The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1875-07-17
Duties VS.. Rights.
From tho Republic.]

DuIleS vs.. Rights.
From tho Republic.]
Rights aud duties are reciprocal.
This is a trnism often eloqueatly
turned, but seldom obeyed. We hear
continually about the rights Of men,
Of women, Of the individual or So
ciety of private property, personal
or corporate enterprise, and all the
innumerabie claims in which /" rights
are proclaimed and asserted. Some
thing too much OF this is the rule.
Let us note for q brief space how sell
dom the word duty" is linked with
the demand for rights" Still less
do men attempt the performance of
duties with the same zeal that they
assert their rights. Yet the latter
can not be maintained without the
former.
Possession and obligations are mu-
tual inter r-dependent and inter-re-
lated. No one can for long maintain
unsullied and unrestricted the rights
Of citizenship, unless at the same
time, they see to it that every duty
appertainiDg thereto, at whatever
cost Of comfort, taste or inclination,
is rigidly performed.
1t is just here too, that in our coun-
try We appear likely to lose ground.
1t is on the vital fact of citizenship
that men too generally fail in the
performance of civic duties and OBJ
ligatious. Take for instance the ap-
prehension relating to politics, which
SO commonly prevails among the
busy and well-to-do, the business and
professional classes. As rule they
are on the side Of government. Even
when they support political philos-
ophy which We may condemn, it can
not be doubted but that they are per-
sonally anxious to see secured both
order and liberty.
Yet the apathy of these classes is
to-day the greatest danger of the
Republic. In the South, it allows the
violence of the dangerous elements,
and the bitter, social and unreason-
ing hatred Of che women, to control
the white people and bring the whole
section into disrepute, maintaining
the policy which they are apt ut de-
nOuncing, aud keeping alive else
where the suspicion with wllicl, it is
not unnatural the anlmus Of COM
mLnity recently SO moved with deadly
hostility to the nation, should be
viewed by those who were aud are
faithful thereto. In the North this
same supine Indifference to duty and
the vigilance it demands, surrenders
important communities to the dam
gerous classes, aban4lons large public
interests to the control Of the specu-
lators, and leaves politics, as busi-
ness, tn the M0re ar- -less. .aansafsp uaau..
ipulation, Of the professional manager.
Yet everywhere the mass of men
are always ready to form under the
leadership Of the best citizens. If the
reverse is too often true, it will surely
be found that those who claim to be
the best have neglected their duty
or attempting to do it have gone to
the task in the spirit Of assuming mas
terslip, Instead Of that Of equal and
rendered intelligent service. Whose
would lead must first serve and be
recognized. But this is straying from
our point of insistance, which is that
in the domain of government and pol
itics there can be no rights without
duties; no privilege without equal
vigilance no freedom without con-
stant resistance to all the encroach-
lnents Of the influences which come
from tile opposite spirit. Life is every
where dual and society is born, trained
and maintained, as the offspring there
Of. Whichever element OF human
endeavor-equity or autocracy-ob-
tains the upper hand, will mark all
the days with it's character. The pres
ent hath its duties requiring faithful
performance which done now and
done continuously, can alone secure
all rights to all, now and in the future.
This is philosophy that the Repub-
lican can least If all afford to ignore.
1t is one also, that the most intelli gent
citizen can neglect, only at obvious
peril