The Opelousas courier. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1852-1910, 1896-03-14
General Notes.

The Mississippi legislature has ap-
propriated $1,O00,00O for the purpose of
building new capitol.
In few more years North Louisiana
will be net work of railroads with
Shreveport as the central point.
During the last fiscal year the total
pensions paid aggregated $14O,000,O0O
and $9.500,O00 of this was dsbursed in
the south
The proposed construction of eight
battle ships and fifteen torpedo boats,
involving an appropriation of $40,000,-
600 shows that Congiess means bus-
ness.
There volution in Nicaragua is now
in full blast. The first victory for
Prest. Zelaya was scored by the gov
ernment forces capturing tho city of
Magyar ote by storm.
1t is said that American railroads own
a million freight cars. They would
form a line from New York to San Fran
cisco. Fifteen thousand miles per an
mum is the record for an ordinary box
car to travel.
To cross the Atlantic in three days,
with an ocean liner and to develop a
speed of thirty-tive knots an hour in a
naval cruiser, is what Richard B. Pain
tor proposes to do with vessel of his
design, using electricity as power.
Let the intelligent gentlemen who
made themselves parties to nominating
John Pbarr now resign, "gO home" and
hang their heads in shame. Louisiana
demands neither political fool, nor a
political incendiary for Governor.-St.
Mary Banner.
The Italian forces iE Abyssinia met
another decisive defeat at the hands of
Menelik's warriors, u no are we'll armed
with all the modern implements of
war. Sixty thousand Shoans opposed
Gen. Baratieri's soldiers. Three thou
sand Italians were killed in the battle,
and their general is said to have suicid-
ed itAdespair.
The ignorant, venal and purcbasable
element must either be eliminated from
the elective franchise, by the approval
of the suffrage amendment or the State
must he subject to the expense of call
ing a constitutional convention for this
purpose, at which time there will be 70
election Of officers and no other issue to
confuse the minds of the voters.
IudIls III MS Nc" OIIeduS CuHIttE,
said that he was opposed to the outrage
equal rights for all, especial. ..1e mig
ger" with whom he had been raised
and knew as we'll as anyone, and
that she had no bad traits except
what he bad learned from the white
people" Old Whiskers and his senti-
ments in the gubernatorial chair would
indeed he a beautiful chrome to be-
hold!
bans belligerent rights, but it is doubt
that name means. The popular opinion
seems to be that the recognition of the
beligerency of il struggling nation is
almost equal to an alliance. The
Times Democrat says the generally ac-
cepted description Of tie conditions
justifyiDg the accordance of beliigerent
rights recognize "the existence OF the
insurgents sufficient 10 character, pop
ulatiOn and resources to constitute it, it
left to itself, State among the ma
tions, reasonably capable of discharg-
ing the duties of State" land at sea
employment by the insurgents of COM
misioned cruisers arl the exercise by
the parent government of the rights Of
blockade or lnSurSts1t ports against
neutral commerce ana of stopping and
searching neutral vessels at sea-"
II the suffrage amendment is defeated
it will be done through the hostility to
the measure of Democratic politicians,
who will not scruple to pander to the
illiterate vote at the expense of their
party. Unles there is change for the
better in the politics of this State dur
ing the next few years the white peo-
pie will become irrevocably divided in
every parish, and the negro vote will
become more than ever the bono of con-
teDtion. Principles will be lost sight Of
in the scramble for Office; the burning
issue will be the illiterate vote. The
Offices will not be we'll filled, except
in rare instances, for men who will get
Office by the methods that will then
obtain cannot be relied upon to DO their
duty fearlessly sud honestly. The
adoption Of the amendment would be
worth more to the State than the cleo
ton of the nominees of the party to the
State offices.-Mansfeld Demo era t.
Journal.