The Opelousas courier., 1894-07-21
The Result.

On Tuesday, 18th inst. the voter. y,
81 Landry decided to continue the Ii.
n system. The propriety or wisdom
OF 1t Is a question that impresses mems
minas very differently. Of course there
Is with the vendors of whisky a selfsh
principle, with others a moral. and with
many a financial, considered from a so.
cla and governmental standpoint. The
nrst class a hardly be supposed TO he
concerned in the views of the other Two
inese are supposed to look to the GEN
eral welfare. while the vendor finds
perity. p'''
On the part of those who took the
moran n financial view, there was M
kind Of organization. They had nothino
to approach the voters with bnt snch ar.
guments as went to sustain them. The
voting element. to a very great extent
was lmpervlous to arguments based on
moral q financial considerations. We
a,iude OF course to the colored element.
Inc only argument that ever avails with
IT, as a mass, is appetite, preiudice. or
orloe, not reason. To this it ia heed
less: The elimination by legal means
OF the great mass of this unworthy ele.
ment from the intelligent body Of vot-
ers should be the constant aim of eyerv
lover Of his State.
we deprecate the demoralizing ipfu-
ence OF whisky among the colored peo-
PIE q among very many of our white
brethren. No n who has a particle of
regard for either race can be blind to
its damDing influence.
This campaign has served to bring out
many ugly features in our local politics.
AS long as manhood suffrage obtains
ugly features will crop out. Sometimes
one side viii! be the sufferer and some
times the other; but the white people
will atwdys be the principal victims.
On the night preceding the election
we saw a demonstration made in this
town, which we think ill-advised, wrong
and therefore highly &eprehensible. Ma
ny OF gu best citizens had assembled at
the courthouse to hear speeches on the
prohibition side. just after nlghtfail "A
goodly number of small white boys par
panese lanterns in their hands. AS they
marched they shouted "Hurrah for
whisky J" Can any mother or father in
her or his deliberate judgment possibly
approve of thisf If they can, what can
they hope for in the future of these chill |
dren See to what madness people can
be driven or lured by whisky in mo.
ments Of excitement! Why, in the
names OF reason, propriety, morality,
prudence or regard for children, was
this extraordinary demonstration al
to be madef
Again; persons unknown, prompted
by a malicious motive, wen during the
night and INDUCED their strange malice
yards Of Messrs. T. H. Lewis, G.. L. Du-
pie, b. Bloomfield and G.. Mornhinveg,
all of whom were known to be ontspok-
en- advocates OF prohibition. Reason
and decency never prompted such con-
duct. What did it? There can be but
ODe cause of it the damning and infa-
nOus influence of drink.
Per contra at Whiteville, parties IA
prohibition wantonly and cruelty
heat q number of cOlOred voters and
drove them from the polls. At other
points in the parish it is reported that
fraud and intimidation were resorted to
~ the pros. We are quite sure that no
rue friend of temperance had anything
do with these outrages, but sharp
INSCRIPTIONS politicians have seized
he opportunity to get 10 their work un-
Ter the mask of temperance. Our on
and we'll meaning friends of
he temperance side will find that they
:annOt afford to have their cause cham
by such men and promoted by
UGH measures. Their cause is a good
me, but it can't stand the weight of
brutality, intimidation and ballot box
tuffing.
Notwithstanding all, we accept the
esult and will abide it with as much
ontentment as any other true Demo-
rat. Whether this be the end all of the
of prohibition remains to be !