The Opelousas courier., 1897-07-17
Charles M. Thompson.

, IN Pine Prairie, in this parish, on tn
24th day of July. 1854, and was in con
, sequence, aged 43 years, IL months an
IA days at the time of his death, whic
t occurred Thursday evening, the Sth ins
When IA mere boy his parents move,
to Opei0nsas, and it was here tina
Little Charlie thus named to distin
guisi him from his uncle Charl
. Thompson, father of Mayor Thompson
spent the remainder Of his brief htiI
; exciting aud busy life.
From his earliest hnyhooh he had t.
rely upon himself. With no wealth,
connections. with All aged, helpless fa
thtr, an Invalid mother, thee youn!
sisters and brother dependent upnf
him for support, he began to fight Ih,
battle Of life.
Without education otIer than il littt.
schooling, his natural good sense. to.
gcther with his unsurpassed executive
ability, permitted him rapidly to forge
to the front from IL hack driver to Do
sltlons of honor and tiust oh
tanning leadership of one Of lie fac
tinus dividing our people for years
past. Reat the positions he filled, and
il will he observed he vas almost con
tinuously ia ottice-to hold which ht
had To fight his way and compete with
men Of acknowledged popularity and
INTEL gence, and as an illustration, wit
nesa his races for the office of Sheriff of
this parish in 1878 and 1879. against the
then Z. Z. DuSon who had been holding
office since 1874, and performing deeds
OF valor as an executive officer without
parallei,-wlth the support of men of
prevailing influences at the time, such
as State Senators w. A. Robertson and
Henry l.. Garland, Tax Collector
a ,t,,l 4 Nnn "A
Huhspeth, District Attorney Perrodin in
and Clerk OF the Court James O. Cha
chere, reinforced by Derncratic noul-
nation-Charlle Thompson feared not to
euter the lists and break lances with
his opponent, although but about "a
years Ut age and II mere boy in appear
ance. While he was defeated the first
| time, he did not hesitate on the follow
ing campaign of 1879 to again become a
candidate, and no man familiar with
| the history of the times, but knows that
he was elected over his opponent by IL
majority of some Sc votes.
The smallness Of the majority pro-
vOked a contest in the courts which be-
came Il cause cetebre, the result of which
was DusOn was awarded the Office, al
| tho Thompson was really elected Du-
son possessed the good fortune of being
the Democratic nominee, whilst IhOmp-
son, running as ali Independent was
being supported 10y Tom Anderson,
Elbert CAN'T, Louis Desmarais and the
balance OF the Republican leaders in this
parish, when 10 say the least, Repnbi-
caDlsm WIS on the wane, and the De-
mOcracy was Engaged III upInoting it
regard!e.s of whom WIS huit-Thotup-
son was ,tcrlticeh and denied the tight
to hold tse Office OF Sheriff of this great
& rn yah t.. Ia NJ f,-t Il
when 25 years OF age1/
WltMfthe eStinctiti,, of Republican
rule III I puisiana, atS. Cleveland's cleo
ton in 1SoI--ha, 'r.ilsei we'd his only way to
political success lay in becoming Il
Democrat. He joined the party, and at
the inst election thereafter was its nom
inee tor the Office of Clerk of Court, to
which he was elected. Ia 1892 be ran
as an Independent Democrat for the
same Office and was the only man on his
ticket who succeeded in being elected,
defeating his opponent, Robert Cha
chere, the Democratic nominee. With
his accession to parish Office in 1888, he
became the leader of his faction. He
was admirably qualified for the posi-
ton. He played politics as a man
would play chess. He watched every
move upon the political chess board,
and was quick to take advantage Of Il
mlSpiay, seldom leaving an opening for !
his opponent. His greatest quality was |
In winning men tn his side, whom he |
absolutely controlled. No man under
his influence but that felt absolutely
safe i'll carrying out his wishes. He
magnetlzad them to his way of think
ing, when they would follow him, as
sured that victory would crown their
efforts. Another quality was his strategic
rrhn flnr IL
lie would secure victory, when to his
opponents his defeat seemed Inevitable
The writer remembers two notable in
stances of this kind: the first was in
November, 1892, when his following,
after having suffered Waterloo in the
April election, defeated his opponents
in the election for a Parish Committee,
they secured the party orgau-
ization for four years. The next time
was in 1894, when, having suffered de-
feat in the Barousse Fontenot election
IN March. they swept the Parish in Sep
tember for Robertson against S,Oue.
The writer frequently sat in council
with him and admired his craft and
cunning, and above all, his wonderful
discretion. There We're two things he
could do to perfection; one was work
)ut his plans in secret. and disclose on
y as much as was Necessary to attain
his point, and the other select trust
worthy iieuteDants to carry them out.
His motto was when you have any
hing to do, make up your mind to GO
t, aud then 90 and do it," This was
II u measure the secret of his success.
He had succeeded as Il farmer as well :
Is in politics. The reason OF 1t, was his
native Intelligence. His was a great
With no education, with no
wealthy surroundings, with no friend
ave his indomitabie will, brilliant I
mind and and sterling qualities, he had
t the age of foriyt three stamped his
IMPRESS upon the people of his native
parish not to be effaced during many IA
lay.
His devotion tn his mother, sisters and
brother during the SO years of his un- +
married life, was the crowning glory of
lis life.
1t is openly asserted that more de- i
'oted son and brother never lived. 1t a
night equally be stated that in his 9
|eath his family lose kind aud
fectionate husband and devoted !
ather. To them his loss is irretrev-
bic. May He who tempess the wind to
he shOrn lamb, shower upon them His
blessings in this hour of grief
A FRIEND.
NoTICE.-Our town subscribers who |
ave heretofore been getting the
,oURIER by carrier are notified that
hey will receive the paper hereafter
Trough the Opeiousas postotfice. 9