The weekly Iberian. (New Iberia, La.) 1894-1946, 1901-01-05
The State Farm.
Communicated

communicated.
Mr.. Editor.-In expressing my
views of the much talked of Penal
Colony, (Hope Plantation,) permit
ME to explain that have no intep-
ton of autagonizlng the gentlemen
of the parish journals who have ex-
pressed different views from those
held by myself-men for whom l
entertain the greatest respect and
warmest friendship and my only ex-
cnse for attacking their published
statements is that l consider them
mistaken and IN urious to the
welfare of Iberia parish and Its pec-
pie. A few days ago | observed the
statement, through the papers. that
Hope had been sold to the State to
, | be used az convict farm. Then
, began fusillade of complaints,
pes.imisuc III character, dismal
forbodlngs, unearthIy croak'ngs,
heartrendlng prophecies of lberia's
J desola,ion-.all because the State
: had purchased a plantation on the
j, Teche and proposed to operate 1t by
o convict labor.
4 Oae gentleman OF the press says
Jeanerette is doomed, Or words
to tina, effect. Another quotes
% about learning to pity, then
}, embrace doesn't say what he pro-
:. poses to embrace. One says nc
,tlf-respect,ng emigrant would stop
in this community--vlrtuallY
insulting any prospective imm''
grant. Another says, "The view Of
armed guards or the sight of men II
stripes, would cause crime tt
become more prevalent IN this com
munity." Still another says that /
VI will decrease the value of land II
OF this vicinity and that New lberl'
d will become the dumping ground o
n. the families Of the cOnvicts
anxious to assist IN their escape
aud that We will be harrassed an
Numbered by those who hav
- escaped. Take note-all thes
'rt forbodlngs were published after tn
he da mage was done, if there was any
wv (Which we very much doubO an
no ,uld serve no purpose whateve
=, cave to frighten the timid, discred
or parish and keep immigratiO
away. Now, Mr.. E iltor, feel
Ill duty to endeavor to tighten Il
ri gloom cast over our parocbl
IF har,zon, not 80 much by u
purchase of Hope as by the croa
ings orr i'll omened journalist
b birds. In order to accomplish tn
se feat, it will he my duty to comb
his the above statements. The only o.
Mr.. with which | agree is that Ho
the has been sold to the State TO
rio worked by convicts. So pardon Ii
!. If | dispute the above statemeE
by item, and give my reason +
oes the action.
e'a Permit me to sag til
10 Jeanerette Is not doomed, neitl
Ma will her growth he stopped to a
aoe great extent. With the energy 8
a has displayed, with her beauty
VI location aud a certainty of troll
licii road, 1t will take more than sh;
ueo bugaboo raised by her excellent
Up mistaken Editor, to blast
afes prospects. Now. we return TO I
lues esteemed Observer, who gives 81
res beautiful quotations. about Learnt
ein to pity, then embrace.
iuai must confess If we could find
i'll Editors bottle that would max,
heh man so obliviOus to all thi
'he earthly as to make tina, quotat
tue about what he is pleased TO cal
'aeo penal colony, We would sea
SC. through the silent watches Of
uight. But now. Mr.. Observer.
Will you think the sight OF brutall
light convict would cause you to pity
lded embrace If 1t would, We VIC
and advise you to keep stricter wa
part on your liver. II it would not, b
with you right TO wrap yourself il
DING mantle of sell. concelt, and lmai
case others are not like unto you n
i'll be to return TO our Jeansrette frle
I; as who makes the startling staten
TO that no self-respectlng immlg1
/ NOT ran16 ston IN thia vlrinifv r.