The Opelousas courier., 1892-10-29
Somewhat Personal.
It. Landry Democrat.

We desire to bring to the attention OF
the people of the parish of St. Landry
matter which, although somewhat per
sonal to ourself and the publisher of the
Courier, is also one in which all the in
telligent people of the parish are deeply
interested. They all remember that
last year the Clarion, so-called news
paper published here under the auspices
of stock company, offered to do the
town and parish printing gratis and was
awarded the contracts. This action
showed that the managers OF the con-
Germ were not actuated by any desire to
make money for the stockholders, but
that determination to iDjure US in our
business was their controlling motive.
This occurred during heated political
campaign, when we opposed the aspira
tions for Office of the leading spirits of
the concern, and that fact may be held
to account in large measure for this
vindictive and unprofessional action.
When the campaign closed, however,
our fight against these men was ended
and our files will be scanned in vain for
any attack upon them, although the pa
per, which was under their absolute
control, still continued to do for moth
ing the work which, all over the State,
yields very large portion of the reve
nues of every legitimate country news
paper.
Our reluctance to keep up or renew
the discussion of the unprOfesSional
business methods of these managers, or
TO criticise any of their actions, even
though great inroads were being made
in our legitimate business, not only has
not disarmed or deprived our persecu
tors of any of their venom, but it seems
to have emboldened them to such an
extent that at the meeting OF the Police
Jury held here last week q deliberate
ottemnt was made to induce that body
to forbid it's clerk to furnish us with the
minutes of it's proceedings for gratuit0us
publication This attempt to force the
people of st. Landry to read the Cla-
rion, nolens UOtenS, or to wait until one
week after it chose to publish the pro-
ceedings of the Police Jury before they
could read them in any other paper, was
made by T..S. Fontenot, the sheriff of
this parish, who is understood to be the
principal stockholder in the concern,
but who is neither the president of its
board of directors nor it's general man
ager, and who, in his eagerness to furth-
er persecute and iDjure US, unceremo-
niously usurped the functions OF these
officials. The Jury recognized this fact,
for his petition was signed as lone of
the stockholders and member of the
board of directors" and they very
properly rebuked his presumption by
LAYING his petition on the table, only two
members out of body selected mainly
through his instrumentality voting TO
consider the monstrous proposition at
ALL This significant action, we may
add en- PEASANT, confirms US in our belief
that the members OF that body have too
much manhood to yield their convic-
70 hntr he
at the dictation of anybody; and the
people of ST. Landry, irrespective of
faction, will be exceedingly gratItied to
possess this consoling assurance.
Besides reciting other facts in con-
nection with which Mr.. L. s. FOntenot
figures in no enviable light, we might
give detailed expose OF another episode
connected with the publication of the
Juig's proceedings, in which that high
ly inflated individual had the imperti
nence and the temerity to characterize
!. ip auritiflg the action OF the President OF
the Police Jury as "a very irregular
way of doing business" simply because
that official demanded and insisted that
the DEMOCRAT and Courier be allowed
TO COPY the proceedings OF the Septem
ber meeting after they had been set up
in the Clarion office, the Clerk having
failed, on account of the death of his
brother, to make out copy for US, as
he had kindly been in the habit OF do
ing. But we have already written
enough as prelude to what it was our
main purpose to say in adverting to this
} subject. Leaving aside for the moment
|, the gross outrage which this man has
attempted upon the whole body of the
people, we desire to call the attention
Of the Clarion's stockholders, many of
whom feel kindly towards US, to the
fact-now patent to the dullest under
standing-that this man, who seems to
have absolute control OF the Clarion, is
nsing the means they have invested in
that concern, not for the purpose OF
r making money for it, but in order solely
to deprive us of the means OF earning a
, livelihood in the calling We have fol-
: lowed all our lives. The idea that this
course is manifestly unfair and coward
Iy has probably never suggested itself
to him; at any rate. it does not appear
/ to have disturbed his conscience OF
sweryed him in the least from his pur-
pose We also desire to respectfully
suggest to the leading men of the par
; ish of st. Landry that this may be case
that demands their active interposition
It may be worth their while to pause a
moment and examine into the ques-
J. ElOU WDC6HCk bILy EAC w AfsF0 hpAS q
s free, fearless and independent press OF
o one subseryient to the dictates of any
: man who for time may be clothed
with little brief authority whether
their press shall give expression to the
honest convictions of its conductors up
. on matters of public policy or the fit
G ness of candidates for office, or through
: fear of the destruction Of their business
. cravenly truckle to some would-be die,
tator and "crook the pregnant hinges OF
the knee that thrift might follow fawn-
i ing.n At any rate, we have this to say
: We do not propose to remain qniescent
!. and submit tanely to the destruction Of
: our means of livelihood, particularly
when it is attempted id this cowardly
bushw whacking manner, but we do pro
pose. il this course is persisted in, t.
fe make things as interesting for Mr.. Fon
: tenot as we can. We are reluctant t.
!. engage in such contest, for we arr
aware that friends Oh both sides will b.
involved and regrettable results ma.
follow, but we think all fair minded mel
10 will admit that with US f0rbearanc'
/. has ceased to be virtue.o
: The Attakapas Vindicator says:
"This will be a splendid season TO
d planter and laborer. The cane Gro
5, will average 30 per cent above gener
nj cron. while wages are good and la