St. Landry clarion. (Opelousas, La.) 1890-1921, 1891-04-25
SATURDAY,
Editors ST, LanSlry CIARrosS n Won,


Editors ST. Landry CIARIosS IN your
issue of April 18th, find among other
articles, one signed E r. Lewis where
the signer after making excuses for
having recommended a negro for post
master at Opelousas attempts indirect
" to make the people of this town and
parish believe that I could have pre-
vented the appoin tment: he seeks fur
thef 20 show that / acqaieseed Id and
helped by my silence or otherwise the
appointment OF Harry Block.
have already and shall continue to
protest against the appointment of any
negro postmaster in this town or else
where in my State. ! began the fight
against Harry Block before Twas aware
that Judge Lewis had "cheerfullv added
bis recommendation to that of others,
who may have requested his appoint
ment."
If / have injured Judge Lewis the
time for newspaper discussion has past.
I have said nothing about him, but
what / can prove.
Now, to meet this charge squarely,
I say to the editors of the CLARION,
and especially to Judge Lewis, if they
say or mean to convey the idea that /
was instrumental IN procuring negro
postmaster at Opelousas, they lie.
&C. DUsoS.
The above should be ruled out on
account OF bad language bslt We do not
propose to give Mr.. Dusonsuch an OPP
portnnity to make cheap capital.
He knows perfectly well that there
was nothing in the CLARIos, editorial
" or in Judge Lewis communication,
that stated or intimated directly or in
directly, or even suggested the idea
that he was instrumental il procuring
a negro postmaster at 0pelousas. It
iSa small thing to pose as the bully Of
a straw man, but men who are drown
ing politically as otherwise will catch
at straws.
Why should he be sensitive ON the
negro question: Did he not have a
colored deputy when he was sheriff Of
this parish
No. Al THE STATE OF LOUISIANA.
OATH OF OFFICE
/, Napoleon Lastrapes, do solemnly swear
that will support the Constitution and
laws of the United States, and the consti-
tuition and laws of this State, and that
will faithfully and impartiaIly discharge
and perform, all the duties Incumbent on
me as Deputy Sheriff in and for the parish
of st. Landry, according to the best of my
ability and understanding g. SCI help Il,,n me,
Sworn to and subscribed before me, this
4th day of June, A. d. 1854
b. +. MEGINLEY. D'y Cl'k
Lastrapes. coiored, was fof several
years president Of the Republican par
ish committee. = -
He has not inf afe Itlge Lewis !;
on the contrary, his political opposi
tion is benefit to anyone.
Judge Lewis article vas a criticism
of the editor of the Now Orleans Re
publican for publishing a garbled let
ter originally published bS MrDuson,
and giving that garbled letter as the
reason for Blochs appointment. We
quote from Judge Lewis article
"Burkdoll was appointed coiner Of
the mint at Warmoth's request and
presumably knows the true secret OF
Bloch's appointment. He knows bet
ter than any one here, that he was ap-
pointed at Warmoth' IS request and sole
" with the view of securing st. Ian
dry's Republican support for Harri
sons denomination and that, without
Warmoth's aid and a pledge of such
Bloch would never have been
appointed, even if he had had the en-
dorsement of every Democrat in the
State"
It is scarcely necessary to say that Mr..
Warmoth had sufficient influence with
the Federal administration to prevent
Bloch's appointment and owing to-
the signal service rendered Dir. War
moth in securing his confirmation as
collector Of customs, he might have
been kind enough to continue his OPP
position to Bloch.
There has been a negro postmaster
in this parish lin Washington before,
and there was ne protest from the
quarter where it mostly comes now.
In 1874, when Louisiana was under
Kellogg and negro rule, the mass OF
the Democracy of the State went into
the white league organization, and Mr..
Duson fought the white league. Mr..
Duson held the Office of sheriff OF this
parish from 1874 till the election in
1888, through nomination and election
by the Democratic party. In 1888 he
ran as an independent candidate against
The Democratic candidates for the SEN
ate and secured his election through me-
gro votes. He and other Lotteryites uni
ted with the negroes in the Legislat-
ure to carry the Lottery bill through
that body, in order to fasten the Lot
tery curse for twenty-five years longer
IN the white people Of this State. Ap-
parently as an antidote to the Lottery |
neresy, he voted for the Jim Crow car
oill which has evidently alienated