The Louisiana Democrat., 1891-08-05
's A STARTLING DECLARA-
TlON."

Under the ahcve caption, our neigh
Dor, the Times, in its issue Of Tues
day of last week, has the following {:
A prominent gentlemen of this city
IN conversation, a few days ago, with
Mr.. j. A. Tets, editor of the Farmers
Vidette, the official organ of the State
Alliance, referred to certain questions
that had been propounded by a cor
respondent through the Times to the
anti lottery men, and said they had
never been answered. One of these
questions was in substance: "Will
you vote for an anti-lottery negro in
preference to pro-lottery white Dem
ocrat?" Mr.. Tets remarked that he
would unhesitatingly answer the qnes-
ton, and declared that he would rath-
er vote for negro who was opposed
to the lottery than for a pro-lottery
white man. In this free country Mr..
Tets has right to hold and express
this sentiment, but the white people
of this State have an equal right to
their opinion of such a sentiment, and
would no doubt wish to be informed
whether or not Mr.. Tets herein rep
resents the order to which he belongs
or speaks for the organ of that order.
1t is grave and momentous question.
If the passions and prejudices of the
hour shall have brought any respect
able number of white citizens to this
pass, then God help the State and her
people.
The States comments on the above
as follows:
Editor Tets of the Farmers Vidette
the official organ of the Farmers AL.
lance in this State and which is pub
lIshed at Alexandra, has declared
that he would vote for an anti lottery
negro for office ratherthan pro- lottery
white man. This may he the course
that Tets intends to pursue, and we
are MT mnch surprised at his declara-
tion because he was caught hobnob-
bing with the negroes in secret
meeting recently held at Alexandra,
but what we desire to know is whether
the sclf-respecting members of the
Farmers Alliance of this State are
prepared to follow Tets in the support
of anti-lottery negroes for Office in
preference to their white neishhors
who may happen to favor the lottery
amendment. The anti-lotteryites
have taken Tets to their bosom aud
they are welcome to him, but if we
are not greately mistaken the time is
not far distant when they will wish
that somebody else had him.
1t now behooves Bro. Tets, of the
Vidette, to rise and explain, if he can,
this very strange language. We, Of
the Caucasian race, in these parts, are
not given to such expressions, and we
condemn rather than countenance the
same. Rise, Bro. Tets, and let's
hear from yon. The public will give
you fair aud impartial trial.
Since the above was in type Mr..
Tets has Published statement in
the Town Talk, from which we Gull /:
A few days ago in a conversation
on the street, after irritating inuendos
from one who claims to be u lotteryite,
the question was put to ne: "Would
you vote for III Anti-lottery Demo
cratic negro before you would vote for
Democratic Lottery white man
81 answered that if voting for the
white man carried with it the lottery
charter for 25 yenrs, and voting for
the negro meant the killing Of the
charter, then l would vote for the negro.
| started to explain further, but the
party to whom | was talking said he
wanted to hear no more; that / was
the only white man in Rapides parish
that would make such a declaration.
He then abruptly left and did not go
twenty steps before he was, telling
other. parties what | had said.
Now, Mr.. Editor, it was my intention
to tell this man that | did not believe
that would have to answer that qnes-
ton by NY ballot, for l think the antis
will not I've put to such straights to find
candidates for its Offices. further
more believe that it will be impossible
to find such an incongruous thing as a
lottery Democrat.
And in its reply on Sunday the
Times said:
The reported conversation was COM
mon talk all over town within twenty
four hours after it was held, and the
gentleman who asked Mr.. Tets the
question and to whom the reply was
made gave us the facts two or three
days before mention was made Of it in
the Times, but at the time he asked us
not to refer to it, as be naturally y dis
liked to have his name appear in this
connection in the paper. He was sub
sequently approached on the subject
by a third party to whom he said in
effect that he did not propose to dictate
to the press, but if the charge was
made and denied he would substanti'
ate it.