The Opelousas courier., 1891-12-05
NO Nominations for judicial
Offices.

We propose to be brief on this point.
In the first place it has not been Gus
tomary in this district to nominate
candidates for the judgship. The rea-
son was simple and is as strong to day
as ever before. We have no one but
our own party friends to antagonize by
making such nominations. There is
no possibility of the Democratic candi-
date being beaten by Republican, as
we have no Republican in the district
who is constitutionally qualified to
hold the office. Therefore let matters
go as they may, we must have Dem
ocrat. We think there should be no
manacles placed on the limbs of any
two Democrats that may desire to
offer. Second, Hon. Fl. L. Garland
has been solicited to run, by over
eleven hundred as good Democrats as
ever cast ballot. They are committed
to his support and it is not to be ex-
pected they will suceumb to the dicta-
ton of less than eight hundred who,
under oaths ands by secret organ1za-
tions, succeeded in designating dele
gates to the parish convention, all Of
whom are bound by the same oaths to
oppose every free and non obligated
voter. The people remember that no
Democrat was permitted to deliberate
with those who did vote at the prima-
ries, and they cannot feel bound by
what was done. 1t is understood that
the ticket that those delegates will
foist upon them is one which, in nearly
all its parts, has been long since the
subject matter of secret conspiracles.
No Democrat, who has kept out OF
them, has had, or could have had,
voice in the selection Of the candidates
and never can have. Besides, few
years since, Judge E. I. Lewis himself
| drew up and signed written under
standing which the late Judge G. w
Hudspeth also signed at his request, by
the stipulations of which it was agreed
that no nomination for the judgship
should be made, there being no Repnb-
lican to run for the Office. The people
know the gentlemen whose names are
before them for judicial honors, and of
course require no ones Endorsement to
enable them to determine which Of
them is the more entitled to their sup
port. The Office of judge is by far too
| important to the government to be un-
necessarily made dependent upon fac
tional nomination. Hon. Fl. L. Garland
has had no connection with any secret
societies of men organized solely for
| political disturbances in the party
ranks. He is simply and purely a
Democrat, whose right OF preferment
| and to the peoples confidence, should
not be made to depend upon the fore
ordained DEGREES of men bound togeth-
er by secret oaths and league pledges.
There are some who belong to these
secret organizations who are the
friends and supporters of Capt. Gar
land They are men who have great
regard for those who have called upon
him to stand for the Judgship, and we
| do not for one moment believe they
will suffer themselves to be used as
| creatures, just to foist candidate upon
us who they see and know must meet
with the steadfast opposition of the
clear headed men who have called
upon Capt. Garland to ruin. Ii we had
space we would give the names OF the
loo who have signed the petitions.
It must suffice TO say they are all
Democrats and citizens of excellent
standing, whose Endorsement is a COM
pliment and whose support cannot be
successfully opposed. In oar opinion
| it would amount to supererrogation In
any body of men to make nomination
| for the iudgship, and for the district
attorneyship under all the clrcum
stances.
Itwould be without precedent IN
st. Landry without necessity as a party
measure and without the least element
Eof harmony ID 1t. Consequently nc
good can possibly result from it.
/ The. friends and adherents of Judge
Lewis cannot consistently insist upon
nominating him, for he himself set the
precedent Of running without nomi,
nation.
Judge Hudspeth signed the agree.
ment at his request that no nomination
should be made. IF it was right Wher
done to oblige him, Judge Lewis, it i
necessary in the present campaign
Again the farmers alliance have sol
l.emnly pledged themselves not to sup
i port any one for Office in st, Landry
4 who Lad recommended negro for OF
i fee. His nomination now could hay'
/ no other object in view than to bine
i the farmers to do the very reverse Q
what they have repeatedly declared
they will not do.
j A curious docnment, written III pen
Gil in the well known hand writing Q
Mr.. Thomas H. Lewis, was picked "
id the court house few days ago. |
reads in the following words "Cllarg
4 the jury that bribery at a primary elec
tion is crime, the bribegiVer and tn
bribe-taker both indictable.o
8 In suggesting this to his brother, th
judge, it seems TO us that it was an un
, necessary interference on his part, q
the judge could have made the ci,atg
without his brothers. advice. The yer
influence which Mr. Thomas H. Levi
! is seeking to exercise over his brothe
! gives rise IN a great measure to the al
most universal effort that will bs mad
s to defeat Judge Lewis at the comm
! election. The district judge shanl
have but few relatives practicing befor
his court.
NoTIcE-A loan Of $1,000 will }
offered to the shareholders of the 5
Landry Homestead and Loan Associt
tion, at their Office, on Monday, Decen
Der 7th, 1891, at p. N
+