The weekly messenger. [volume] (St. Martinsville [i.e. St. Martinville] La.) 1886-1948, 1894-10-13
IT'S NOT what we say but what
Hoods Sarsaparilladoe thattellsthe
story of its merit. When in need of med
icipe remember HOODS CURES
Sugar Politics in Louisiana.
,JNO. Z. CALDWELL

Self preservation is the 6rst law OF ma
ture, and bowling to the majesty of this
prineval law many Of the sugar plan
ters of Louisiana. in fact most OF them.
whether wisely or unwisely we do not
here say. have broken the political party
ties under which they have lived for
generation and have gone over to the
oppos .ns political party. They have for
saken that political party which by its
will as expressed in law and by its in
tent as expressed in the declarations OF
its leaders, is bent upon such legislation
as brings now will continue to bring |
ruin to Louisiana. They have gone over
to that political party that has not by
its will as expressed in any law. any
does not intend. as expressed In the De.
claration of its leaders, to enact and
laws destructive to the sugar interests
Of Louisiana.
Could there be anything more natural?
Is it not in the nature of things that the
sugar planters OF Louisiana should take
Just such action? There are doubtless
many who would have preferred to have
had this sugar battle fought out within
their old party lines. they feeling that
the political situation Of Louisiana was
\ complicated one and that it would be
unwise to disintegrate those forces that
had by their united efforts brought the
State out of that political chaos that ex-
listed twenty years ago. These cOnserva-
tive men were overshadowed by the ma
jority. and the result was the general
revolt that we are now all familiar with.
The leading Democrats Of the State ia
attacking or censuring these revolving
sugar planters. avail of 80 much sophisti-
ciai reasoning, Of such disingenuousness
or Of such blunt denial OF their rights,
that they are widening the chasm and
making less and less possible that racOIl-
citation and that cooperation among
the white men Of Louisiana that every
conservative man should hope for
There il an attempt making to belittle
the movement, to indicate that a few
sugar planters ouly are interested.
This is al evidence of ignorance or
insincerity. Ask the presidents of the
banks. Of the insurance companies. OF
the railroad companies, of the steamboat
companies whence comes the chief trade
Of New Orleans, on which they chiefly
subsist and from which directly and i'll
directly the lawyers. the doctors, the
clergy. the merchants, the mechanics
the clerks and the iaborers OF New Or
leans subsist. and they will tell you FROM
the sugar parishes. Destroy the sugar
industry and you destroy New Orleans
Phenix-liks it may rise FROM the ashes
Of its destruction, as its geographical
q. position will. in the end, make it q
. mighty city any way. But those nov
threatened with destruction are unwill-
!. ing to be wiped off the face of the eartt
y to make way for any subsequent or diff
: ferent development aud they revolt
. Self-perservation is the law that arr
working under. 1t were better t. argu,
the whole matter sincerely and dispas
. sionately.
- Argue, if you please. that while self
= preservation may perhaps lead tho suga
- planters into revolt against the existing
;, order Of things. into revolt against tn
a party that by its legislation destroy
half our capital and reduces half Oh
N people to insolvency; that such revol
- will bring a greater evil. the destruction
Of our civilization and the re-establish
= ment of negro domination. Let thos
>, who attack the sugar planters say thi
10 if they believe 1t. and any way be sir
a cere in what they say. Sophistry, sar
70 casm and inaccurate statements do n
,r good and widen the breach.
a. There are those who bluntly deny thu
70 the sugar industry has any claims wha
~ ever for Legislative. Within the last fe
30 days the chairman Of the executive con
=, mittee Of the Democratic State CeDtr'
10 Committee has said that no was one ,
o. eight delegates from Louisiana who "
- ted for Mr.. Meals revolutionary plank
=, the last National Democratic platform
a one clause of which was:
~ We declare it to be fundamental pr
&c nciple If the Democratic party that u
st Federal government has no constitution