The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1897-03-13
A LETTER FROM s. t. JACKSON
FoREsT. La. Marcel 9. 1891.

FOREST, LA, MarcL 3. 1897.
Banper-Democrat:- wish. through
your columns, to return our thanks 10
the good people OF our sister parish,
East Carroll, for the timely donation
by their police jury of $250.00, for the
relief of our destitute drouth sufferers.
which amout we have requested chair
man Millsaps 10 invest in cheap corn
for gratuitous distribution amongst
some. The people % our parish have
and are going through a terrible ''or-
deal" and many are at their wits
ends, with very little, or no hope for
the future-Ioss of stock by disease.
failure of crops and an epidemic of
measles. and la grippe in portions of
our parish make their condition pitta-
BILE and the situation extreme. While
some few, probably one third of our
people are provided for" and indie
dependeat--ablu to go through on
their own hook" and by obtaining
"outside" assistance in the way of
"loans" and credit-a large ma
jority are in "bade way and their
stock actually starving. notwithstand-
ing Presiding Elder Whites contra
diction and opposition to relief meas
urcs, which recent "house to house"
canvass reveals and sa6stantiates. Why,
the Reverend gentleman l venture to
assert. has not condescended to visit
Gan humber home" than ours in the
entire district, and while we "sat him
out" the best we had. it was by no
means sumptuous repast, and for the
most part bought on credit; and yet
he denies that there are five hundred
families in his entire district of eleven
parishes who are destitute and needing
help. Yes, we have that many. and
even more, right here in West Carroll.
and Major NJ. b. Hillyard, reporter
and correspondent of the Times DEM
ocrat, who has just viewed the situa-
ton will inform the public through its
valued columns; and we would respect
fully invite you Mr. Editor and as many
as will, to visit our parish and see for
yourselyes-go into our homes and
talk tace TO face with the many. be-
cause we protest against chairman
Millsaps' indifference to unkind treat
ment to our urgent appeals and rea-
sonable requests; he seeks to treat with
levity and to hold us up 20 the scorn
and ridicule of the world as being
Every modest" and l regret exceed
ingly, and am very sorry to see in your
recent issue of 9th ult. you would
further deride and shape, by question
ing orr yeracity and haunting US from
size aud smallness of population, as
we have only between eight or nine
hundred familes-probably one thous-
and families, all told. No, we don't
"want the EARTH" but il We had it we
certainly would want it white washed
and fenced in.
While we thank your good people
from the bottom of our hearts for their
timely and kind donation in cash,
which will relieve the distress in part,
yet we rebuke and reject the spirit
which prompts some ofyour merchants
and farmers to offer US help and credit
if we will abandon our homes and
move over and become hirelings and
ping out Of the frying
pan into the fire-and take the chance
OF drowning rather than starve. which
would and may have to do. and many
have done the past winter and fall,
aad are continuing to do; yet we dep
recate such course and such fear
full sacrifice and resort, in order to Sc
cure relief and live, How thoughtful
and yet how cruelty kind. Did we
make such conditions perquisite to
your getting relief during the great
food OF 1892 and other ordeals which
you were called to pass through? Nay.
verify! We, as one man sent up our
prayers and petitions for your suffer-
ing ones. and appealed to the Cover
nor. Congress, and the world-yea. to |
Jehovah. for relief. And did you not
get itP And are you not to-day on
your way rejoicIngP
With best wishes for the future, and |
praying Gods blessings upon US all, /
,m very truly.
S. T. JACKSON,
Chair. Cent. Relief Com. for West