The Opelousas courier., 1904-01-16
A GREAT SPEECH.
Mastery Address Delivered by Judge John Clegg Of New
Orleans, Before the Third Ward J%astremski Club
of That City Enunciating the
Issues Of the Day.

mary election. 1hey Would prefer C(
see the political affairs in the old rut
They would prefer to have the polit,
cal business Of Louisiana attended t.
in two lawyers Offices in this city
free from the vexatious control by
the people most concerned.
"Slate-makers and machine politi.
clans have the same horror of a pri.
mary election that the horse-thief has
Of the vigilance committee. The jus,
tice that is administered may be swift
and rude and not according to rule:
but it is generally effective.
$50 I say that in this campaign
only good can come of the discussions
and Of the differences that have arts
en-. The educative value Of such a
campaign is enormous, but the best of
i is that it brings home to each indi-
vidual voter the knowledge and feel
ing that he is a part and parcel Of his
government, that his individual wish
can be expressed, that the individual
himself may have some part in the
governing Of his country.
lit ought to be possible, and it is
possible that the campaign should be
conducted so as to afford the best
fruit.
Gin a republic respecting govern
mental affairs the appeal ought to be
made to the individual voter, and
ought to be so made that in determ-
ing his course only the highest mo-
tives should enter.
"Among men who think and act for
themselves there must be differences
of opinion. Discussion must arise. 1t
is right and wholesome that it should.
1t is well that they should get excited
if they feel strongly.
Gin a democracy where there is
no discussion or division of opinion
among the individuals its govern
ment is Fastening to decay. Such dis
cussions are most effective for good
when carried on without rancor or
bitterness. It is with this idea and
under this spirit that / propose to say
what little I have to say tonight.
"Some Of the partisans Of Judge
Blanchard have ~indiscreetly written
and said that there are no issues in
this campaign and that there was SIM
ply involved a choice between two
men.
"For my part I would be content
to rest the decision on the choice of
men, for as Renan puts the idea, hui
man affairs r not always a mere
play Of distractions and oftentimes in
them men are more than doctrines.
"In the candidates we support are
those virtues which made
influence the saving grace
Of the nation and in the possibility Of
their return to power lies the hope
Of the democracy and therefore a
safe solution of governmental prob
lens. Gen. Jastremski never lodged
any issue or betrayed an interest.
Without vain boasting he can in
vite scrutiny Of his public service in
the years of which there turks no
cloakroom incident. No act of his
in public service or private life has
brought gain to corporations and ruin
and want to the poor and weak. No
ream Of paper or hours Of speech
making are needed to explain away
what he has done or said. He makes
mistakes, but he does not deceive 0
q Just hope.
HE may not have the graces a
dancing master can teach, but as was
said of another: He is honest-he
the truth-he faces his enemy
and fights him If necessary; he is
studiously kind-always courteous;
he scorns a demagogue, but loves his
Judge Blanchard in one of his
speeches has suggested that he ought
to be elected because he thinks he
can represent Louisiana at the st.
Louis Exposition better than Gen. JAS
tremski. The governor, as governor,
can have little or no business at st.
but when the General goes
there next year as governor, all who
see or meet him will have no doubt
they are looking upon.a gentleman.
Blanchard and the band-wagon
present an enhancing issue. When,
after the trumpeting and shouting,
th6 band-wagon rolled out on the po-
avenue, no float in a Mardi Gras
was ever half so gorgeous.
But it 81 all spoiled now A few show
ers in the form of news from Caddo
and Onaehita and st. Landry and Cal
haRsbed of the tiRsel and
and we can sSthe same old
paper mache giants and tigers-the
same old red fire the same Old ma
ehinery. There are a few new faces
noted IN the front seats Of the wagon,
and these must find themselves
strangely uncomfortable-but they
will not handle the ribbons. Parker
and Fenner and Spencer and men
Of that character on the wagon with
the bosses are not accustomed to be-
ing led-they are usually leaders, but
this time they will be only allowed to
beat the drum or play the fife, OF
more likely, just to beat time-they
are Just i part Of the show-they are