The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1869-01-08


or unworthy. Thus, by apparently inevitable
steps, the vicious circle of a fundamental fall
lacy is completed, and society is brought
back to the barbaric principle that might
makes rigbt-to "the good old rule, the
simple plan, that he may take who has the
power and he may keep who can" Hence it
is that all thinking persons are convinced that
there is something profoundly wrong in the
theory on which republican institutions, So
called, are founded and conducted. They
perceive, on the one hand, that popular self
government, pure and simple, is impossible
in the nature of things, that the delegation by
the people of authority to make and admins
ter laws is necessity; and, on the other
hand, that this system constantly tends to
the absorption of all powers by an ire
| sponsible caucus of legislators. to a
frightful multiplication of laws and
offices, and, in fine, to the most
cumbrous, costly, corrupt, vexatious and in
efficient of all governments. The masses in
this country manifest, in various ways, a
vague sense of theIeal origin of the evil; and,
in all possibility, the day is not very remote
when they will consent to accept Cesarism,
as other nations have done, as the only means
of striking effectually at its root. This may
be the next swing of the popular pendulum.
There have been wilder oscillations in coun-
tries not less pervaded by republican senti-
ment than this. But it would be, at the best,
a sorry and pitiful conclusion--a ridiculous
descent from the sublime dream of people
who have boosted themselves the freest on
the face of the earth, and blessed with the
best government the world ever saw. For
the sake of congruity, consistency and dig
nifty, to say nothing of liberty and progress,
let us hope that this is not the consumma-
ton to which the country is coming. Beyond
controversy, the people can avoid it if they
choose. But will they choose? That de-
ponds upon what may be done for the solu-
ton of great problem which involves, we
firmly believe, the question of free govern
ment everywhere in the world. 1t is this:
how to combine in the same government the
greatest possible representative fidelity
to the interests and wants of the whole
people with the greatest possible Wis
dom and vigor in the making and the
administration of laws. To get rid of the
always immature and excessive and the
nearly always corrupt legislation of multi
tudes of law-making agents would be one of
the first steps in the desired direction. Their
invariable tendency is to degenerate into
plastic mobs under the manipulation of IN
scrupulous caucuses. 1t would be well per-
haps to deny to Congress, to State legisla-
ture or to a municipal council the right to
initiate the project of law. In that case
nine-tenths of the time now consumed in ig-
norant and inconsequential debate would be
saved nine-tenths of the room now allowed
for partisanship to rant and fume in, for Bun
combe to disport in, for oratorical conceit to
swell in, for intrigue to maneuver in, for cor
ruption to prowl in, would be taken away.
Delegates could still faithfully represent their
constituents in voting upon such bills as
should be laid before them. Legislation, pre-
pared ty competent intelligence outside of
Congress, the State or municipal assembly,
would be at once more expeditions and ma
ture. Indeed, it is well known that at this
moment the actual work of preparing legisla-
ton is confined to a very few. But they are
an integrant part of the legislative multitude.
They are detailed by it. They Fare subject to
its whims and caprices. They have no spe-
cial responsibility. They may do the worst
things possible in the discharge of their COM
missions with IMMUNITY. And they are very
sure to reflect, in some measure, all the vices
and follies that characterize the body of which
they are members. The present committee
system, therefore, is only faint approach to
the remedy demanded.
For the rest bitter experience has taught
that university is not equivalent to fidelity
of representation. AS a general thing, the
people of the United States in their totality
have been more faithfully represented by a
single man, the president, than by congress-
men. There are many reasons for this,
which it would be too tedious to state with an
approach to exhaustiveness. The fact itself
is profoundly significant, and is destined to
tell profoundly hereafter upon the politics of
the country. AS q general thing, also, the
people have been served with fidelity and
efficiency in proportion as public servants
have been few, and as those few have been
held to a strict and stern responsibility. And
nothing could be more natural. The highest
legislative and administrative capacity must
be confined, of course, to the smallest num-
Der and, consequently, the best government,
other things equal, would be that in which
this capacity should be enlisted in the public
service. There is the final problem which
challenges the spirit of enlightened, honest
and patriotic reform.
The glorious old Sixth Ward Rough and
Ready Club give Soir6e ddasante at the hall
of the Portuguese Society, tomorrow evening.
The Portuguese Hall, everybody must know,
is situate on the Bayou Road, between st.
Claude and IRENE streets. Now, as to the
gentlemen who compose this club, we have
only to name J. W. Scott, George W. White,
L Kaihman Rnh Rrerster Simon MnilInnr