The Opelousas courier., 1894-05-26
A Contrast.
-.ouroe Bulletin.

-.ouroe Bulletin.
On the opposite sides Of the great riv..
er which is Justly called tho Father OF
Waters, as it approaches the troplc
gulf, there lie two sister common,
wealths, differing but little in size and
population and products. and SOIL ana
climate, though the western sister IS the
fairer Of the two. Mississippi and Lou
isiana, typical states of the old South
ern regime, with an alluylal SOIL BURST
ing with an excess OF fairness mat De-
came, necessarily, the center OF a vast
negro population, presented q precisely
similar problem in the dark days of re-
construction. Their people made the
same fight against negro DOMINATION
with the same result.
The white men of both common
wealths took charge OF public affairs
but there the likeness ends.
What a contrast, what a wonderful
contrast there is to-day between these
two states. g,
They have the same genial u aud
the same blessed breeze, but their po-
litical condition is not the same. Guld-
ed by her patriot sons, men OF trans
ccndent ability, Mississippi made haste
to Danish the turbulent methods that
sprung from the terrible struggle for
white supremacy and laid the founda-
tions of her high civilization on law
and order. And to-day she is reaplng
the harvest Of her wisdom. To-day,
her people are contented and prosper
GUS. Intelligence and worth hold sway
economy, thrift and progress character
ize public and private affairs and ON
GERS feel and confess their responsibility
TO the people.
In the meantime, how fares Louisi
ana? The fairest of all the states, sh'
is the victim Of the worst political con
ditions. Her leaders, unlike those Of
happy Mississippi, have sought to make
the methods of revolution permanent
The narrow, selfish, scheming polltl
clans to whom, God save the mark, Lou
isiana seems the favorite prey, concelv
ed the idea that their tenure OF puDll'
success depended on the continuance o.
lawless methods and for ten years the.
have plagued the people with their per
Icnicious invention to suppress the ballot
Gentlemen of the Legislature, beholt
the contrast! You cannot be deceived
;. The lies that are told in Louisiana wer
told in Mississippi. The false pretense
, are the same. Yet Mississippi has foun'
, it safe and fortunate and profitable t
return to the agis of the law.
+ q is saIe anu nOuOiaUie Ioi NAic
: sissippi is safe and honorable for Lou
!, isiana. #...
Gentlemen, will you hesitate
With each state campaign, under th
present Infamous system, factional wal
T fare has grown fieIcer. Each campaig
' is a sort of civil war and after it
over the feud is not abated, for the de
/ feated justly charge that the other sid
was counted in Is not this a terrlbl
state Of affairs? Is it not a still saddle
!, spectacle to see the entire people of
state begging in vain that their legisla
. tors, their own servants, will restore tn
right of a free election? Surely til
force Of bossism can no further go i
Louisiana. The united sentiment G
!, the people will not brook the insolen
= attempt to stif1e it. If this legislator
!, does not pass a reformed and homes
election law, the next campaign will b
. a revolution from one end of the stat
to the other. There will be bloodshe
and the traitors who stand in the wa
l of ballot reform will be responsible.
4 Gentlemen, choose between the two
Ballot reform or revolution and BLOOD
. shpd