New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1873-04-08
Communicated
PUBLIC OPINION
BY 4 RADICAL

One hears a great deal OF puDnc cllh'
ion and its potency. That such thing
exists ard is powerful in controlling the
actions and Offices Of men is matter OF
considerable doubt to all save the elec:
few who are graciously permitted 70 view
the mysterious workings Of this mythical
being. 1t is said. by party protesting
intimate acquaintance. as we'll as author
ity to speak in its name, TO be ''simply
the moral judgmen, OF the people OF a
country"
! 30 no: propose 20 fetter myself with
any such old-faslioned restrictions. and
in making up my public opinion shall
not include the sentiments OF those whose
habits formed by early education. whose
puritanic ideas Of acquisition iettered by
the dull prosaic doctrine enunciated in the
commandments. have implanted distaste
for midnight visits 20 neighbors thouses.
varied by an occasional episode az stone
breaking or trip TO Baton Rouge. The
..opinion' of which J shall treat is the
unanimous expression 0! that numerous.
f not respectable, class Of people. known
as ..fences'' to the police. and receivers Of
stolen goods to the public at large. as well
as their enterprising eoadjutors Of tie
thief persuasion. J: is. unfortunately for
these acquisitive gentry. zoo true thatth
and the general public 'differ essentially
in their abstrac: estimation Of govern.
ment."
The 'fences" look upon government
as trust created by the people to pro-
tect the too acouisitive citizen from the
attemp: of any muscular individual 20
regain by force any stolen property found
in the possession Of fence. and the con-
.titution as the ''magna charta' Of their
liberties. especially framed 70 protect
their .qres yen.tes from dissertation by
unexpected and of course unwelcome visits
from the ''minions Of the moon" or any
others Of tina. odioUs class Of pegsoIs
known as officers Of the Jaw.
The public. with strange perversity. re-
gard government as al aggregation Of
powers to be used in promoting the
greatest good Of the creates: number. and
under the sanction Of law would invade :le
sanctuary 0: the burglar and deprive him
OF his spells 20 restore :hem 20 the lawful
owner.
The fences naturally EEL that they hare
a Eight ito pursue. withou. hlndrance
from the goHernmen: or others. :heir own
career for happiness and prosperity" The
public regard governmen: IS d means OF
preserving their property from depTeda-
tons q: the hands o, the iSit-tngered,
and are prone 20 '..,njus: legislation IN
the shape OF police regulations and Grim
inai proceedings which enable :ae vulgar
he'd TO sleep IN security. and. :o,a great
extent, deprive tie fence and his custom
as Of a large profit. 20 which. N thelr
own estimation. their iato:S, :aleI:s and
enterprise entitle them.
The conservative fence ''opposes the
rule Of one class OF people with d!i-eEen'
pursuits Of industry over another. well
knowing tia: the interests peculiar to
fences are no. safe except under their
own immediate control. The rule OF one
set Of people over another under SUCH clI-
can be nothing but an abom-
Unable despotism." Zone portion Of a
people ought not TO rule over another.
Every interes: which is peculia! to one |
class ought to be carefully guarded from
all interference by persons Of another class
Of pursuits
The radical public contends that gov.
eminent should foster the general interest,
aud that owners Of morables should be |