The Avoyelles pelican. [volume] (Marksville [La.]) 1859-186?, 1861-12-21
TO THE PUBLIC.

Having lately become the owner #
the Pelican. with view to its future
publication, it is proper that l should
indicate the course | intend to pursue,
SO that my readers may know what to
expect.
Patriotic men of all parties have de
termined to ignore the former political
distinctions that so unfortunately divided
the people and to unite in common ef
fort to establish a new government upon
more fraternal and permanent basis.
That this is consummation devnutfy
to be wished, no man of sense viii pre-
tend to gainsay
The energies of the "Pelican" will be
devoted to the labor Of harmonizing the
conflicting elements Of parochial politics,
no that ,feu4s may sink down in the
depths Of oblivion's wave and leave a
placid surface for the admiration of So
ciety. 1t must be clear to reasons eye
that unless cliques and factions are ST.
fenced by the reprobation Of the masses
acting in concert, personal emolument
and ambition will always be paramount
with some to the general welfare.
We should learn lessons of wisdom
from the past and endeavor to avoid the
rocks on which so many public interests
have been wrecked. Look for instance
at the astonishing and lamentable debris
of social merit and intellectual superiority
that lies in vast accumulation about the
rock of availability! At its base un-
numbered thousands of the best patriots
the country ever boasted have been sa
crifced, whilst men of pliable consci,nces
uncultivated intellects, and vaulting am
bition have been waited on the crest Of
the waves of political favor into position
of vital Importance to the prosperity Of
the public only to advance party purposes
and to enrich themselves. This system
Of things1 was carried on with reference
to every office, from the executive of the
nation to the constable Of a parish ward.
So long as / retain the management
OF the tPelican," there will be an inces-
sant war against any attempt to prrpe
tuate these things, come from what quar-
ter they may. The tone Of my paper
will always be attuned to the voice of
honest merit, and that too, without regard
to Oho are its supporters, Or its opponents.
As there seems to be much feeling
among the people with regard to political
conrentioms, will state briefly the pur-
pose Of the i" Pelican" so that no one
may entertain any erroneous impressions
Of its position on this subject. First,
then, the columns of the pape, shall be
left entire y free to oppose or support
nonlnees just as the spirit of independ-
ence' may prompt. Second. the paper
will not support Independent candidates
simply because they are independent;
nor will it oppose others because they
are nominees in each case, the ':Peli-
cans support or opposition will depend
upon circumstances which no one can
foresee in detail. One general rule,
however, may be laid down and it will
not be deviated from. No candidate need
hope for its support, who, without other
claims to public patronage, directly or
indirectly seeks for or in any way soli-
cits the nomination Of a convention. If
candidate is not willing to trust to his
personal morite, thq = Pelican will not
lend it's aid to his promotion-he must
look to those who attach more import
ance to the dictum of convention than
to the superior consideration of nersonal
worth and talents. It will be of no avail
that these conventions nominate men of
talent under such circumstances, for if
they will devote or exercise their talents
in encouraging what's wrong in politics,
the public would be better off without
their services in ofice.han with them.
Talent rightly directedshould always be
supported, but unless it thus directed,
it should be opposed Ie nomination
Of convention c.n add ,,o.hing legi-
timatsly to MATS merits Ind if these