The People's vindicator. [volume] (Natchitoches, La.) 1874-1883, 1875-12-11
Policy.

That there is a certain amount of
policy required in every day life, We
are even in doubt; some contend 90,
but the vast majority Of men do not
admit these premises. Policy and it's
meaning ia often confounded with de.
ceit, and the person pract'cing the
one is but doing the other--then there
has entered largely into the practical
world, what is know ~ sel8shness,
this is also called policy. 1t is not
our province, however, tn discuss this
! subject, save as it bears upon public
matters-upon tho broad question VI
tho conflict with principle by it's use.
All policy is very suspicious, says
IN eminent statesman, that sacrifices
the interests If anv part of a com.
mnnity to the ideal good Of the whole
this is certainly an axiom "a trite
IA truthful, and how near have our
people come to live up to it.
We hear it said on all sides that
people have no rulers save Of their
own creation, this We admit in tho
main, but like 10 al other things
sl,ams will creep in, and past i'nita-
ton is often mistaken for the pure dc.
mand. In our own political, shalt We
eay political freedoms, battle rather,
even without metaphor Contest, there
is occasion for the demagogne, and he
profits by it. This individual has
made it a study to learn tho public
taste, the tone Of the public palate,
what it requires, and upon such viands
does he feed it, that the appetite
seems to crave.
From the year 1863, the advent Of
reconstruction, Radicalism and ruin,
in the State Of Louisiana, till 1874
six years, policy was the watchword,
and defeat the result. Even in 1874,
We found many adamant-political'
policy philosophers, upon whom these
disasters had made no impression !;
they seemed as if born at a stand in
mental action, to have been created
with just 50 much and no more pc.
litical thought, and have made defeat
and disaster more than criminal by
their conduct. To this class let us
add yet another, found even among
Christ's deciples. consequently there
can be- no disgrace to us 10 hanging
them here. We refer to the time
server--the fence. straldler-tle run
with.the. hare and hold with-the
hounds, policy man, who seems 60
wise, 9" patriotic, 80 se!f.sacri6eing.
hnt all on the surface, andall for self.
This individual il in his element in u
disturbed state "f society, it is then
chat he can reap his little profit, upon
which to sustain his declining years.
He is found at primary meetings,
with his little ticket; lis series Of
wishy-washy res"|oti""s. He calls
thievery Of public money deficit,
and the man who commits the theft
a dJanltcr, Or che is short, poor fel-
low" He designates a barcfaced
public plumber as AZ "illegal act, IN.
wise legislation" lie is soft on lis
friends and hODied with the enemy.
In fact, lie lacks that attribute that
makes the man, character, and he has
that which makes the ass-cheek.
"Anl has lie fullowers" 10 you say.
He certainly has-some; his pat
smile and tawning appearance, his
prompt attendance and readiness.to.
do everything conduct, is taken by a
great many, to mean patriotic action,
he dissembles, he deceives, and in the
cod, should his people, as he feeling
~ IA Ia crooodile) calls them, lose,
he is cafe any way; and ia that event
lie satisfies his friends ~ that they
lIavc gained something by getting
him in. He tells them that he is in a
position to protect them, but does
not say, at the same time, also to help
himself.
Then, the readers Of the Yindicator,
will ut once set them down as dema-
gogues.-worse than that, for they
carry it to the extent Of ruin and
degradation, in Louisiana. 1''.- =
Success comes not in that way, nor
By their help, and the FIRST duty we
owe To our country is to plainly and
publicly snub this class. There is
nothing to lose BY it. and the gain is
three.foarths Of the battle, for it
makes unity, and thati il success.
What is required Of our people is q
bold, we'll defined line Of action
principle to be the foundation and
capstone,a vigorous and vital con-
duct Of affairs; no dallyiug with the
enemy, but war! war ! all the time
against them, and the victory when
won which n snreL In douhlv hene-