Baton Rouge tri-weekly gazette & comet. [volume] (Baton Rouge, La.) 1865-18??, 1867-05-28
POLITICAL MEETINGS.

been for a great many years past,
productive of more harm than good
to the country, in that they have de-
generated for the most part into
mere squabble in the arena for the
selfish ACKNOWLEDGMENT Of particu-
lar few at the expense of the many.
The people, if let alone, are apt to
do their own thinking aud voting in
way far more Independent, honor
able and safe, than where tempered
with by prating demagogues, who
seek to hamper and blindfold them
under the specious guise of that pat
riotism which the great DR.. johnson
once upon time aptly defined as
"the last refuge Of scoundrels."
It has afforded matter Of astonish-
ment to the world at large to see
how with 30 much natural intelli-
gence and genius and the abundant
facilities at their command for OBJ
tanning correct information upon all
subjects, the American people have
gone on from year to year, lending
themselves to the duping schemes Of
factionists and politicians, who, per-
haps, in nine cases out Of ten care no
more at heart for the masses, after
having attained power and place,
than the wolf cares for the lamb he
has managed TO secure in his
clutches.
The commonest BOBBY, who can
get up 10 the stand and happen to
strike key note which vibrates in
unison with the ad captanduna vulgas
ideas on some political hobby or other,
or the spouting demagogue who, with
. view to feathering his own nest OF
the nests of certain favorites, cuts a
swell upon the platform" and in the
slang style Of eloquence "tears a pas
sion to tatters," is sure to have his
trained band Of "clagueurs' on hand
to make the welkin ring with paens
Of glory to his brass gilded efforts.
Surely, if it be not an altogether
exploded fallacy that experience is
the school Of knowledge" the people
of these United States and Terrific
ries, must by this time have acquired
some knowledge from the political
experience of the past which has
been so dear-bought to them The
trade of politics, which has brass and
impudence for its principal stock
that wild hunt after office which
like the "aura sacra tanes' Of the
Mammon worshippers, brings upon
a country SO many evils arising from
low perverted ambition and an itch
ing palm for sinecure berths and I'M
scrupulous gain, have wrought fearful
havoc among the morals Of the peo-
pie and rushed the country headlong
into vortex of troubles, whence
there is no telling when it will ever
safely emerge. These are the rec
ords made patent in history, Of the
doings of political demagogues, char
latanism and chicanery; and this is
the sort of history that must "repeat
ITSELF" nnless our people shall come
to think and act for themselves in
political as in other matters affecting
their permanent interests and well
fare. Cast politicians and their
patched up, "cut and dried" meetings
and caucuses, public or private, to
the dogs. Let them 60 their way
and go you yours. Give them
wide berth-rope enough, if neces-
sary, to hang themselves with. Do
not lend yourselves willing victims
any longer to the vampires who
would suck away your life blood to
fatten their carcasses upon and then
throw you aside as worthless hulks. |
These remarks are addressed to all,
of whatever race or color, who being
free to think and act as men and suf
franpans. NAV have sufficient raason