The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1871-10-07

he country and the unscrupu-
Gus character of our rulers have
all legitimate callings,
and, at the same time, afforded
to capital most enormous profits
in speculation in bonds, warrants
and other paper securities never
before brought into competition
with honest industry, creating
almost complete stagnation in
all local markets for home pro-
ducts. Thus, we see the agents
of the people have employed the
faith of the State as disastrously
for their material interests as if
tho highest duty of the agent
was to ruin the income and credit
of his principal.
Is there not reason, overshadow-
ing all objections, that every citi-
zen of the State owes it to him
self and to his country to bring
about n reform that will make
living easier, thu. masses more
cheerful and the State moro invit-
ing? Call it politics, if you
please, but the duty of a citizen
is to see that his government is
honest, faithful and economical,
and in an emergency like the
present, where every social and
material interest is struggling
against attacks, the citizens duty
is more. pressing and more stern
in it's demands. We may labor
ever SO faithfully at the bench,
the anvil, the desk, or the pillow,
only to see ourselves overwhelmed
with debt and depressed in mind,
if we do not bestir our energies
in behalf of better government
and combine to overthrow the
bad men who have the ascendan-
cy. But a small portion of the
time used to make money and a
mite of the means daily sunk in
non-paying ventures, if contribu-
ted to reform the administration
of public affairs, would yield a
harvest which would be the cause
of general rejoicing and of perma-
nent value to all classes of honest
people.
The question to be studied is
one of ways and means to arouse
the people from their listlessness
and to stimulate them to vigorous
action. We do not believe that
the items of platforms and names
will effect much toward the revi-
val of hope. A great deal more
will be effected by the local lead
ers mingliDg freely with the peo-
pie and urging them to take more
interest in home politics. If the
people of the various parishes
will do their duty in inaugurating
the canvass for 1872, we will in
sure their success at the polls.
There is a moral force in large
bodies in motion that is irresisti-
BILE in determining public ques-
tions.
Two things will most certainly
shape the course of the people
with reference to a State policy
for 1872. These are, first, the fact
that we must follow the lead of
the National Democracy, and,
second, the course of events in
the legislature next year. With
out some evidences of regard for
the popular will by one or the
other wings of the Republicans in
the legislature, we presume none
but an insane man would urge an
affiliation with either faction of
the opposition. With the strong
est proofs of repentance by our
it would still be a bitter
pill to admit them to fellowship
in the party OF the people. They
regard pledges too lightly and
their individual interests too high
~ to be acceptable agents to the
people when backed only by mere
professions. We are willing to be
guided by the masses, but we be-
lieve that wisdom dictates rs
few departures from q straight
out conflict with Radicalism, I'M