The Lafayette gazette. [volume] (Lafayette, La.) 1893-1921, 1899-12-16
BE MORE GENEROUS.

Independent Observer, although
only few weeks old, betrays symp-
toms of a very bad temper tor enc
SO young in age. In its last issue i,
makes a very ungracious fling al
this town which seems to have un-
Willingly incurred the displeasure OF
our usually courteous and fair
minded friend. We plead guilty to
the charge of having solicited the
support of the good people of the
adjoining parishes in our laudable
efforts to- secure the Industrial
School, but deny absolutely the
accusation Of having circulated dis
paraging reports about our worthy
competitor. We are not built that
way. The people of Lafayette have
gone about this Business in an hon
orable way and they have employed
none but legitimate methods to Sc
cure the coveted prize.
The Independent Observer sheer
ingly refers to our politics and Lol-
ticians. This parish is thoroughly
Democratic and it could not expect
its politics to suit the editor of the
Independent Observer whose hete-
noire is the present Democratic
administration. Lafayette pleads
guilty to the charge of having re-
fused to join iberia parish tour
years ago in movement to place
the destinies of this State into the
hands of the incompetent old man
who was nominated by the Repub-
stands today where 1t stood then and
it Will hardly change even to please
our estimable New Iberia confrere
The Independent Observer sings
the praises of New Iberia and takes
up quarter of column of its valu-
able space to tell the outside world
the wonderful things to be found in
that town. 1t boasts of literary !
societies, debating clubs, Chautau-
qua circles, round table confer
ences, night schools and other evi
dences of progress. The Gazette
had occasion before this to compli-
ment New Iberia upon the public
spirit and progressiveness Of its
people. We cheerfully accord to
New Iberia all the credit i, de
serves. 1t is splendid young city
With bright future and we ardently
nope that 1t will continue to forge
head as it has done in the past.
But after saying many f1attering
Kings about New Iberia, the indie
PENDENT Observer proceeds as fol
ows:
Now what has Lafayette? Boundless
raries; untrodden interminable avenues for
K wagons; breezy encounters of political
crobats; centrality Of abandoned loCa-
on; cheap lanes and mellow well water
hey expatiate on the accessibilities of the
arIsh and town, Save during quarantines)
ut all these delectable qualities don't pro-
uce success. We claim to have all prepara-
ons ready to welcome the new accession of ,
lat educational institution.
We are loath to believe that the
lines were written by the
ditor of paper published in the
lidst of a community which boasts
literary societies, debating clubs,
,e best schools in the State, and t
Their salutary influences. We {
ould be inclined to forgive the /
ritter if be lived in the ..boun,tless i
rairies" or by what is grotesquely +
rmed 'Sinterminable avenues for OK /
agons," but something better should t
nanate from the great centre of r
llture, education and art. If our f
teemed, but misguided contem- n
'rary would have the people be S
Eve that his town is the home of c
ose wholesome educational inf1u 1
ces which broaden the mind, he 81
ould endeavor TO deal in more t
irness, and if he wishes to create O
e Impression abroad that ssiAe in a
vf0Na/ eiiiSeu IF Neav Iberia is al
,rzons to Promofe intellectual ee dl
nsioH" he will have to be more tn
nerot!s in his criticisms Such es
erie attempts at sarcasm and
provoked attack upon com d
unity show the neeh rather than til
: desire of 'intelectuai expan- N
m" &C
Lafayette claims to be the best TO