The Opelousas courier., 1896-03-28
The St. Landry Case.
Thibodaux Sentinel.

Thibodaux Sentinel.
| Opelousas, the parish seat of St. Lam
dry, was the scene of bloodshed aud
threatened riot last Saturday night and
throughout Sunday. Monday and Tues
dav the whole parish is reported to have
been practically under arms, and an ex-
nlosion was imminent at any moment.
Wise counsels prevailed in the end and
greater bloodshed was avertcd for the
time being at least, and, it is to be hoped,
for good.
Sensational reports were sent out at
hrst and 1t was made to appear that
regulators were at the bottom of it, but
later news put a very different phase on
the matter and it now seems as if the
| whole trouble was due to the overzeal-
BUSINESS, not to call it by a harsher name,
of some special officers, sworn in to pre-
serve the peace.
No matter who is to blame immedi-
ately for the blood that was shed in
Opelousas last Saturday night, one thing
is certain, the immediate cause of it is
the unfortunate division of the people
of st. Landry politically, and the at
tempt OF one division of the whites to
secure the negro vote while the other
strenuously opposes it. One faction, the
minority, wants the negroes to register
and vote, becouse its leaders have COM
bined with the negro leaders. and the
other faction, composed of the majority
of the whites of st. Landry, are equally
determined that white men shall rule
without the interference of the negroes.
Such was the condition of things when
Candidate Pharr counselled his adher-
ents in st. Landry to go armed to the
polls and the negroes to make them
selves scarce when the whites began
shooting it out among Themselves.
Whether Mr.. Pharr intended such a
result or not, it has occurred sooner than
it was anticipated, and it is the logical
consequence of his doctrine of violence
It ils,aIso, as we have repeatedly pro-
ciaitied it. the natural fruit of divs-
ion On political lines Of the white people
of the State. The moment the negroes
become the balance of power between
the whites, demagogues will spur their
ambition aud rouse their passions and
prejudices, and at once hell breaks loose,
for there are and there will always be
State who will never submit to negro
dictatiOn, much less to negro rule
In making this mention. the Sentinel
intends not to appeal to the nas,ions and
prejudices of any of its readers, but
simply to note the fact OF the existence
Of condition OF society that is paIpable
to all thoughtful men, and that cannot
be easily set aside, and to arrest the at
tention of all thoughtful and patriotic
white men, of whatever political party
they may be, that they may seriously
ponder over the danger which encom-
passes US, and evolve some means to
avertit. All christian and patriotic men
should come together and avert, if pos
sibIc, reign of turmoil, strife and
bloodshed. and ndunscrupulousp politicians
who seek to inaugurate it that they may
ride into Office should be relegated to
the rear. Let no one forget that this is
white mans county and all patriotic
white men, OF whatever political party
they may be, are equally interested in
maintaining white mans government.
Intelligent colored men begin to under
stand this and they know that it is to
the best interests of their race that it
should be so. Let US treat the negro
with justice, fairness and humanity, but
let him know that it is1best for him as
it is best for the wholecommuDity that
the white man should Hule, by the piH of
the majority Of the auhites.