The Opelousas courier. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1852-1910, 1891-10-03
# ST. LANDRY, La, OCTOBER 3, 1891.
An Error.
CONTINUED.

GON1INOED.
We renew our examination of the
"declared purposes" of the Farmers
Alliance. in compliance with our
promise. The next demanding our
notice, which has not been commented
oD, is the
9th. To create better understanding for
sustaining our civil officers in maintaining
lao and order.
We have never had the slightest OBJ
lection to this purpose of the Alliance.
If we understand it, it is pregnant
with aceusatory significance, but just
aUhere and Or upon whom to lay the
derelictions and abuses, which they
propose to assist III remedyiug, we are
not sure we are justified in saying.
We do know that some one, somebody,
should do something to y1talize the
criminal laws. These of late years
have become, TO Il great extent, dead
letters. i few are punished under
them, but just who they are, is found
TO depend Oh circumstances, Homi-
eide, has become far less condematoTy
offense, so far as the certainty of pun
ishment by the courts is concerned,
than the larceny OF a pig or . chicken.
Carrying concealed weapons has be-
come practically legatized, by the far
cial attempts, or, rather, the failure to
attempt to punish those who carry
them Now, if the farmers really de-
sire to "sustaln our civil officers Ill
maintaining law and order,' We are
heart and hand with them all the time,
bat we think 1T would be we'll to search
the pockets of officers for pistols before
we enlarge the circle Of our efforts by
looking after citizens in private life,
who are no more guilty. Our theory is
to practice what we teach, to remedy
what we denounce. Declaring our in
tention without trying to eradicate the
evil, is child's play.
7th To constantly strive to secure harmo.
ny and good will among all mankind, and
brotherly love among ourselves.
We say amen to this. But how are
you practically endeavoring to do this
Are you acting consistently 2 We fear
not; and here let us give our reasons
for our fears. Our constitutions de-
clare that opinions shall be free.
Yourselves inform candidates for ad
mission to your society, that you will
not attempt to interfere with their
religious or political opinions. Your
highest officer informs you that "In-
dividual members of the alliance
must be left free to act according to
their own judgment" That "the ae-
tion of the alliance can not bind aRdtus-
dual members to support any party
measure or PLATFORM And in the face
of all this, you uncerlmoniously exlsel
member, because he. has his opinion
concerning the adoption of the lottery
revenue proposition. In doing SO, are
your adhering to your declared pnr-
poses Could you not, with just as
much authority, resolve that your local
unions will all pack up and go to Ok
lahoma for homesteads, then expel a
member for not going with you ? Each
is outside of your declared purposes
and one not whit more than the
other. We say. stick to your declared
purposes, and we are with you to the
fullest extent. We love harmony. Il
is the voice of God. reaching the high
est as we'll as the lowest classes of men.
1t is the law of the universe, and is as
pertinent to the leaf or the sparrow
that falls, as to the movements of the
spheres. Bat you can not establish q
"better understanding and .brotherly
love- when you declare one purpose
and imperiously follow another. Your
brothers do not become your creatures
by becoming associated with you
Brotherxy love and a desire for har-
moDy forbid they should be. They
have certain inalienable, indefeaslble
rights, given aud guaranteed to them
by God first Of all, and by the Supreme
laws of the land next. We are not OPP
posed to your ssdeclared purposes p on
the contrary, we are IN favor of them
and take pleasure in commenting them
All We object to is, that you should
hagrantly deviate from and in practice
abandoni them.
6. To suppress personal, local, sectional ant
NATIONAL prejudiees, all Gntruthfal rivalry
and all sselfsh ambition.
We see nothing wrong in this, if yot
avoid being swallowed, IN the voice o.
sectional majorities, and from being
COMPELLED, under your laws to run il
thet direction of centTaiization, ant
thereby become pledged to pursue :
Epbliey which, ere long must ignore tn
s;4ntonDmy Of the separate States, AMI
Hconeentrate all power In the vortex O
federal authority The SANS unanfli-
oFlzed power you assume locally, over
/ your members, can with equal pro.
/ priety be exercised BY your National
organization over youri State alliances
| IT you are grayitating in this direction
| we will oppose you with might and
main Oh this point, however admirable
| your other purposes may be. We will
by all means, oppose centralization
and every measure that leads to it.
! 9Th That we abandon the credit system al
early as possible
! Amen
1 of the people, and should be put down bs
means of the law Furnishing both the lobbyis
and the legislator who viii allow himsel
lobbyed.
We agree to all this, but it is impos
sible of accomplishment impractica
BILE from beginning TO end IF the sell
respect the sense Of duty of q legisla
tor furnish no shield against the ap
proaches Of the lobbyist, there is NJ
power he can give the law which car
ward him of. The danger lies in tht
/ Legislator, In him alone is To be founl
the purity which must protect tho peo
pie from the evils Of lobbying.
Go all around the circle Of you
thoughts, devise any panitory law 20.
can, and it will be found after all tha
In yonr selection OF men TO represen