Thibodaux minerva. [volume] (Thibodaux, La.) 18??-1858, 1855-12-22
The Minerva-XIth Volume.

honorable vocation, which was forced upon us b
our friends, and adopted more from necessity tina
from choice. To say that we have not been dc
ceived with the result Of the undertaking. would b
to withhold truth; for our success-when those VIII
had preceded us, were far more competent in ever
respect, had failed-lnay be considered an enigma
For the liberal patronage extended to us by tn
reading public of the Lafourche. parishes, and the
kindly sympathies that they have ever giver
manifestations of in our behalf, we return Our
most fervent and heartfelt thanks assuring then
at the same time, that we shall neglect nothing II
the future, that may conduce to their best Interests
and greatest success.
With us the amelioration of the town and parish
| in which we reside, has ever been paramount te
all else. Personal interest, in many instances
has been lost sight of, to achieve what we viewed
as great public good Of course, We cannot pre-
sumo that the Minerva has been entirely free from
error; for such exemption can be claimed by no
journal, especially partizan one. All we can
say is, that if during the late exciting election,
anything has appeared in our columns either as
editorial or as communicated that has been deemed
Objectionable, or in any way inconsistent with the
position we occupy we trust that some excuse will
be found in the attending circumstances. Those
who understand the difficulties Of our vocation best
will be the most willing to pardon our errors.
Schooled in the politics Of the great conservative
Wing party, and ever having accorded to its
measures our humble advocacy, we could not find
it consistent with our past course, to adopt the
principles of our ancient enemies, Notwithstanding
proper so to act and in the absence of any organ
ization Of the party whose principles we still hold
dear, we took sides with the American party, con-
scious that we were exercising our free inalicnabe
rights in seeking to promote the interest and
triumph of party whose principles we look upon
as best calculated to promote harmony at home,
peace abroad, and to hand down our Republican
Institutions to generations yet unborn. We think
that the cardinal doctrine of the American party
"None but Americans to rule America us just
both in the eyes of God and man; as much so as
that every head of family, should have control
over his own household If this party still persists
at the North in making mans religious opinions
a test for membership in its ranks, we have done
with it. But on the contrary, should the next
National Convention strike out that Objectionable
article in the Platform, and place the organization
Of the party on proper principles doing away with
its secrecy, shall still continue to hold to it, and
do all that in us lies, to its success.
Thus much have we said, deeming it necessary
that we should define the political principles which
viii govern us in the approaching Presiden-
ial contest Let us now turn our attention to
'ther matters perhaps more congenial to the feel
ngs and dispositions of our readers
We would embrace the occasion to congratulate
,ur friends and readers on the exemption, when
compared with the two preceding years, they have
enjoyed from the fatal epidemic, which has pre-
rallied with unusual severity in almost the entire
Southern country, during the past Summer and
Fall. Our close proximity to New Orleans does
not appear to have rendered this particular portion
If our State any more subject to disease-notwith-
standing our daily connection Herewith, by
he means of the Opelousas Railroad-than
ormerly. All have experienced much anx-
ETY. this subject for it cannot be denied that the
continued good health of our town, under the cir
was not to be expected, much less re-
llzed, and should not fail to inspire within us a
leep sense Of gratitude to Providence, for SO great
i blessing.
With the light Of ten years. experience before us
IS our guide, and knowing that the world is apt |
slight and forget its obligations to the newspaper,
We enter again upon the discharge Of our duties,
uly confident that we are now far better suited to
discharge the task we have imposed upon ourself.
he eye Of the newspaper should be universal it
hould be made to fall on all parts Of the world,
nd search out the incidents as well as the motives
nd passions that control its movementrs Nothing,
owever great or trivial, should be suffered to
scape its keen penetrating glance. 1t should
e ceaseless and tireless in it's watchfulness and
Though it may be gossipping in its character, it
eepless as the stars The thoughts, positions, in
idents and movements of individuals, as well as
atoms, should be presented in its columns as in
nirror-a reflex Of the thoughts and progress
{ man and the world. Those who read a well
onducted newspaper, need never fear falling be-
ind the age The journal keeps him posted in
verything running on with the great march of
me; it gradually prepares his mind to receive all
he new discoveries Of the human brain in its strides
, unclouded intelligence weans him from the old
,shions and customs separates him from early
rejudices and gradually embues him with sound
tactical notions, and enables him to fathom the
lost abstruce subjects The newspaper also keeps
i'm alive to all the progressive steps in trade
science, literature, and the arts In
lct, it enables him to keep pace with the inteli-
ence Of the age, and carries him on, impercep-
bly, to himself, with each progressive step of the
"a in which he lives. Such are the effects and
Of a well conducted newspaper. Such
one, we intend shall be the Minerva.
We have entered upon our laborious duties with
enewed resolution to devote our best efforts to
rake the Minerva acceptable to all classes Of our
GLOW citizens. Their interest shall be our great
st wish to advance; ours viii ever be secondary,
nd if by depriving ourselves to advance, or even
remote, in the smalles degree possible, the we'll
ire Of town country the sacrifice shall be freely
81 l1y Tbo 1