OF the State government. The power and pa
tronage of the State will he in the hands of
the alliance, and will be used for the purpose
of building up ana Strengthening the alliance.
The assessors, police jurors and other appoint
I've officers all over the State will he appointed
with Il view to this end.
.. Further than this, the agreement applies
only to the election of delegates to the State
convention. The alliance will elect, wherever
if can, Its own men to the legislature, and, if
possible secure a majority, Of the legislature,
and elect slbtreasury advocate as the sue
cessor OF General Gibson in the senate of the
! United States. Information as to how to ac-
! compish this will be handed down at the prop.
! er time through the secret channels of the alli
| ance.
The Guardian Journal then CON-
ments as follows; Sc Is the above" il
asks, "any forced construction Of the
Interpretation that the alliance places
upon the Lafayette compact? And
would it be going too far to say that
the purpose of the alliance is to remain
in the democratic party in this State
only for the purpose of securing control
of the power and patronage that will
be in tile hands of the chief officers OF
the State, and then use that power and
patronage to strengthen and build uE
the alliance and place it upon the van
tage ground for the third party move
ment in the fall of 1892 At any rate
there are democrats who want to know
whether Mr. Adams proposes to .stant
10y the democratic party all the way
through or not, before they support hit
claims to the governOrship. Democrat
will hardly manifest enthusiasm il
playing the role of destroying their Owl
party"
f'It is in tue power Of Mr. Adams an,
his alliance friends" says the Guar dian
Journal in conclusion, to settle thes
questions definitely, aud in our opinion
the sooner they are settled, the bette
it will be for all parties
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A. IL,