The Opelousas courier. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1852-1910, 1891-10-03
a Practical way to Put It.


Whilst the anti-moralists and saint
ly salvation corps are examining the
credulous ears of the illiterate portion
Of the people, with the painted repre-
sentation of imaginary evils and devils,
It We're well for their followers to take
one sober, practical view of their re-
speetive conditions, and reason from
their disparities. The leaders, and
many who are not leaders, are able to
school their children They are not
dependent on the public school fund
for the means of doing so. IF there are
no public schools they send their chill
dren to private schools and have them
taught. Some even send them to col
leges. There ssasll- he no objection to
this. We would that eve.y head of a
family might Be, able tolo likewise.
But it is impdassiblq The public
schools are all that u-ousands can pos
sibly patronize. The poor man is en-
titled, as well as the rich, to
have his children taught i'll them.
When there are no funds to
pay the teachers they are closed un-
til there is. The children Of the poor
must return home to their labor. The
rich mans children are sent to col
leges, or if he pleases, priuate schools
are gotten up and their children are
kept in them, or not, at their option.
These are naked facts. Now, Mr.. De-
flinquent Taxpayer, did you ever reflect
that the 95 cents and $190 you are
forced to pay the Clarion is three and
six times more money than the public
school fund, which falls to your share
per capita of your children? Did you
ever reflect that when the Clarion pub
fishes your real estate for unpaid taxes,
lit charges you for doing SO, so much
moro than the State pays for you, for
the education Of your child! You never
did, we dare say. Look at the figures
and don't say you will not, or that you
do not belieue them for truth is entitled
to respect, especially from such as set
themselves up for noralists and ex-
emplaTs.
In st. Landry, we have 1923 child
rem who 60 to the public schools, or
who are enrolled in them as students.
We have 1886 acho do not go to them.
Why are nine left out and one going
to SCHOOL, Will some dear lover of
the people tell, and tell it as it is? We
tell you, it is because the public school
fund is not sufficient to establish more
schools. In 1859 this parish received
from it only $i,903, or on an average
SO cents and small fraction per capita
of the educable children. The total
school fund of 1889, used in 1890, was
1896, 772. This sum was raised by
taxes imposed upon the people, and
from licenses on business. The lot
terry amendment, if adopted, will near
| " double this sum, without imposing
one cent of taxes, and free of any kind
of burden to the people. Now then,
you very poor people get on an average,
33 IL cents per capita for the eduea-
tion of your children, and you are
forced to pay the Clarion 95 cents and
$l.90 for advertising your delinquency
as taxpayers. You are asked to vote
for the amendment and increase your
school fund to about 65 cents per
capita, of your children, and your
Anti friends tell You not TO accept it,
but you continue TO pay the Clarion,
its charges for advertising, and to do
SO without murlnur. Is it to your
interest to refuse to accept the addi-
tion to your public school fund? Ans
Wer for yourselves. Would you by do
ing 90, demoralize or corrupt yourselves!
But the sanity demagognes who are,
and have been delnding you, care
nothing about your illiteracy; Just so
.you elect them to office. After that
is done, you will hear be moro about
your corrupted morals, Of your intel
lects, If you will give them yonr
votes. Elect them, and you may go
to pandemonium for morals, and to hell
for principles. We have put these
suggestions III plainly practical
light before you aud invite your careful
attention to them.
5 r. Advocate: The Alezansiia ID
Town Talk joins tile Vidette III broadly
changing that 9 uice Clayton and other
independent alliance men are third
party leaders fol- revenue only, and
says how much If cost John q. Morris
will never BE know nnless the books 81
The com paay ale shoWa 4 THIS is posi-
lively shameful Thsre ii not 4 scinfils
la OF evidence or eyEn we'll grounded
suspicion that these men are NOT ;sbso-
lutely honest ID their desIre to protect
and preserve alliance principles, and
yet they are boldly accused Of bribery
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