Southern sentinel. [volume] (Plaquemine, Parish of Iberville [La.]) 1848-1858, 1848-09-07
Fear of Public Opinion.


We are as well convinced of the truth, as if we
had the divine power of reading the thoughts of
individuals, that in this parish as elsewhere, there
are a number of persons and voters, who are posi-
tive of the fact that outrageous talsehoods are pro-
pogated by the opponents of Taylor and Fillmore,
and equally convinced III their minds that The oppo,
site ticket is dangerous, that it is impure. that there
is too much %shuffing and trickery evident in the
character of him who stands at the head of that
ticket, and that it does not accord with their honest
and patriotic views; but, because they have hither.
to been considered as Democrats. they have notfhe
independence or courage TO expiess their convlc-
tons openly and aboveboard, and therefore the mo-
raj Influence Of such an act upon less enlightened
minds, is lost to the country and TO the age.
Why is this? 1t is because men are afraid of the
taunts and libes of those, less honest, less patriotic,
and with less brains. who belong to the same party.
If there is a curse inflicted by the Almighty upon
the nature of an individual, it is a disposition to act
contrary to a just conception of what is right,
through the fear of public opinion, and this is Iar-
ticnlarIy applicable in reference to public affairs,
where the welfare of a nation is dependent upon
the correct Judgment and unbiased actions of its
people.
"A man, whose whole career upon political SUBJ
jects, shows ,!Et he is governed by the wand of par
ty and Of power, prostituting his reason, his self.
respect and his liberties, will often be found to be
the most nn%reIenting stickler for correct principles.
for truth and honor, in his own personal affairs, or
among his own family. The idolized daughter, be-
coming en@ngled in the willy and insiduous snare
of the gay and artfui seducer is blasted and withers
in her beauty and her youth she is spurned by the.
father who had so often embraced her with affection
and admiration, and wanders forth, a lost but
p~enitent one, to die in misery and in want; the
wife is false to the bosom of her husband, and obey
ing the natural impulse of insulted honor, he tifusts
her fiom him with scorn and indignation; a son
or brother strays from the path of virtue, ill.,
acter, and he is summed and discarded; all these
associations of home and warm affections Of the
heart are Frustrated at the shrine of right, justice
and honor, in defiance of feeling and regardless of
the world. But let the principles of n party or its
leaders degenera,e-(seifshness and not the well
idiC " uo idu"u Ac SosSiHiHS ihtiPCJ-ahA
if the mind is fully convinced that it is acting i'm
properly in longer unfolding such a party and such
principles, fear restraints the tongue hom assert
ing these convictions-feal that weakness may be
imputed or selfishness attributed. And thus men
will act, who in their private affairs seem 10 be the
quintescence of honor itself.
tits an exalted virtue to leave a party when we
consider that its spirit and its actions have become
impure, or when an acknowledged leader is pre-
scented whose character is undoubtedly that of a
selfish and ambitious trickster. The Ioftiest princl-
pie which a father can infuse in the breast of his
son is a determination to be governed through life
by the precepts which education inculcates, and the
inhexibility of a sound and unwavering Judgment.
Democrats, very mango of you have determined to
vote for Taylor and Fillmore; and many of you,
like that staunch and illustrious Democrat who fell
at the seige of the Alamo, the immortal Crockett,
are conscious that your party has changed, and you
will not support it, but yet, unlike the first noble
spirits. yon have hitherto iefrained from proclaim
ing the change of your sentiments. Come out
boldly, and transmit TO posterity the honor of hav-
ing assisted to place Old Zach in the Presidential
chair and remember that the nobIest of sentiments,
though uncouth and rough-liewn like its great au-
thor, and whether in reference to ethics or politics,
is to "be sure your re right, then go ahead!"
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