The Opelousas courier. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1852-1910, 1892-08-06
Correspondence.
OPELousAs, LA, Aug. lst, is9'

OPELoUsAs, La, Aug. lst, 1892
Editor COURIER:
In your issue of the 30th July last notice
a card over the signature of VIM. L. truman,
ESQ in which he expresses desire to learn
whether Laurent DnpTA. Esq. and !, endorse
or, accept the Ocala platform just as it IS, we
being candidates for Congress. He says that
the Farmers Alliance will support no one for
Congress who does not, and that they will
accept no compromise on the subject. In his
card he is pleased to remark that friends OF
mine in the western part of the parish, speak
of me as having been q supporter OF the
Oranges before the organization OF the
Farmers Alliance, &c.
am happy to say these friends have pro-
perly and correctly represented me. | have
been an advocate on the hustiDgs ID socIaI
life and through the Press, Of the neglected
rights of the laboring classes for thirty nine
years. The Oranges and Alliance have never
called in vain on me, for services ID their
behalf. MY views of their wrongs, remain
undimmed by the lapse of time, and tue tests
of observation. believe aloac, as ! long
have, that our Legislatures have not gwen
! that attention TO the interests Of labofers and
1 producers, which should have been bestowed
1 upon them. This negligence has been large
| " attributed to these classes themselves
They elect the law makers and its executors
aud aid In She administration of the laws,
ara glad to see that they are awaking to
/ practical view of their own Importance as
political factors. Party names have hereto,
| Tor blinded them. They saw and would
hear nothing, but party and the call OF It's
/ leaders. ALI classes are supported by the
products of the soil, directly or indirectly,
and vet the producers have spent their lives
! building up non-producefs, only to have II
said they were strong and ardent party men
| I have always regarded parties az means q
serving the State, and not as objects per Sc
worthy of DeOpless devotion.
i This view has heretofore, caused me TO DC
| thought unsound as 4 party man. With me
! the state is the prime and paramount source
/ of all patriotic inspiration. Whenever q
i becomes apparent that parties are used to
Il serve individual purposes and to gratify per
sonal ambition, think they are failurei
and should be abandoned by every patriot. !,
i Friend Truman says: Candidates wll
i have TO stand sqnarely and boldly upon th'
Il st. Louis and Ocala platform. 70 re
qnire he says, an promising support. @
the Subj Treasury bill, until something bette
Il is put forth through our organizatio
Gentlemen how do you stand sliebc
means opposition.
If + had been asked how / stand on th
aTrcLA ATfoN Of PURPosEsn set forth in th
y Constitution and Bylaws of the Earmers
Union / could and would have answered
apih Ire Farmers u7aion, but Mr.. Irnma
4 auparently ignoring these, asks how stan
Il On entirely different questions. Al 4 nave 2
loue advocated, 1 am still devoted 10, but Cd
sine assa non proposed by him eornpels me {
halt. Let me briefly touch upon the t1cal
M demands seEiatim :, !.
III id. III demands thai the National Bank
shnnld be abolished. think 80 too fe
u several reasons, which cannot here ennmel
ate. i prefer the State banks as they @
isfed ante belinnl
s. think the currency @ tue country anses