Gazette and sentinel., 1860-02-25
The Election in IberviIie.

The election in this parish, on Monday last,
for Associate Justice Of the Supreme Court,
as will be seen by the returns, demonstrated
the most perfect indifference. on the part Of
the people, as to who should succeed. Not
more than q third of the votes of the parish
was polled, and at two Of the precincts no
polls were opened at al.
Although the manifestation Of this apathy
or indifference is nothing more than what We
expected, from the fact alone that none Of the
candidates were particularly known to the
people at large, and no choice was presented
through extraordinary talents, &c yet we did
hope-we might say, against hoPe-thst out
Of respect to the dignity, responsibility and
high integrity Of said office, that 4 more res
pectable showing at the polls would have
been made; and moreover, rs some indication
that the people realized aud frtzed the liher-
ties with which they were blessed, in the Sc.
lecting Of their rulers and judges, among the
other inestimable blessings proceeding from
that memorable Declaration Of 1876, estab.
fishing @d defining the "inalienable rights OF
man."
The liberties of a people, like the strength
Of o great parlizan organization, are more
likely to be destroyed or fall into decay thro'
apathy or negligence and the REIMBURSEMENT
of established usages, arising from their APP
parent security and capacity Tor triumph, than
through any actual abuse (f such lassltude is
not real abuse) or intentional wrong or over.
stepping, to snap or wound, or dissipate, the
rich Inheritance that our fathers bequeated US.
1t is we'll said, indeed that eternal viei.
lance is the price of liberty !" Bat in what
does that vigilance consist! Not in merely
keeping an eSe on our law. makers, our mo.
ney bags and the economic administration Of
government, but upon those rules, pract >es
aud usageS. (among which is the ba lott which
ate TO Ii city what ties, nobility, decor atoms
and display, and general ignorance, are to
Royalty aud the Throne. Let Monarchy de
scend to simplicity and economical SHARES
strip the nobility Of It's dignities-abolish titles
and iiscountenance decora;ion--and pretty
soon woIldA ~llrnpden arise to put still fu:.
Their under foot the forms and uSages Of Gen.
tralism anG Tyranny-from which would
arise the principles Of Democracy and ''equa'
rights" On the contrary, let Republicans, in
the bissfUi security Of peace and plenty
unbounded happiness and untramelled indie
pendence-rest carelessly and l~istlessly upon
their downy sweets and priyileges-or led of
by rase gUds and false principles, causing
them TO he uDmindful Of those various lorma
lities and duties incuniben. upon them as free
and independent citizens, and just SO soon
would spring up a Nero or a Caligula, and
substitute upon the ruins Of a government
lot through the prevalence Of a neglrctful
and nPnthetic spirit one Of Despolism aud
obedisnc6Io its usages. History teaches, that
the fall of nations a9dEs@Pircs. Is inorssthe
result Of a dying out Of certain practices and
principles hecessary to the healthy existence
of such, and a conscqhen, lack of that vita!
interest and patriotism, which are at once the
soul and stay Of all governments, than from
any direct wiekedness or treason among the
people themselves.
Let Us then as a people, never forget those
duties (and among them the ballot.box) upon
which rest the blessings and perpetuity Of our
form Of government. 1t is a bad-bad sign,
when The polls are neglected, aud men are el
evsted to high Offices through the vote Of a
fractional constituency.