St. Landry clarion. (Opelousas, La.) 1890-1921, 1912-11-02

answer for a few cases of ignor
ant voting, but not for the ma
jority of cases. In the course OF
his (the writer's) life, he ha'
read much, observed much, sa'
and listened at the feet Of wise
Solons, stepped in the theory anc
practice of law and government
and from all these sources has
found the true explanation to lie
in this: There are a certain class
of property holders who openly
prevent the lawful course of gov.
eminent and freedom by telling
their tenants to either vote at
their dictation or else look for
another home next year. And,
be it said to the unutterable
shame and degradation of this
class, their nefarisus threats
hardly fail to produce results.
Should, it must be asked, a man
be censured for desiring to nour-
ish and shelter his loving wife
and helpless, innocent children?
God forbid! No, a man should
not be condemned or reproached
for loving his family and desir-
ing to see them survive in the
struggle for existance, b ut he
should be censured, branded with
the brand Of shame, who does
not say to that person who, will
fully and deliberately, takes an
unfair advantage and seeks to
rob him Of his symbol of liberty
the ballot: You may deprive
Of a home that is yours; but
you cannot, and will not, steal
from me my vote-that is mine"
. man is not to be followed by
the stigma of shame because he
is not abundantly endorsed with
the riches of this world, which
e~ndoWment, in many cases, is
the best desirable proof of crime
and theft; because he has never
had a chance to drink of the
great life-giving water called ed
lcation, and let a man be ever so
ever so poverty strick-
en-, he is truly noble who will
scorn that despicable and loath-
some wretch who aims to rob
aim of his sacred prerogative of
manhood.
An incident was told the writer
is true and which, also,
illustrates the act of a true man;
md, at the same advantage GER
ain tools for politicians are ev-
Try day taking of their brothers
It humble means.
The narrator said that he was at
he polls casting his vote, when
lie noticed two men, property
lolders, walk up to a man a little
emoved + rom the crowd, and
card one of the nrODerty men
to this man: j., you must
ote for w, he is my choice of
candidate, and you must vote
Or him.
I cannot, said the man who
1as living on the land of the
ormer. TT is against my prin-
piles of manhood; / vote as my
onscience dictates"
Put him off your place if he
ares refuse to vote as you say"
,unseled the other property
That will bring him to
But let it be said to the
7erlasting praise of this man
n he was a man in every sense !
I'd application of the word;
i'd to the eternal shame of the /
70 coercers of liberty, the vote :
as not cast for w. I have never /
ct this man, but have many {
mes longed to face him, shake
$ manly hand, horny though it 3
lght be from honest toll, and t
Il him that with a few more I
oh men, our country would be G
e I true home Of liberty and man Q
cd. Cases like this are re- t
eshing, would there were more, S
t alas! Men of this type arelC
) feWthe exception and not the
When men, unanimously,
act as this man acted, when
obers, who possess property \
d who seek to croWd their help
S felloWmen out of all that is
st and sweetest in life man n
ID and liberty are made to
ar stripes for the rest of their
,ural life, then, and not until
n, the writer feels will this A
full problem be solved.