Lower coast gazette., 1909-01-16
SATURDAY JANUARY 18TH 1909.
thrilling with the Truth.

'samuzzed sheet and will continue to be "a true exponent of dem
ocatie principles" and, without fear and without tremor will
bring to light and denounce wrong doing Apart from these va
liant declarations, he indicates that the lack of progress in this
community can only be accounted for by the heavy burdens of tax
alton on the people and the despetc and iron handed rule to which
they are subjected and to the denial of their rights, privileges and
freedoms, He holds that 0urpeople should no longer remain idle and
Submissive and asserts that they have too long "cringed the knee
and should now resent these expressions and ~indigntes and
throw off the yoke which has been placed on their necks, bring
ing the present unbearabe conditions.
To any one familiar with the facts in the case, the statements
made by our contemporary are simply ridiculous. In taking over
the control OF his journal he at once assumes the attitude Of his
predecessor which was to attack, without reason, the leading Or
CARNATIONS and interests of our parish, A tax resisting associa-
ton has been organized under the title Of the Plaquemines Parish
Tax Payers Protective Association, which we shall refer to later on,
and the Police jury. the school system, the levee boards and ind-
vidual officers, have been attacked presumably, because of dissa-
pointed ambitions, the loss of office and the incidental loss of re-
venqe, As we understand it, in the case, Of our contemporary,
there has been no change of the ownership of that journal; there
has been no editorial change in it and probably only a minor
change in the business management. We may err in this, but in
our reading of the statements made in relation thereto we do not
recall any announcement Of any sale, but simply the renouncing
Of control by the proprietor and now of assumption of control by
the present management, which has been practically in control for
q long time past.
ffhhe close following of the previous policy by the present man
agement would indicate the faithful pupil, whether the teachings
in the past were right or wrong. In his recital of the offences that
he now crticses, no'pariculars whatever are given and we are
led to the belief that the editor, perhaps without any intention to
psatc oil uutIutH U II his part, has SO ClaeQ WITH the truth as TO
lead him into absolute misstatements of facts. On the third page
at his issue of Janurry {, referring to the School Board, the Pro-
Feetor speaks OF the meeting OF January 2, as perhaps a Private
affair, when it was a fact that every member of the School
Board YEs there present; the meeting was an open and public sne,
held in accordance with the law and on the date prescribed by the
Jaw. It further states that at the tine Of the meeting THE LOWER
COAST GAZETTE, which was made the official organ of the School
Board, had not yet come out with its first number. This is simply
not true, although perhaps an error that our contemporary might
be led into by his own fears and suspicious, and without any ade-
nuat knou1n1GSn E fho facts ~ n r nurCo MAC r.1Drr, 80.
then printed and the member making the motion to adopt this jour
nal as the official organ Of the Board had a copy Of itin his possess
ion and all the proceedings Of the Board we're in accordance with
fhelaw.
Now, let Us take up our contemporaries Indictment Of existing
conditions in this parish. The editor states that without fear and
WITHOUT tremor he will bring to light and denounce wrong
DOING and as 4 justification indicates that his journal shall con-
nnue 70 be- true exponent Of democratic principles We wonder
the editor Of the Protector knows what democratic ethics
consist in? The corner stone of democracy is that the majority
shall rule and if the editor and his chief lose their official heads,
they ~shouldsbow to the will Of the majority. just as all good dem
pcrats de- They should certainly not display any 'tfear or tremor''
as 50 tospeak, they are already down and out The thing is
done and there is no use in crying over split milk.
Nov, IN regard to the burden of heavy taxation. We believe
that the records will show that there has bean no time in the last
four decades daring which taxation has been less than now, pro-
vided we oln. levee tax. Inregara tothe levee taxes, It is source
of remark among those who are familiar with the levee situation
that the actual cost to each proprietor by levee taxation, direct and
alira;tb is less than one-haf-wh it was when the leyee, were I'M
der riparian control for their maintenance previously to the inau-
guration Of present levee system.
Now. as to the sdespotic and iron hand, It was presumably
laid upon our contemporary or his chief, and not our people, as
he indicates, and not upon the peopleif we may Judge by the unan-
unity with which they have supported the entire administration Of
nlbhc affairs throughout the parish. If the editor of the Protector.
pr his chief has felt the iron hand," it must be because he got in
the way OF the people; that he got in the way Of the majority of
thu pe9D1le He refers to the idleness and submission of the people
ard to their cringing the knee, presumably to the present admins
tratpa Of thu. parish, and indicates that they should resent these
s~nppgessions aud ~indignites', and throw off the yoke" Not al.