The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1867-01-26
The Deoadence Of the Republic.

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rulers and place in high public station.
How mighty is the descent from the
statesmen of the Washington and JEFF
ferson era-and we may make the COM
parison much lster-down to those
who are playing at present their re-
markable pranks upon the theatre of
political action. The contrast is near
ly as great as 1t was between the Rome
of Cato and Cicero and Cesar and
Augustus, and the Rome when drunk
on and idiotic Emperor installed his
horse as Consul, and when the Empire
was struck off to the highest bidder,
and when the Pretorian Guards were
really the rulers of the State. Once
in our annals the chief controllers of
public affairs were gentlemen possessed
of learning and refinement, versed in
history. acquainted with philosophy
who had studied politics and govern
ment as a science, and who had knowl-
edge even of the polite arts. What
are they nowl Look at Washington
and our State Legislatures, and we see
men in important executive and legis-
lative positions who know no more
Of the volumes Of ancient and modern
learning than they do about the lost
arts, or of the building of the Egyptian
pyramids---to whom history is sealed
book and philosophy an unheard Of
word. Once the affairs of the country
were directed with skill, and national
troubles and commissions were avoided
by smoothing down the asperities be-
tween conflicting sections and parties,
and BY mutual compromises of feeling
and interest. Now the only agent and
instrumentality of power relied upon
is the force of the brute and the malig-
nifty of the demon. Once the political
questions of the country were discuss
ed and examined with good temper and
spirit, and with the desire to elicit the
truth involved in them. Once, in our
high debates. a food of light was let
upon. sll controverted topics of public
interest.
Now, in general, our so-called de-
bates are as unworthy Of the name as
our so-called Legislators are of the
Legislation of statesmen. They are
characterized by vehemence of pas
sion, by explosives of wrath. by ex-
pressions of prejudice, by display of
ignorance and by "sound and fury"
signifying but little more than the
froth of the idiot. AS 10 the turbulent
and disgraceful periods of the French
Revolution, when such mighty ques-
tons as the adjustment of the mon
archy and the establishment of the
repnblio-the overthrow of the Catho-
lie religion throughout the country and
the installation Of new deities in its
place, were put through almost in a
single sitting of the Convention, and
with but little debate; SO now are the
important and radical changes in our
Government decreed literally without
discussion or examination, save such
as had been given in some midnight
cabal or council of concealed political
partisans. Political moderation was
once the passport to public honor. 1t
is now frenzied violence and passion.
Once 1t was merit to calm the waves
Of political excitement. Now the en-
comium Is upon those who can increase
their violence and momentum by add
ing to the fanaticsl fury of the sea Of
commotion. Once We had public and
individual honor, but now there il
everywhere prevailing the faint of i'm
morality and vice. In our early DAYS
the restraints of the Consultation were
regarded, and the oath TO support Ii
considered sacred. Now ho more at.
tention 10 paid to it by those who are
sworn to obey it than there is TO the
last years almanac. Il has become
honorable to seek to fold it up and lay
Il carefully away in some pigeon
hole Of a department. Now no more
restriction Is placed upon the collects
OF party or personal desire than the
want Of physical power to obtain II.
either by force or fraud. Once the
Nation was considered in legislation
It's now only q party or faction who
are counted at all. or whose sentiments
are in the least regarded. Once we
had republic, but now we have a
thing called by that name, but which
is really oonglomeration of the worst
elements of all governments, without
any of their merits or virtues.