St. Landry clarion. (Opelousas, La.) 1890-1921, 1912-03-23
: THIS IS The DAY OF
DEMOCRATIC OPPOR-
T(|NI7Y. y '--MR.
Lewis.
Chairman of State Democratic
Executive Committee Speaks
Words of Harmony to
that Body.

cred by the Hon. r. j.. JotfriOn G
Avoyelles Parish, and by tn
Hon. Portius Burke, of Iberi
Parish, before the State Demo
cratic nit e, ar
well worthy of b e
ing published in full. Upon pre-
senting the name of Mr.. Thos
H. Lewis, for the office of chair
man of the committee to serv
for the next four years, Mr.
Joffrion said:
Mr.. Secretary:
For the purpose of nominating
one to be Chairman of your bod,
I desire to ask a few minutes O.
your attention and consideration
The principles of Democracy
like other principles, find then
expressions in good deeds.
These principles, though ap
parently abstract and modernl1
born, are concrete, rock-ribbed
and eternal as the hills. They
stand side by side and in com.
pany with the highest and
noblest principles of virtue and
right.
This Assembly of citizens is
the embodiment, the representa-
tion and the concentration for
Louisiana of these great prin-
ciples.
Coming as you do fresh from
the body of the people, a repre-
sentation of their will expressed
at the polls in the primary cleo
ton on January 23rd, you are
gathered together without a
In looking into the
faces of those who compose this
body, see many who measure
up to the high standard of the
requirements and qualifications
of a chairman; but my eyes, my
mind and my heart, as do yours
also, in scanning this body, are
arrested by the noble and stall
Wart figure of one of your dis
tinguished members. Graded
in Democracy, reared in the pure
and inspiring atmosphere of its
principles, his young and active
life was spent in fighting it's bat
Ties and his mature years were
given to the counsels Of his State
and his party.
He is a Democrat now and he
vas a Democrat during the dark
lays of the reconstructive period
# our State. He is a Democrat
low; he was a Democrat when
o.be a Democrat it was neces-
iary to sleep with a shotgun at
he head of his bed. While the
un of his life is approaching the
western horizon to set. behind
he hills of eternity, he stands
IS one who has never during his
lseful life, sought nor held an
'ff1ee at the hands of his party
r his State. Now as an made
Iuate expression of his party
nd States appreciation of his
loble service in young manhood
nd his sage advice in rippened
ears, let US place on his brow
his well deserved croWn-the
Of the Democratic
tate Central Committee of |
louisiana.
We have just emerged in this
tate from a fierce but friendly +
olitical fight. The smoke of /
attic had scarcely cleared away
Then the opposite factions the
lue and the grey met in this
cry building with the glad hand I
lasp of friendship and to-day
re are enjoying
One of those outrageous ewes
That days of storm so oft
leaves.
Now as one OF the younger
eneration who has partaken Of
ne fruits of his active service
nd enjoyed the reward of his
vise counsel; in the name Of that
eneration; in the name of his
ister parish from which I come;
j the name of this unit e d
democracy, and in the name of
ur State, / take pleasure in
ominating for the Chairman
nip of the Democratic S tate
entral Committee Of Louisiana,
lon. Thomas H. Lewis, of the
arish Of St. Landry.
Mr.. Burke, of Iberia, in sec
nding Mr.. Lewis nomination,
lid:
Ir. Secretary:
There is a spirit that obtains
nd abides in Louisiana from
,hich the Democracy Of the !
tate has always derived its in /,
oiration. It is that spirit of
atriotism, that spirit Of devo-
on to Democratic institutions.
lat spirit of vital interest IN the
Iaterial and moral welfare Of
er people.