The Opelousas patriot. [volume] (Opelousas, Parish of St. Landry, La.) 1855-1863, 1855-03-24

ican citizen? The good Of his country not
that of another country or government. In the
discharge Of his duties citizen, he is to con-
slider whether such or such measure is conso-
nant with the public good-not whether it suits
the purposes Of any leaders or meets the ends
Of any party. In popular government, the
voice Of the people-the general willis but the
aggregate sum of individual wills, the people
constituting the sovereign. In state COM
posed of two millions Of voters each citizen is
the 20OOO0Oth part Of the sovereign. Now
why is the general will always right and why
does every one seek constantly the good of each,
| if it be not, says Jean Jacques Rousseau, =" be-
cause there is no one who does not think OF
himself while voting for ALL"
Hence it is that each one seeks the general
interest. But as he himself forms a part of the
strive to attain the good Of the part he repre-
sents, The same motive actuating each one,
the voice of the majority then makes itself
heard and it only is the sum total of /" ndi-
vidnal wills" concording on one point, and of
a certain system of policy.
That Identification Of the citizen with the
country which is perfect, healthy, permanent
and ndefeasibe, causes the general interest to is
sue from the private interests Of citizens and
shortens and renders more potent the bonds
which unite man with his country
Hence it is that all must be actuated by one
common purpose i; for the general will, to be
truly such, must be SO in its object as well as
in its essence For were it otherwise, " the
thing would become contentious" Says Jean
Jacques Rousseau in his Social Contract I" 1t
would then become question in which the in
dividuals interested would be one of the parties
and the public the other, but wherein / see
neither the law which is to be followed, nor the
Judge who is to decide"
In well constituted State no one should be
actuated by motives which, being peculiar to
himself spring from the power Of extraneous
influences. He must, as l have already said,
seek the veal of the Body Polite of which he
forms part; but he must not say to himself,
My interest as a citizen is to do this, my duty
is to do that" And it is precisely what might
take place when foreigners are called upon to
vote on certain questions.
Let us consider. In the question of Non
Intervention, for instance, Americans might
think that the good of the country consists in the
rigid observance of the old Washingtonian doc
trine of non-interiercnce. A majority Of the
American people might think so. But there
might be powerful minority. In such case,
what would be the position Of the foreign pop
ulation? Reason might tell them that it is fit
we should adhere to the old and healthy system
ofpolicy. But what of that voice which would
come issuing from, the lowest dephs of their
hearts and tell them, "There, far away beyond
the broad ocean, wherelive the friends you love,
tyranny is desoating the paternal hearth
Those you left behind are oppressed and suffer
ing can you refuse them help?" On which
side should their votes be polled? Let the
question ever be mooted, the result shall soon
be found. On one side material interest-on
the other the native land :. Who could hesi-
tate? | ask it to you all, men--to whatever
political creed you may honor yourselves in be-
longing? When personal interest wars against
" affection and duty" he who could falter then
would be unworthy the name Of man.
have already said that the love of country
is in our nature, and is a duty :; while the IN
terest of a man in the prosperity of bis adopted
country is in ninety-nine cases ont of hun
dred, a selfish, material interest. The stranger,
in his adopted country, we are told, is actuated
by gratitude! Gratitude for uhdt that is the
question. Gratitude for the succors he receives.
the comforts he reaps, the protection he enjoys,
His heart expands to gratitude according to
the increase Of blessings. But let the succors
be empty, the comforts valueless, the protection
impotent-his gratitude O lessons in an exact
ratio to the decrease of the extent of its causes
The love Of the native born child for his coun-
try is never greater than in the hour of her
misfortune; the allegiance of the foreigner new
er more vapid and ephemeral than in the hour
Of need and sacrifice.
Take German aud tell him We are about to
war against the German Powers he shall
tell you that you are unable to cope with the
bravery OF his countrymen. Take a French.
man and speak to him of France ask him, in
the event of rupture, where his hopes and
sympathies would be--certainly with the flag
Of his native land. This is selfevident. sc
strong is this sentiment in the human heart
that man who has resided ten, twenty-ay
fifty years in the Union, when asked what he is
will Immediately answer, "I am a German
Frenchman, Irishman, Or Englishman,' as tht
case might be. A simple but eloquent answer
which resolves at once all doubts upon the sub
ject, and which tells you that the position which
is made to the foreigners is anomalous, that il
wars against nature The love which he owes
to one, forbids the existence of the supreme ane
unqualified allegiance which is claimed by thu
other. In given time, it is an element of dis
cord dissension and faction, existing in the yer,
heart of the body polite. |.
| In a question of life and death with The ma
ton, and one in which conflicting opinions nigh
divide the people into two camps--on the on
side the larger number Of natives forming tn
majority over the other portion Of the origina
population representing the minority-tthe for
eign representative elements would then holt
the balance of power" Now let these mel
be told and persuaded that it is to the interes
of their fatherland that such or such a measur
should prevail: what was majority become
minority. The general will is eluded, Me-