The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1892-10-22
OUR ClTOrCEFoR CONGRESS.
Hon. C. J. BOatner,
OF Onachiia.
FOUR IN THE FIELD.
The Survival of the Fittest.

whereby we can be enabled to size
up satisfactorily the present phase
of the Congressional contest.
Four candidates in the field. Mr..
Webb of the Third party; Mr.. Gun
by, and Ocalite Democrat, by many
classed as a bolter; Mr.. Donnally,
the. Republican nominee of a few
ofifce-hoIdiug negroes at Delta on
the 18th inst, and Mr.. Boatner, the
unanimous choice of the regular
Democratic Convention held at Mon
roe on Tuesday, October the 18th.
These arc the persons aspiring for
Congressional honors. and each one
asking for the support of the suffra-
gans on the 9Th of November next.
We have no desire to speak dispar-
agingly or under value either one or
the other of these gentlemen, but
having our preference in COM
mon with nearly all the people of our
parish and in the promotion of the
general welfare, we earnestly declare
Ia favor of
THE SURVIVAL OF THE FITFEsT
out of the four when the contest is
over.
As to Webb, he is highly spoken
of as an excellent gentleman of con-
siderable attainments, but he is
the representative of mongrel or
ganization made mp nominally to
represent the agricultural interests of
the district, while its managers and
manipulators are largely composed
of the velvety handed professions
''who toll not, neither do they spin"
anything but persuasive political
yarns.
Judge Gunby's ability and legal
requirements cannot be questioned,
but his political course for some time
past has been so erratic that it is
worse than folly for him to entertain
the idea of inspiring the confidence
of the voters of the district in his
stability.
Captain Donnally, U. S. Marshal
Of the Eastern district, is we'll and
favorably known as an old resident
of this parish. He is an useful, en-
terprizing, public spirited citizen, but
as Congressional DICTATOR his best
friends could scarcely venture to re-
gard him in favorable light. He is
well worthy OF whatever honor may
be attached to the nomination, and
that is all and nothing more.
When we come to Mr.. Boatner we
adopt the generally ACKNOWLEDGED
standard test, to-wit:
Since his advent in Congress his
life has been full of actions. intelli-
gent, Industrious, faithful and impair
tlal actions for the public good. In
comparison with his opponents he
stands prominently the fittest for the
position contended for. Yes, in
every way the most competent and
desirable.
The contest in some of the western
parishes of the district promises to
be much mixed up because of the
prevalence Of Third party opinions.
In Jackson, Lincoln, Union and one
or two other parishes the battle be-
tween Democracy and Populites will
be iercely fought. In the river par
ishes where the colored people are
considerably in the numerical ascend
ency, the Republican candidate will
expect to control the greater portion
of the vote; but if he does, he will be
counting without his host at this
juncture.
This campaign is one of the oc-
casions in which the material inter-
ests of the voter rises superior
to party obligations. Protection
from overflow is the alpha and
omeaga of the Congressional contest
as far as the valley is concerned.
The black man as well as the white
man knows this fact to be paramount.
Numbers of coIored families in this
parish have land and comfortable
homes Of their own, many of whom
suffered from floss Of crop and other
evils because OF inundation thus year.