Southern sentinel. [volume] (Plaquemine, Parish of Iberville [La.]) 1848-1858, 1853-12-10
Gutta-Percha Principles.

that is, it eulogized the Railroad spirit and
system as at present existing in the State, and
spoke in high terms of the fine progress that
was being made in this respect by State and
private enterprise. 1t is probable that we may
in . short time read another article from the
same able pen upon the advantages of the
Banking syste m, lately instituted by a Demo-
cratic Legislature and another, perhaps, on
the economy of State government, {Ihe econ
omy of the present Democratic State govern
mentD and all that sort OF thing.
A few years since, any one perusing the ar
ticle above alluded to, would at once conclude
that it was a Wing paper-for all OF these
measures are and ever have been Wing mea-
sures, as likewise many others, which not only
the Democratic organ above noticed, but many
! other Democratic papers in this State, no" ad-
vocate with the warmest zeal. Why Be
cause the progress and growth of our country
its wants and requirements, have proven the
correctness of the principles upon whice these
measures were supported by the Wing party
and becoming popular through the vast bene-
fits of their operations, they were grasped hold
of with t~enacity by the Democratic party of
this State, and now constitute the kelson, the
life-plank of its political platform. Having
more tact and sagacity than the Wings, or
more than the Wings choose to exercise inde-
-.-la.k 6 ,,1 ,,,-f f-on, profuccaI prinpt
pies, the Democrats as body are very apt at
acknowledging the value, and even claiming
the paternity, of this or that measure which
has become or is becoming ~favorite measures
with the entire people.
We should really like to know what are the
measures or the principles which now divide
the two great political parties of this State
Indeed, we know of none. All Of those which
the Wings have ever Observation-Disclosures In
provements and Banking being the principal
the Democrats have of late likewise adopted
and have taken hold of them with such inter-
est and Juror, that Wing advocacy heretofore
is entirely thrown in the shade; and it appears
that the Wings are content to let the Demo-
Gratis carry out their own favorite measures
the parade of their love for those ~favorite mea-
sures being the cause of their great success at
the late and preceding elections.
We may say for this parish, that there were
no questions of public policy broached in the
canvass that has just passed. The Wings,
however, made no nominations they were full
Iy appraised of the ialIacy of such a course;
however superior might have been their nomi-
nees in point of moral and intellectual worth,
defeat would have been certain and inevitable.
Having, then, usurped all the Wing mea~
sures which have become prominently popular
among the people, through their practical work
ings, the Democrats as a body in this State,
land we might say all over the Union0 are at
present greater in force than at any former Pc
Rod in the history of that party. But, taking
hold of Wing measures and Wing principles
is not the only mannuvre, we must acknow-
ledge, which has given to it the impetus-the
impetus of numbers-which it has so rapidly re-
ceived for the last six or eight years. One of
its primary principles and practices, the reward.
ing of its adherents, has been greatly enlarged
upon, and more openly and glaringly held out
and acknowledged; and the rewards are truly
scattered out with a liberal hand to all descrip-
tons Of its electioneering disciples and this
is done in accordance with the magnitude of
the work performed-and however humble the
individual, or secluded the district in which he
lives, the name of the faithful" will not 60
unnoticed; and those rewards are made irres.
pectiye of any wrong or injustice that might
be inflicted on others or upon the community
in which such stewards" are given, and with.
reference to either charactef or competen-
cy. There is no community in this State that
this remark cannot be proved to be true. And
within the time mentioned above the Democra-
tic party has changed amazingly in the man
ner of its action towards renegades from the
Wing party. Formerly they were looked upon
with suspicion, and were not trusted even in
heir political caucuses until after a ! ,ng pro-
o~ationary period, that their sincerity might be
ested but now-alas! for political dignity
f the v~erriest loafer, even, who confers upon
he Wing party the honor of his exit from it,
Ind carrys with him into the Democratic camp
he most insignificant and the vilest influence,
le is at once embraced, by high and by low,
md the chances are that he will soon be re.
yarded by some Office of honor and profit
This system is nothing less than an indirect
,ribe to the unprincipled--and here the two
,arties are as antagonistical as the poles in res
to principle. :
But this is not the end of the list of all the )
dvantages which our friends the Democrats
ave over us in the swelling of their ranks {
There is oftentimes "much in a name" but me-
er has this been so clearly established as in
u I'M 49, an / I