Lake Charles Commercial

Colonel Guice will not Lead the Negroes.

[N. O. Picayune.]

We are glad to learn through a telegram from Shreveport that Colonel T. J. Guice, who was nominated by a portion of the Convention of the Farmers Alliance, at Natchitoches, a few days ago, as an independent candidate against General Blanchard, the regular Democratic nominee, has resolved not to accept the doubtful honor.

Colonel Guice has declared that he will not court Republican negro votes to oppose the best interests of the white people of Louisiana. He believes, doubtless, as we assume, that in Democratic unity is the only safety and salvation for the people of the South. and we doubt not that he understands as we do, that whatever benefits and advantages are to be secured in these Southern States for the farmers' movement, must be got in harmony with the Democracy.

The Southern farmers are Democrats, but before all they are white men who know the dangers of division. We do them the simple justice to believe that they are as honest and patriotic as any of our people, and we do not believe that they would have supported, to any extent, a damaging and useless independent canvass.

But all the same we must offer our commendations to Colonel Guice, and express our sense of his honesty and patriotism in refusing to head a movement to raise the negroes against the whites of the district. We are glad to believe that the vote of the district will be solid for General Blanchard.