The weekly messenger. [volume] (St. Martinsville [i.e. St. Martinville] La.) 1886-1948, 1896-07-04
Letters from the People.

III Influencing pubic opinion especially
when accompanied by sound and dispas-
sionate consideration of undisputable
facts makes Of that institution one of
the beacon lights of civilization. 1t is
powerful factor in maintaining the in
tegrity of our public servants and a
guardian to the peace and prosperity of
a country.
On the other hand the press misgui-
ded i'm amassing doubtful information.
and the fallaciOus conclusions which
must necessarily follow such premises.
makes it as powerful in wrong doing as
the well directed press in doing good.
II is the press misguided that | now
assume to criticize. There appeared an
article in the Messenger which though
claiming To be nOnpartisan claimed Mr..
T.. A. Duchamp TO be inconsistent, and
not sincere in his promise to MIR. Jules
Rousseau to vote for him, because MIR.
Duchamp made the point that having
been elected President and being in the
chair he had the right TO vote only in
case of q tie. MIR. Duchamp in taking
this stand claims to have been guided by
the great moral force which precedents
obtain in all deliberative bodies. Dur
ing his two terms of office as president
of the Police Jury Mr. Duchamp has ne
yer voted except in case of tie.
Advised by an article of the Messen-
ger that such point of order would be
raised at that meeting, he obtained ad
vice from the Legal adviser of the PO-
lice Jury, the members of tho Bar in st.
Martinville and New Iberia, and i'm all
instances was advised that he only had
the casting vote.
Now MIR Editor, it appears to me as it
undoubtedly does to any casual observer
that you have advanced very little argu-
ment to prove that the President OF the
police jury had the right to two votes; you
seem to recognize it to be so, simply be-
cause you think so, and, upon that as
sumption you declare that Mr.. Du-
champs intention i'm not voting was to
elect Mr.. Bouriier.
In your article yOu seem to loose sight
Of the Parliamentary aspect of the stu
alton and take it for granted that MIR
Duchamp has been swerved to the pur-
poses of political influences.
For the last % or 80 years Mr.. Du-
champ has been a public servant with
out remuneration. At the last elections,
like those previous. he never figured in
the campaign. And has claimed ale
glance to no faction. To have served
that length of time he must hav4 made
mistakes but TO err is human asd mis-
takes are pardOnable. 1t must seem hard
however upon the public servant to
Withstand the arrows of accusations
wrongly or hastily drawn. when the
dawn of quarter of century is about
to mark the limit Of his services as a pu-
bile servant, always striving with
patriotic zeal for the advancement
of his people. Verify MIR. Editor
the press for good or evil has
equal power and like fire should be used
with caution. lest it destroys the good II
was intended to do.
Criticize the public servant? All his
actions should be open to the public
gaze. But accuse him Of insincerity
only when YOU can do so and adduce tbs
proofs to the accusation!
You quoted the president Of the La
fayette Police Jury as having voted
twice upon question relative to thu
election of treasurer. BY applying tt
that body you will be informed that the
president east only one vote.
trust you will further examine TIL
evidence that has brought you to 81
hasty conclusion and quote in leas
one authority that would give the Pre-
sident of the Police Jury the right t
east two votes upon one question brOugh
before it. CITIZEN.
I'VE shall comply with the request con
tanned in the foregoing in our issue o
next week. We would do so in thi
issue, as the necessary data is at hand
but lack of space compels up to defe
the matter to next week.-EditOr Mes