The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1875-05-27

Ii We hadn't gone into the compromise, VI
might have kept up the fight much longer
and perhaps won in the end; but we did g
into it, and the logical and inevitable result
is acquiescence in the present government
which necessarily involves the payment Q
taxes. We fought the compromise bitterly
but since it was accomplished, we propose to
treat it Is live and tangible fact.
THE DUTY OF GOOD CITIZENS.
At q recent Social Science Congress meet
ing in Chicago papers were read on sundr,
subjects. Among them was an essay on Polit
ical Parties, their Organization, their Manage
ment and their Ends. One Of the authors
ideas was that to have much political infu
ence man must belong to some politica
party. "Rarely can q man or newspaper
hold aloof from party and have much infu
ence." It is only by party ties that direct
influence on governmental action can be OBJ
tanned. "A leader must not step outside Of
his party; if he does, influence and leader.
ship desert him." The great aim of any
party is to put its best men in position, SO
that its principles may be judged under IA
vorable circumstances
The essayist enumerates the chief defects
in the management of parties, the last of
which is:
The growing difficulty Of getting competent
men to become candidates for Office. One
reason for this difficulty is the small salaries
paid some important officers. This is hard to
remedy. Another reason is the service that
is required of a candidate during the canvass,
together with the drain on his purse for the
purpose of influencing votes. This is q thing
high-minded men will not submit to, and
without it election is almost impossible.
Hence poor or honest men can not secure
Offices, and they remain q prey of the rich
and INSCRIPTIONS. The sacred duty of good
citizens in these premises is to take deeper
interest in politics. Teachers should enforce
this, preachers preach it. However distaste-
full, let every citizen belong to some party and
strive to purify it by attending the primaries,
and by defeating unworthy nominations
Perfection is impossible, but by such means
as those suggested much will be gained and
the world will be benefited.
On the 7th inst. the BULLETIN discussed the
''value Of party vigilance" in an article in
which this same duty, this "sacred duty of
good citizens to take deeper interest in
politics" was presented in paragraph which
10 wish to repeat for the sake of emphasis,
as it does, a suggestion which
must assuredly come home to every thinking
patriot before another year is ended.
We impute Official corruption and the loss
# wholesome sense Of responsibility, to the
title attention that the people give to the
Ictions of their public servants. In sll other
men are observed and all their
are noted by their employers.
They are watched, not in Che sense that i'm |
,st; watched respectfully, but freely watched, |
With the feeling that all may properly have |
Who pay for services and who have right to |
n equivalent. But in the case of public SER
ANTS who are intrusted with very important |
they are not watched by those who |
re most interested in their actions, who have |
he most to gain by their wisdom and fidelity |
nd the most to lose by their negligence, their
oily, OF their malfeasance. few here and
here do observe the actions of their public
ervants with due care, but these observers
re scarcely one in fifty Of those who vote.
lore than two-thirds Of the grown men of the
United States are stupidity unconscious of
hat is going on at the Federal and State
widely different character if due interest in
ublic affairs was taken BY the masses, plays
pom the ignorance Of the people. Party
'aders appeal to party prejudice while the
anvass is going on, but they are forgotten
y the people almost as soon as 1.-THE echoes
their electioneering harangues have died
way. The people talk Of their candidates a
" days before an election, and then dismiss
lem from their care and thought.
Until the people in mass begin once more
interest themselves in public affairs, men
the higher order of ability will not be
und to assume the duties of Office. As
ng as men of large capacity see that the
,od actions, the wise counsel and the i'm
,rtant achievements of public functonaries
lss without being appreciated, as long as
lch men see that the public are satisfied with
e mediocrity put in Office by their votes,
ey will not leave their own important pur-
its to serve the careless, unappreciative and
ankless Appreciation is the true reward
+ true merit, the intelligent appreciation of
items who observe and understand that
hich they approve. i
The way to get nd Of "cheap little politi-
ans " is to get all who live in the State
study and understand what is going on in
lblic offices. When they learn of the gross ,,
ID monstrous extravaganza and the mar
lous folly which mark public Investments;
hen they learn what prodigious sums are
i'd into the public chest what outrageous
penses are incurred to collect revenue, what
eat and sudden fortunes are made by pub
officers and agents, and how little good re-
Its to the people from all taxes, excuses and
tiles, they will find that it would be much
ser to look around them for capable and
NEST public servants
JUsr So" How do you get along with
or sewing machine2" asked Mrs. SwirRins
har rn;rhhnr Inst o>,c - fhn ror1~, |