The Progress., 1893-08-26
FROM REPRESENTATIVE B9&TEER.

j
FROM REPRESENTATIVE B0ATEER.
'Ie >ay> iic ..a~ Zen y .sr ..-:,od In
Reference to ai> speech S",ohez
. WAsHINGToN, d. G.. August. 10,
lN93.-E5itor of The PROaRESs: | no.
+ tee in yoJr edition of the l-th severe
criticism OF the remarks made by me
before the Natchez convention held on
/ the Sd inst. If | had used the language
attributed to me- | wOu!d be
/ justly censTable. but the fact is
that the sentence which You find
/ fault was directed solely at
couple of sclf-constiuted guardians of
the interests, having no interest in the
question. who had. in addition to at
/ tacking the honesty of the Mississippi
! River Commission and members of Con-
gress who supported their plans, per-
sisted in making fragrant misrcpresen-
tations in regard to the great public
work undertaken, which We're calcu-
lated to create discord and distrust,
when harmony and united action were
Of the highest Importance. The con-
vention fully understood me as refer
ing solely to outside interference.
/ l did not speak from notes, and cam
not therefore, pretend to give the exact
language used. but the above was what
| intended to say, and think / did say.
In regard to the all-ievee system /
have only to say that having given the
subject the best consideration and in
vestigation of which | am capable l
have been driven to the conclusion that
lateral outlets to the Mississippi river
will prove disastrous.
This conclusion was not hastily form
ed, nor was | welded, or even biased to
any system or theory, but was the re-
suit Of close and long continued inves-
tigation.
Now, | don't pretend to infallibility,
and hence may be wrong, but as pub
lie servent who must act on the ques-
ton. it is my duty to avow my opinions
so that if my constituents disagree with
me they can replace me with some one
who reflects their views.
G. J. BOATNER.
1t is with pleasure that we publish
this from Mr.. Boatner. The extract
referred to by him, was taken by The
PROGRESS from an editorial in the
New Orleans States of August 3, and
as it was not used by us until more
than week after it appeared in that
paper, during which time it was net
contradicted by Mr.. Boatner we nat
urally took it for granted that it was
correct and he used the language to
the convention while addressing the
assembly.
We are very muchly gratifed to
learn that we were not mistaken ia
Mr.. Boatner's disposition, for we have
always believed bim to be too big
man to be egotistic, though always
having an opinion of his own. And
while we disagree with him on this
levee question, think that the follow
lag of the all-levee theory is but
an ignis fatuous, still we
admire his candor in openly express
ing himself as bold advocate OF the
plan of all levees, as he sees il: for
then, as he says, his people will know
his views and can act accordingly at
the next election.
We do not live in Mr.. Boatner's
but we hope he will modify
his views on this question soon, as
we would like to have him succeedm
himself ia Congress, because he is a
able representative and will refect
credit on the intelligence Of Louis
lana by his being sent to Congress.
And besides he has so nobly stood
with the people and the Democratic
platform on the silver question. The
masses should long remember Boat
ner and Blanchard for nobly with
standing the seductive influence of