The Opelousas courier. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1852-1910, 1873-11-29
Ahe Power Of Public Opinion.
and Utility Of the Press.
IN. o. Picayune, Nov. 1871

ie mas passed into proverb, that we poor
human creatures attach nobyalue to the great.
est blessings in life until we are deprived OF
them. Our happiness in their possession is
a aoI realized until their loss renders us pain
1al!y conscious of our misfortunes.
Who values health or wealth that has never
laiu upon bed of sickness or suffered the
pflVatlous OF poverty2 These truths, al
5hongh commonplace. are suggestive. and
nave prompted US to consider the vast and
manifold; but perhaps unfelt and unappre-
clated, blessings conferred upon people by
all honest press, devoted to their real inter
ests conducted with knowledge, intelligence
and tirnness, contrasted with their depl0rable
condition it deprived of this mouth-piece and
guardian.
Moral power eventually rules the world
Physical force is set in motion, directed and
controlled by its agency. For a season it
may be ignored or forgotten, but it finally
asserts its authority.
The publlc sentiment of a country, if disci-
pllned and united is irresistible. Among
every people who have made any progress in
CIVILIZATION, public opinion will make itself
felt, no matter how their government may be
constituted, nor how despotic, obstinate, OBJ
tuse and nnprincipled the rulers who admin
lister it may be. These are not the mere de-
ductlons of speculative reasoning, but are
learned from the teachings of history also.
popular monarch like Edward the Fourth.
or Henry the Eighth, could commit with in-
puinity the most atrocious acts, exercise an
| absolute will, and apparently set aside every
barrier erected to protect the people against
aggressions from the throne; whilst other
mouarchs, HHststaiHed by the popular ,ciH, like
| Charles the First and James the Second, were
held to strict and terrible responsibility for
acts comparatively less Objectionable.
Before this ghty power, partisan and
venal Congress were afraid to act in the Lou
isiana case, and Grant, the most insensble of
lrlK KfJ,l< <n tr,A1 fo4
| to ratify his corrupt bargain.
Keeping these premises distinctly in view,
it is-indisputable is that the press creates, Or at
least directs, controls and gives expression to
the sentiment of the country. 1t is the oracle,
organ and mouth piece of the people. Through
| its medium, their will and opinions are eircu-
lated and disseminated throughout the land,
thus strengthening and encouraging each
other i'll the hour of adversely, and enabling
them to unite in any line of policy which
their interest aud Judgment may dictate,
either in promotion OF the general interest. or
to protect themselves from the corruptions
and expressions of power.
With the press, public censure and public
approbation-thoSe engines more potent to
move aud control mankind than reason, con-
science, or even religion itself-obtain pub
licity and reach their object, to the benefit
of society.
Without an honest press. what means would
this oppressed people adopt to redress their
grievaneess What effort could they make to
reduce taxation, which is now rapidly absorb
ing the whole of their property, under the
singular plea of merely charging: for the ex-
pense OF guarding and protecting it How
eeuld they unite to bring their expressions
before the bar of public opinion. and from that
to Congress- And what hope would they
have of redress before that partisan tribunal.
unless our grievOus wrongs were first publish
ed by the agency of our own press Without
press in the interest of the people, in the
hour of trial and action, what would strength
en- the weak, stimulate the apathetic, arouse
the dormant, and by appeals to the reason, in
terests, passions and patriotism of the people,
stir them up to united action for their own
safetyl
Rejecting all consideration of the honest
press as a conservator of morals and religion,
or how far it contributes to the amusement or
instruction of the public in this State and city.
a press devoted to the publie interests is an
absolute necessity. Without it the people
have no hope, as property wibAbe absorbed by
unprincipled rapaeity, intelligence be subor-
dinate to ignorance, and civilization itself go
down before barbarism.