The Opelousas courier., 1900-03-17
The Democratic Mass Meeting,

Monday to near the Democratic
orators who are now making IA
tour of the State. Citizens from
every section of the parish were
in attendance, and leaders of
both the old factions, We'd with
each other in extending courtesies
to the visiting gentlemen and in
making the meeting grand sue
cess.
E. B. Dubuisson, Esq, called
the meeting to order, and after
congratulating the Democracy on
the magnificent outpouring of the
people, he told how the opposing
factions in our parish had come
together and were all now simply
Democrats. AS an evidence of
that fact he appointed r. Lee
Garland, Esq, his late cempeti-
tor, as permanent chairman, who,
in accepting the honor, made an
appropriate speech, and said that
if it be true, as charged by the
opposition, that irregularities ex-
listed in our elections, that there
was enough manhood and ability
within the party ranks to remedy
the evil, so that it was unneces-
sary to form new party to do
so.
In conformity to the programme
of the management. Messrs. B.
H. Pavy and William j. Sandoz
were named as Secretaries, and Il
long list of gentlemen were APP
pointed vice-presidents of the
meeting.
Hon. w. w. Heard, the nomi-
nee for Governor, was the first
speaker. He carefully went over
the questions before the public
mind showed how the States
credit had risen from absolute
bankruptcy until now every ebli-
cation was paid at maturity and
its bonds at a premium how its
public school system had become
the pride Of eur people, and in a
word, how all the States institu-
tions were in a healthy condition.
He referred to the fact that
971s &c Of all the taxes had been
collected and paid into the
treasury to show that the
people we're satisfied with the
system of government and its
management under Democratic
administration, and predicted the
election of the entire State ticket
next month. In answer to a
question by Il gentleman in the
audience, Mr.. Heard stated that
he stood squarely upon the Chi
cago platform, and that that de-
claration was the first in the State
platform.
Senator S. D. McERery was the
next speaker. He congratulated
the Democracy of st. Landry up
on having come together in a pri-
mary, and now presenting a uni
ted front to the enemy. The OPP
position was roundly scored by
the speaker, whom he said had
no other principle than greed for
Office. He met their arguments
of ballot-box stufing and Anti
Festerism, by showing that there
was not leader among them but
who had practiced, or ben
eftted by the very evils they now
complain of-ballet-box stufing,
and that they were crying anti
Fosterism because they had failed
to get what they asked for while
worshiping at that shrine. He
called attention TO the fact that
the election in New Orleans last
November had been held under
the present election law and that
not one word of fraud was uttered
against it. AS to the ''imperial
power Of the present Geyerner,
he showed how he exercised only
the same authority which Witt,
Nichols and himself had
Weded, and that under his Sec
ond tefh be had exercised less,
because under recent laws and
the Constitution of 1898, changed
at his suggestion, the Governor
no longer appointed police jurors
and assessors, etc., but the peo-
pie elected the former and the
! Legislature the latter. His speech
was great, and we regret our in
liability to present it in full to our
readers.
Governor Foster also made an
excellent discourse His argu-
ments were convincing and he
handled the questions Of the
| day in. manner that showed
Thorough familiarity with them.
/ He met the claims of the fusion
lists that they "discussed men not
principles, by comparing the
records of the two sets of candi.
dates how Heard and the Others
1 ca the Democratic ticket had en-
/ tered upon their campaign on Z
/ high plane, whereas Caffery, Sho.
4 lars and the other speakers adj
dresses were full of hate ane
/ gangrene. He said that he die
not claim To he incaDable of max.