St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1892-04-09
The Latest Returning Board.


y. Q. States, April :.
Lust night. Col. John ). Young, the
person who had been selected to deter
mine any issues rs to the legality or H.
legality OF any acts at tho polls, calcu-
lated to avoid the real wishes of the
Democratic voters in the late primaries,
decided the contests set up by the Fos-
terites in their favor.
This decision was based on purely
technical grounds, purely on the viola
ton by the Fosterite functionaries
themselves, of simple directory clauses
of the agreement, and that too OF di-
rectory clauses of little or no c0Dse-
queDce.
Thus Col. john 5. Young has arbitra-
rily, without the sanction OF any law, or
principle, or precedent, except the pre-
cedent of the Mad Wells returning
board, in the interest, not of the State
of Louisiana, nor of the Democratic
party, nor of white supremacy and a
solid South, but in the interest, solely
and exclusively, of faction Of the
Democracy of the State, disfranchised
between twenty five hundred and three
thousand votes in three wards Of this
great Democratic city.
The American citi1eIs thus dlsfrau
clised on the merest tecllhlcalltIes, on
grounds clearly understood by Chair
man Young to be tethnicaltes, are
Democrats their votes have always
been cast for the candidates of the
Democratic party; they are honest,
! hard working citizens, and voters of the
great body of the Democratic party
which has held the State Of Louisiana
for nearly a quarter Of IL century against
Radical and negro rule.
The pueriiity, the absolute illegality,
OF the grounds upon which Col. John s.
Young, assuming to be i, Democrat, a
barmonizer, Il Christian gentleman,
rendered this decision, are so clearly
and forcbly set forth, in the protest of
the McEuery members Of the Commit
tee Of Seven, that we herewith print that
protest as an integral portion OF this
editorial.
Then follows the protest, which
closes as ful|ows:]
The exercise by the committee of powers
moro autocratic than were ever exercised by
the Wclla-Andersnn returning board; the sup
preston OF the voice uf the people; the aDsO-
lutte disfranchisement Of the Democratic voters
OF ward Uf this city, lOng the stronghold Of
the Democratic party, ever faithful and true
to tho party and its candidates, by which MI
Fosters nolnlnatlon Is to be declared, not by
reason OF tine vote which h got, but because OF
the suppression of tho legal votes cast AGAINST
him, is 80 violent and indefensble and SO dcs-
tructive OF the rights OF the people that it can.
not receive our tacit. much less our expressed
sanction.
"Wbile we regard the unity and harmony Of
the Democratic party rs vitality important to
the welfare and prosperity of the country. We
cannot even for that price. give our approval
to the desl'otlc course OF those who. for selfish
and partisan ends, would trampe upon the
most sacred rights OF their brother Democrats.
and whom, In order to carry such end. they are
willing to disfrauchise upon the most hmsy
action HIS indefenslble, upon any ground as
destructive invasion of rights OF the Demo
Gratis we represent, aud OF popular liberty, We
are constrained to tender our resignation to
this committee and sever our relations with it."