The Opelousas courier., 1896-02-22
Parish Matters,

streets that 1t was owing to the excite
ment which prevailed in the community
growing out of politics. We did not
suppose that what excitement there was
should interfere with the administration
OF justice; but, assuming that the rea-
son assigned on the streets was the true
one for this stoppage of the wheels of
government. we would ask: Who is re-
sp0nsibe for this condition?
TO fix the responsibility where it be-
longs, 1t Is necessary to cast a retrospect
tive glance over the not very remote
past.
One year ago last August, a number of
leading Democrats from various sections
of the parish met in Opelousas and de-
ciared, in effect, that the proper policy
for the party to pursue in this parish in
the coming campaign was for all Demo
Gratis to get together and settle their
differences in white primaries; that par
ty lines should be drawn tighter, and
that the degrading and disgusting prac-
tice of begging and buying the votes of
negroes and Republicans, heretofore
frequently engaged in by Democratic
candidates for Office, should be done
away with; that bv that means a quiet,
peaceable campaign would be secured,
no negroes or Republicans would he sent
to the legislature from this parish, and
the offices would all be filled by men
virtue and the intelligence of the COM
mnnity, the white people.
This bold and manly stand, taken
nearly two years before the election,
naturally commended itself to the white
people who were Interested more in
good government and good order than
in the question as to who should fill the
Offices, and many clubs We're soon or
ganized throughout the parish to propa
gate the policy determined upon. After
holding back from this movement for a
time, other Democratic leaders, rec0g-
nizing that tie great mass of the white
people favored white primaries, at a
meeting held at Durio's lake last July,
also decIal ed for this method of nonin
ating the candidates of the Democratic
party.
Time wore on, and peace, quiet aud
good order prevailed everywhere. Not
only were the negroes not stirred up as
they generally are at the approach of
elections, but the white people, resting
in fancied security, delayed the opening
of the campai gn much longer than usual.
On Dec. 1st. however, the Parish Com
nittee, absolutely controlled by the men
who five months before at Durio's lake
were "advocating white primaries and
pIedging themselves to abide the result
thereof" ordered Il contention for the
nomination of the party's candidates;
bnt up to this day have not taken any
steps to hold that convention, being en-
gagged in the meantime in hlckering with
the Republicans and PopuliSts and drag
ging to the, registration Office the. ne
groes, who will not only vote against
the suffrage amendment but against the
ticket nominated at Shreveport - the
ticket upon whose success depends good
government and the continued suprem-
acy OF the white race iu Louisiana.
Exasperated at being thus tricked, de-
ceived and betrayed, the Democrats who
recognize the fact that party success de-
ganization called for the Intervention Of
the supreme authorities of the party.
These promptly dismissed tho unfaith-
full servants and provided for the Sc
lection of others.
Is it surprising that under the circum
stances spirit Of unrest should pervade
the community? Is it not natural that
now that the white people see clearly
the settled purpose Of these men to
make of the negro the arbiters OF the
destiny of the country-the dispensers
of all the offices in the gift of the peo
pte-this disquiet, this evaporation
should at times at least feebly manifest
itself? Or are these men SO simple as to
suppose that the white people would
meekly bow their necks to the negro
yoke and submit with cowarily pnsilla-
nimity to the domination of an inferior
race9 Any simpleton can see who and
what is responsible for the unrest, the
disquiet which pervades the community;
and il the effort ia persisted in to hurl
the black cohorts of Republicanism up
against the white legions massed under
the banner of Democracy, the coDse-
quences will be upon the heads OF the
men who would sacrifice their party as
we'll as the peace of their country to
their uncomfortable lust for Office, while
the final outcome will be the same that
has always attended such conflicts the
negro will go down before the superior
race.
A simple way of escape from this
alarming situation is open. Let every
Democratic candidate submit his name
to the primary to be held on March 21st
and, in the language of the Durio lake
resolutions, let all loyalty "abide the
result thereof" Before a thoroughly
united party the demon of unrest which
is stalking through the land will disap-
pear like the mist before the morning
sun, and the bright sunshine OF peace
and security will battle again every nook
and Granny of our great parish III IFS
effulgent rays.
The talented artists. SigDorina Mores-