Sugar planter. [volume] (West Baton Rouge [i.e. Port Allen, West Baton Rouge Parish, La.]) 1856-1925, 1867-08-03
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WHAT WE THINK ABOUT IT.

oHS
with partisan politics is the influence
which is exerted too often by wealthy cor
porations for selfish and improper Objects,
This has been, in a large degree, ruled ID
its politics and legislation by power
fnl individual or monied combinations,
which have controlled nominations and
made or repealed laws at will III then
WI interest. Even now in our lmpover-
ished condition, when true patrlotlsm--li
Il ever cxisted--should be thrown into
the scale for the public good, IS warped
or twisted to benefit and influence mdly1d-
ual interest. So corrupt has the Gene
raj Government become il all its depart
ments, from the highest to the lowest
that there need be no wonder that tue
same chicanery has entered into and now
permeates all branches of State govern
ments. One looks around and wonders
what has become Of the honest men who
once controlled and shaped the destlnies
of q great people. he sees their places
filled BY petty upstairs, who to replenlsh
their pockets and perpetuate their pow
err. have descended to the lowest and
most contemplate means for that purpose.
Since the war closed, this country, from
North to South, seems to be filled with
men who have no higher or holier asplra-
tons than their own ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
To make money, by fair means or foul, is
the focus to which all their aims are cen
tered. 1t looks as if there is a great
breaking up Of the fabric Of this coun-
tIy's greatness, aud every man was strlv-
ing to plumber all he could from tue
wreck. When will this end, if ever |
Is Office and plumber SO hallowed that men
forget what they owe to their ancestry
and what is due posterity !! What single
efforts cannot effect, combinations can.
individuals, backed up by the huge lever.
money. may control and direct legislation
to their own benefit. Politics are intro.
duced where other means tail, to serve
this or that interest. The Radicals to
maintain themselves in power, have in
vested the negro with the elective fran
chisc, not that they care a rush for the
negro beyond bis vote in their favor. Hav-
ing done this much, what will they not
Do to prolong this power and enjoy the
~loaves ADD fishes And after a time,
wheE he people become thoroughly
aroused TO the dangers of the situation,
will not the same harpies now proving
upon the country's v~itals, pull down and
scatter abroad the edifce of constitutional
liberty which was once the pride and
boast Of every American citizen With
those men the motto is. " better to reign
in hell than serve ia heaven" II has ever
been uppermost in their thoughts aud
actions and will continue SO while they
remain IN power. Men may talk as
much as they please Of the intelligence of
the age and the enlightenment of the
people, but the past and the present
plainly show that retrogrsssion has been
a firm, fixed fact of this Government for
the past eight or ten years. The model
OF the government is good enough, but,
unfortunately, the men who have crept
into power by the most despicable means
are beyond their sphere in controlling a
country as stupendous as ours. This
matter should be calmly and dispassion
ately considered, and if remedies can be
applied, now is the time for a beginning
Anarchy and desolation are plainly fore.
Swallowed. The condition of Mexico
should be a warning, but with leading
men OF the present day, self and sell
alone is the guiding star. Patriotism
faugh the thing is a myth of the past,
buried and obliterated.