The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1870-02-06
The Morals of Legislation.

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The Morals of Legislation.
For a people that were once free, ana
were supposed to be intelligent, educated
and capable of self-government, we nave
fallen into a melancholy condition. Our
Government, which we said was the best
and most perfect the world ever saw, after
struggle of forty years has been over
thrown by revolution. Our constitution,
which we declared to be the grandest Dill
of rights ever written, has been wiped out
| And the liberties of which we were so
! proud, and of which we boasted SO much,
have been tramplcd in the DUST Like the
plebeians of Rome at one time, we nave
ceased to be free, and others ENJOY the
honors and emoluments of Office, and make
our laws for us, while we are declared IN
eligible to the first, and seem to have little
right under the last. The Roman plebelans,
however, had some consolation under the
circumstances in which they lived, Their
rulers were men of high standing, whose
fathers had long occupied distinguished
nositions in the State and foremost places
in the battlefield. If they were ambitious
and fond of power, they proved their capa-
city to exercise it for the benefit OF the
whole people. But We have no such con-
ISOLATION, In the troubled waters OF our
revolution all the dregs have come to the
surface Ignorance, incompetency and dis
honesty have got into office and power, pa
triotism and public spirit seem to have nc
place among our rulers, and the only motive
, by which they appear to be actuated IL
working the machinery of Government is
the desire to make it pay.
y. Capitalists and monopolists, looking upor
this state of things asatfordinS favorable
field for them to operate In, are hooking
like hungry cormorants about our Legl>la
> ture with a variety of projects, all for thu
- public good. Companies are formed wl'icl
~ in the most liberal manner propose to con
struct railroads everywhere, with wcw t
:. enrich everybody, and all they ask ],
~ return is that the people shall pay all TIN
. expenses, give them bonus for construct
W ING their own road, and invest them as
~ corporate body with power that places
- part of the landed property OF the Stat
subject to their Interests. Companies az
- suggested for the erection of levees. drain
age, and various other projects, some
as which are impracticab!e and Others useless
lie but all wanting money, power, specl'
is privileges and special rights. Ourfegisla
e, tors of the present day would seem TO
c. millionares, for in their grants and apprt
tn priations for those purposes we hear OF ne
m thing but millions. If our legislators mao
is appropriations for the poor, or for I'll
We benefit of charitable institutions, it cou
to only be said that they were charitable, b'
us in appropriating large sums for those WI
IL are already rich, in giving to others WI
"a does not belong to themselves, they &c
,st tainly entitle themselves to be called libcr;
us We have seen some notice of an Eclectic
es, bill in process of enactment in the LegIsl
nd ture We do not see the necessity OF lt.-'
OF think the present Legislature might slmpli
in the whole State Government, and do aw
lie with all the loss of time, the trouble and c
est pense of elections. Why not appoint All
i've ecutive State Committee, with power to a
of point the Governor, lie to have the pc"
'ed of appointing ali the members OF the L
ian gislature and every Office holder In t
no State7 Would not that be just as &c
or and much more simple than the electi
not] afford to be liberal. They could pas
on, biz giving every member of the party
ust the State fifty thousand dollars, and I'll
ere at least would satisfied, or ought to
ntl- being we'll paid for their patriotism. Sor
n Is body may ask, where is the money to co
the from 2 Who cares>yhere the money col
es from, as long as the State can borr
CHS Somebody may ask again, who is to
the it7 Pay it7 Posterity, to No sure.
the we not all the time working for poster
e IN though posterity has never yet done
into thing for us, and when we die will we
the leave posterity all 1--WE have as we'll as
s In we have not7-4 Whether posterity c
( up pays or not, however, will be their at
not ours.
lany
, we ST. Francis of Sales was born within
octave of the Assumption of the Blessed vi
IN May, the 21st of August, [1o67, and cher
Sury the remembrance of this circumstance