The Lafayette gazette. [volume] (Lafayette, La.) 1893-1921, 1897-08-07
PUBLIC OPINION
Reelected in the Papers Of this
Great State.

The American people would rise up in re-
bcllion against direct taxation for church
support, but what is exemption from taxa
eion but and indirect State support of the
church, . virtual subsidy for its support at
the expense of the general public The
State avoids deficiency in its revenues by
transferring to other property increased
taxation, not by the voluntary action of the
Taxpayer but by the compulsiou of law,
all Of which il out of consonance with our
Republican institutions. The founders of
Gus Republic wisely separated church and
state. But if we are taxed for the support
Of churches, it cannot Justly be said that
church an State are separate. The church
enjoys no immunity from the operations of
the laws of God. They place roofs upon
their buildings to keep out the rain, and put
mp lightning rods to prevent the lightning
from striking them. If God does not vary
His laws for the benefit of the churches,
Why should the State be expected to do SO ?
-Carrollton News, Ind.
Reed of Maine, is to-day on the lips of
u,illions of Americans, because of the fact
he has proven that there yet remains power
oss-weighing dollars. Though man who
lives from a modest salary, his power out
VEGAS AL inc tTuSt3 Oh kAUSIlSSs a u1dH "
Reeds calibre occupying the position he
does in the minds of his followers in the
house of Congress, is greater and more
powerful than all the trusts of the country
combined. All honor to Names great
s,atesman.-Franklin indicator, Rep.
First and foremost of all the matters which
neeA settlement an enduring basis is the
suffrage question. In our oPinoin this is the
predominant issue in Louisiana-the' one
ovesshadowing question before which all
others pale into absolute insign6cance.
Even if the convention did nothing but set
tie the suffrage question in such way as to
insure for all time to come the rule of the
race which God intended should govern, it
would have done noble work.-West Baton
Rouge Sugar Planter, Dem.
A number of papers seem to be under the
suppression that the powers of the conven-
sion will not be limited to ballot reform;
but our confrere, the Thibodaux Sentinel,
whose opinion such matters is worth
more in judicial way than the opinion of
the average editor, says that the convention
can only deal with those questions that the
act of the Legislature names, aud that 1t
will not have unlimited power. There is
practically no opposition to the convention
except that which may be classed as
chronic opposition. 1t is we'll agreed by all
that many reforms judicial, legislative and
otherwise are necessary; but whether the
convention will have right to delve in
such matters is mooted question:, that wise
u,en are differing just now.-t1ouma
Courier. Dem.
The Mckinley law, a robbers measure
and INSCRIPTIONS in its burdens upon the
laboring oclass, as it was, cannot be COM
pared with the present Dngley Jones COM
bination which swept the Senate by vote
Of 90 to 80. However, the country at large
will hail the end with joy. 1t will give the
tariff question chance to settle down ard
let us see what the ''advance agent is 60
ing to do. The Press does not believe this
high protection will only help prove to the
people who voted for it last November, that
they were misled. For four months Mckin-
ley's special session has done nothing but
talk and the adjournment Saturday, thus
cutting off the heavy expense of public
funds, was the best thing it has yet done.-
Lake Charles Press, Dem.
Senator Caffrey. who bolted the Chicago
constitution and now boasts that he and his
fellow goldbugs gave the Presidency to
Mckinley, opposed the Poncy OF the latter
by fighting tooth and toe nail against the
Dingley tariff bill. Aiding in the election
Of partizan president presupposes acceP-
lance of his policy. McEuery supported
Bryan, was elected by the Democrats of the
legislature to the Senate, and then out
heroded Republicans in support of Repub-
lican measure. Which of these Senators
is Democrat and how7-Baton Rouge
Truth, Dem.
McEnery voting with the Republican
party on the tariff bill and McEnery travel
ing home with Curley Duson is surely a
startling exemplihcation of the :'eternal fit
ness Of gs."-Baton Rouge Truth, Dem.
Mr.. ID. N. Thompson, as editor of the
Catahoula News, writes in a vigorous and
graceful style and his editorials on leading