New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1873-04-25
Communicated
POLITICS..

pOllulcS INTO our DISCUSSIONS. ''IOllIlCs is
running u.s." "Oh politics is a nuisance"
Such are common every day sayings. They |
can be heard at sOcials, at the dinner table, |
on the street corners, in the street cars,
in the bar-room and the courtroom, |
and occasionally they obtain in print. |
So that politics is beginning to be |
looked upon as a dreadful plague, an |
awful temptation to be stunned by all good |
people. If this is good logic, we had better |
abolish government, disband society and |
return to the wild ways of the state of |
nature, Therapeutics will not trouble US, |
and the weight Of government will no
longer keep our noses to the grindstone.
Abolish politics, and you abolish govern
ment. Cease to be politician in its true
sense, and you cease to be an agent or
auxiliary in the propagation of your own
welfare, in the maintenance of your own
material and spiritual rights. Do away
with politics, and you destroy the essence
of government, for politics is the science of
government. 1t is the science, combined
with Christianity, that teaches US how to
regulate our affairs, to respect each others
rights and live together in happiness.
Government is the offspring of society;
society protects the individual, and gov
eminent protects society.
Next to the knowledge of the true God,
what science or knowledge is greater and
should be more dear to man than politics.
the science of government; the science that
protects the weak from the strong; the sci
ence that secures to US the protection Of
property, life and liberty. 1t is not the
politics, but the few men who are trying TO
reap personal gain from the decentralization
and debasement of the science that are ruin.
ing the country And it is not so much the
actions of those wicked and fanaticat men
that is destroying the aim and teaching of
politics as the weakness and blindness Of
the people who fall down to- adore them
and worship at their shrine of rebellion and
murder To be free and enjoy good gov
eminent we must be politicians that Is to
say, we must have q knowledge of che SCI
ence of government, and this knowledge we
must use for the correction of wrong, the
establishing of justice. the preservation OF
order and fer the establishing of friendship
and good will among all men. To be
politicians we must study politics. the sci
ence of government, and SO far as we are
| able aid in establishing government have
| ing for its purpose the common good, the
protection of the rights Of each and every
individual within the pale of its laws.
Government is not created by the few: it
is the work of the many; and consequently
must, to a certain degree, reflect the senti'
ments and ideas of the many. OF majority,
who are restrained from trespassing upon
the rights and wishes of the few, or minor
ity, bv their contract or agreement to live
together for the better protection and secu'
rity of the whole. On entering into this
contract or covenant for the better reg ula'
ton of our affairs and security of life and
property. we do it with the understanding
that the wishes or ideas of the majority
shall prevail. For the contract Of govern
| ment is made to protect the weaker, not
the stronger party. Therefore 1T would be
absurd to think that the stronger would
consent to any agreement by which they
would become subject to the domination of
the few or weaker party. And when the
minority violates and repudiates the cove
nant made with the majority, they simply
DESTROY that in which they have the great
eat interest, and pull down the barriers
which protect them from the aggressions OF
the majority, and they consequently must
abide by the consequences of theIr own will
full and determined acts
The contract or agreement by which we
give I'D part of our natural rights tor the
better protection of the rights we retain.
necessarily creates a legislative powers
power to settle disputes and differences
and the power of enforcing obedience. Al
we do not create a supreme power 10 pro
vide for, interpret and enforce our agree
ment, it becomes worthless for want OF
means to carry out and execute its stipula
tons. And if every person concerned IN
the agreement or compact was to- be his
own interpreter or judge, it would be OF nc
practical use TO the parties to the contract
for each one would undoubtedly construe ii
so as to give himself all the advantage pos
sible. To enforce oar contract supreme
| Z,
must be created by the contracting parties
and must be composed OF parties to the
contract. thus making them interested in
the good or bad to result from the contract
by faithful management or wllitul misuse
of their authority. By the delegation Of
authority we create responsibility and
labor. which it would be unreasonable tc
think we could have performed Wlthou,
suitable remuneration being paid by the
narties receiving the benefit of the respon
sibility assumed and the labor performed
We. there fore. must tax ourselves. that Is
con tribute of our means to the support o
the board of management or government
of our affairs. The government Is create'
fnr the enforcement of our agreement. to
+Le halter protection of all, aud we mus
contribute to its support. else we violate
our contract and become liable TO the pam
and penalties We have imposed ioi It non
comnIiance with our agreemeut or h"art
of faith with our fellow men. Polite
teaches us that power and government i
dorived from God and should be instituted
and carried on with strict view to th'
greatest common good, bearing as nearI,
as possibe equally upon all the people
sffording equal and ample protection t.
each and every citizen or person within III
limits. and impartially and quickly punish
inc every violation of law and morality
The greater the offender the greater thu
offense and great and quick should he ni'
punishment. Politics teaches us t" ooe!
| tba nublic Deacp.