Southern sentinel. [volume] (Plaquemine, Parish of Iberville [La.]) 1848-1858, 1853-07-09
Political Moralitvs

Can anybody define it? Of what is it COM
posed? What description of principles does
it belong to? Is there such a thing as political
morality! Is there a political editor who will
acknowledge that such a principle ever existed
or if in existence, that it was ever p~ractised by
a political opponent! Yes, we believe there is
a something which may be embraced in the
term, "morality of politics." it consists in tell
ing the truth and perrerting nothing. And who
does it? We try to do so, but who believes
it! How sickenirg, then, must it be to hear ed
itors charging the opposite side to which they
belong as being immoral in their political con-
duct, and having no right, through rirtue of
such immortality, to defeat the schemes, machi'
nations, plottings and jugglings of cliques be"
longing to their own dear immaculate party
Has this a home application?
The distant thunder of murmurings deep
but not loud among the Independent voters of
the parish, may we'll call forth appeals to party
morality, and to beg that no steps be taken to
elect parish officers acceptable to the people,
and not to an integral and self-interested por-
ton of a political party. Can it be that the
work Of cabals, formed for special purposes,
will be endorsed by the patriotic body they
presume to representa- Has the period arrived
when party nominations are the result of in
trigue and chicanery, and when the best, most
acceptable and most competent men-accepta.
Bile not only to the majority, but also TO the
minority-must be cast aside to make room
for those whose election would best advance
the interests of the oligarchy which stirs the
party cauldron?
Conventions, at best, are OF questionable re-
publicanism; and we believe the time is not
far distant when they will be entirely abolish
ed, in consequence of their abuse of power
and the tyranny which they exercise. At the
present day, there is scarcely n political con-
~yention, the selections of which rs candidates
for office are the first choice Of the party they
pretend to represent. And in such case, as it
frequently occurs in Alabama, If the party rise
in its independence and elect other candidates
than those nominated by a packed convention,
there is no lack of "curses not loud but Deep
and eloquent preachings about political moral
ity!
In politics rs in war, everything is fair save
falsehood and perversion; and the majority OF
a party is under no more obligation TO accept
the nominees Of a party, fraudulently obtained,
than has an army to respect a treaty made on
the part Of the foe for the purpose of prepar-
ing for a more deadly assault.
A party having an overwhelming majority,
should al least allow no cabaIistjc movements;
but assembling in full force, if they have a con-
y~ention at all, and select those who have every
requisite quality for the offices for which they
are nominated, and Of whose abilities and me-
their opponents in the minority have no
cause to question. But if a different course
is p~ursued-if a stocked convention is obtain
ed and men placed before the party for IFS sup
port, whom, it is publicly known, are far from
being the choice of that party-shou!d there
be any cause for surprise if they meet with a
defeat through the lack of that p~hantasy poll
teal morality, either on the part Of their own
party or that of their political opponents!