St. Landry clarion. (Opelousas, La.) 1890-1921, 1909-09-18
qIIlN ETHNOLOGY"
IS ANSWERED.
continued from second paget

..o. him before American Citizen.
g.od d u~nfettered as "Old Boreas,'
ii bIoWeth where he listeth.
TTnon June the 22nd, 1909 an cleo
In for q special school tax Of three
..iIls On the dollar for twenty years,
4. held in one Of the SO called pro-
...aiven cities Of our State for the
snrDose Of funding said tax into
sonds to be realized upon to build a
modern. sanitary, freproof school
sadine ii which to house the many
m~sortunates that were then being
nned away from the present school
i reason Of the inadequacy Of the
I'm and facilities for teaching them.
JIM If those turned away were go
sryious to acquire an education, that
I'M consented to attend the school
"a half Of the day, allowing the 9TH
!, half for their fellow unfortunates.
WHAT was the result Of this election?
IIn~precedented in American progress
dye history, hundreds, perhaps thou
suds IL little children, whose par
ante, although "Csjans," still had
enough pride to desire that their
children should not suffer, as they
had done, for the want Of an educa-
tiOn, we're denied the means for it's
acquisition.
Defeat? Yes, ignoble, overwhelm-
ing.
By whom? Those who had been
lifted to safety by the tide created
b. the briney sweat Of the "Cajan,"
aid who looking down into the depths
irom whence they had been raised,
refused to lend assistance to those
ShIl ii them.
By whom? By a few designing
politicians and money sharks who
cared make known 0 the world their
igoble connection with the defeat.
By what means? Such only as are
employed by minds perverted and
stsgnated with self interest, to lead
astray, dumfoud and coerce minds
ess strong and cunning than their
own.
There Is one case connected with
ibis election which exemplifes their
modus operandi. 1t is that Of a poor
eCsjane who had three children be-
Ing educated at the public's expense
hi school to which they were BY
right not entitled, by reason of the
fact that the school was one erected
By the citizens Of a one progressive
town, and was outside of this parti-
oular 'Cajan" district. This "Caian"
appears on the assessment roll of the
parish, as being assessed for S14.00,
the total assessed value Of his tax
able property.
Upon the evening Of the day of
election there was a dreadful clatter
# hoofs upon the streets Of the City
AID out Of a cloud Of dust emerged
or 'Gajan," sweatY and begrimed,
BIS horse jaded and only too glad to
. stand without hitching; into the
Voting place he rushed, up to the
commissioners and when asked pour"
o "%contre," he answered 'contre"
WITH such an emphasis as to lead all
Who heard him to suspect that he
must be some large tax payer, who,
having none himself or having those
III
mat be did have SO well pro
Hded TOT, refused to have his less
l0Ftunate brothern's children educat-
y az bis expense. Upon learning
lhat bis total assessment was only
sl4W and that che tax for the full
y years upon the same would amount
y only 80 cents, | was dumfounded
aad, proceeded to explain to him, and
" INN, Why, under these circum-
Aances be had voted against, he hav-
" three children who were receiving
ssaslts OF q public education for
.alCa he paid or would pay only
saF cents q year, and told him that
w eas bis chnace to have the ex-
,sase o. his chiIdren's education sad
vs. upon the backs of those who
u Vazsd rich as the result Of HE
y ~ question he replied, "Meis,
W ssll ne dat my tax be s14 a year
sals = the means, dear author, BY
1alSa the letters of ignorance have
Il forged upon the poor derided