The Opelousas courier., 1891-08-15
correspondence.

The last meeting of the Farmers Parish
Union at Whiteyille adopted the following
resolution on motion OF Mr.. p. Donahue the
new parish lecturer:
b it resolved that whereas the Lottery
educational bonus has in a great measure EN-
ticed school teachers to support that monster
by their votes, and whereas no teacher is fit
to impart moral training and patriotic honors
to the rising generation who has sold his
birthright; and whereas the Louisiana Lot
terry Co. has become his paymaster and such
teachers have no interest in the welfare of the
State or future prosperity of their people.
Now therefore be it resolved that we the
members of the Farmers Union will not pat
ronize any school where the teacher advo-
Gates or supports the Louisiana State Lottery
Co. and we request other parishes to do like
wise.H
The allegations of the foregoing are with
out a shadow Of foundation in fact, l hazard
nothing in asserting that there is not a teach
er in any of the public schools of the parish,
who expects to derive any personal benefit
from the lottery, or sold himself to it, or who
looks to it as his paymaster; neither is there
one whose character for integrity, patriotism,
and honor does not stand as high as any mem
Der of the Farmers Parish Union. But | pray
TO know what the Farmers Union has to do
with the opinions of teachers or any of its
members on the lottery OF any other political
question: The Union solemnly pledged itself,
through its proper officer, to every candidate
for admission, that there was nothing to inter-
fere with his religious or political opinions?
Now if a proposition to amend the Constitu-
tion, the organic law of the State, the supreme
law of the land to which all other laws of the
State must conform is not political, standard
authors on the science of politics and govern
ment have failed to define the term.
It were strange indeed it many of the teach
ers did not vote for the lottery amendment,
since there are SO many intelligent and think
ing men, including farmers, who do support
it.
There is another consideration that has
weight with many. The lottery is a demo-
cratic measure, pure and simple. The deal
ing in lottery tickets was first legalized after
the war by the legislature of 1866, the last
purely white legislature that ever assembled
in the State. and before the reconstruction
acts passed Congress. The Republican legis-
amending and improving the act of 1866.
These were merely acts of the legislature,
subject to modification or repeal at any time.
But it remained for the Democratic Constitu-
tional Convention of 1879, TO incorporate the
Louisiana State Lottery Co. in the Constitu-
tion of the State, thus placing it above the
control of the Legislature and the courts, for
q term Of years and the acts of the conven
tion were ratified and approved by the demo-
cratic party at the ballot box A large
majority of the last democratic legislature,
true to their principles and antecedents,
voted to submit the amendment To- before
the people to continue the charter of this
company twenty-five years longer. If any fur
Their testimony is needed, il Isl fact, that most
of the old orthodox democratic newspapers
of the State support the revenue amendment,
while it is opposed By the entire republican
press. E. THOMAS,