The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1866-07-28
Self-Government.

rally understood to be ability and dis
position to control the passions-the
holding ourselves under subsection to
the principles Of morality. Experiences
teaches how necessary this individual
self-government is to US in private
capacity, and in the various relations
we sustain to society; and little re-
fection will convince us how indispen-
sable it is to those who would be good
and useful citizens Of Republic. How
can people govern themselves col
lectively, who do not govern themselves
individually! Men who are overcome
by their passions and prejudices in the
private affairs of life, will be very apt
to yield to them in public affairs How
important then that those who are to
be the future citizens and rulers of the
Republic should be early schooled in
the principles of self-goyernment--
While the mind is being improved, and
stored with the treasures of knowledge,
the heart should not be neglected.
knowledge without the control of COR
rect moral principles is an evil power
in the nation. Thus it is that the
public men of the North are SO .disre-
gardful of all their constitutional oaths,
and so utterly lost to all sense of JUS
tice. They have been trained up in .
school of cold, selfish and heartless in
telleetuality-looking only to means
to accomplish ends, and believing that
the end justifes the means. Hence,
we see them swearing to support the
constitution, and while the Sacred Book
is yet moist from their polluted kiss,
in the presence of God and the whole
nation, shamefully and unblushingly
violating not only its spirit but its
plainest letter. They set up their
own fanatieal opinions as q ''higher
laW'' than the constitution, and then
with the instrumentality of q. Union
which never could have been formed
but for this. constitutional compact,
which they treat as dead letter, they
Cypress and tyrannize over those who
dared to set the constitution above their
higher law notions. With the country
in the hands of these people who can
fail to see the inevitable result of the
grand experiment of self-goyernulent.
Limited monarchies, while they extend
their powers, may point the finger Of
scorn at US, and despotism forge anew
its shackles for its once hopeful but
now desponding subjects. IF we would
arrest the downfall Of the Republic,
and revive the last hope Of national
self f-government, we must train our
youth to individual self-government.
We must discard the idea which seems
to be too prevalent, thaf there is any
distinction between public and private
morality, and so instruct them, and so
impress the minds of those who are to
be the future rulers Of the State. No
Republic can. long exist that has not a
love for truth, honesty and justice, as
/ its foundation. No people are capable
of self-government who cannot lay
aside their prejudices and passions,
and abide by and maintain the laws
which they have enacted for their own
protection and rule of action. If con-
stitutional enactments are to be swept
away by every gust of popular passion
that passes over nation, how worse
than useless are all such enaetments.
Better, far better, relapse into a one.
man-power, than to be thus tossed
about upon the uncertain sea of human
passion, where we can hope for no sta
bility or security, and where the mi
nority are the slaves Of tyranical ant
reckless majority. 9s
While we are suffering from thI
effect of an unscrupulous disregard o
all the just principles Of self-govern
ment, let US examine ourselves and Sc,
if we are free from the faults whicl
we charge upon our enemies. In th
discharge Of our sacred duties as citi
zens and voters are aoe not governe
! entirely too much by prejudice an
5 passion? Do we. in selecting ma
] for important public trust, ask our
$ selves the question, is he honest, Is b
capable, is he faithful? Do we nc
: suffer ourselves. too frequently, TO
influenced by triding, selfish considel
atoms such as, will he support m
. man for some other office, or will he |
instrumental in forwarding some Of n
selfish sehemss2 Is long a. we suE