The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1875-02-26
VOx POpulio


From the New Orleans Times, Feb. 10TH
There is a great deal of stuff and non
sense utteredin the name OF" the people"
We do not believe that vox populi, as
commonly understood in these times, is
vox Del. On the contrary the assump-
tions, so frequently observed, by little
squads of politicians who get together
and illuminate their own jaundiced no.
tions and proclaim them the volce OF
God, are better described as impudent
blasplemy. In a vast democracy like
ours, naturally and properly the voice OF
the people is the highest earthly author
ity and may be placed next to vOX Del,
which is infa1libly just, true and wise;
but it is not so nea identity with these
qualities as to deserve equal rank. so
much and so often are true democratic
principles distorted in the selfish uses
of active shysters, and so much and so
often are they abused through the mis-
guided zeal of patriotic Ignorance, that
one is often goaded to declare, it not to
believe, that the ideal democracy is very
perfect as a conception, but not sut1l-
GENTLY sturdy to flourish under the load
of coarse humbug it is compelled to
bear.
1t occurs to us that a good deal OF I'M
necessary fuss and turmoil, which are
quoted as serious objections to our sys,,
tenn, might be spared, and q great deal
of fierce quarreling, founded on nothing;
and coming to nothing good obvlated
bv a more liberal construction OF the
term " the people" No mOiety OF the
populace have a right to arrogate, to
themselves the exclusive pr~Oprietorshlp
Of that title. There is no patent right
extant on American sunlight and free
| air, nor do State lines, or city limits, or
ward boundaries constitute a legal close
which to cross is trespass, punishable
with scOrn and contempt, and such
things.
Itisthe popularity of the "rOck-rO0ted,
mountain buttressedn Bourbon, the
| world over, that each one of him devout-
ly believes himself to constitute as large
a proportion of the people as a township
or so of ordinary mortals. He propounds
his views with o plural significance,
thinks of his case as a collective sub
stantive, displays a vicariOus indignation
when his corn is trod upon, and consld-
ers in his heart that the foundations of
society have tumbled out if his acquain-
tances refuse to sneeze when he takes
snuff. He is known of all men and pIa-
| carded as a fusty old bore, and yet his
| theories run in a strong and deep, II I'M
suspected vein through all grades OF re,
spectacle society. Indeed we are not
sure that his spirit is confined to any
particular stratum of society.
The i%ntr0yerted attention OF guilds,
parties and special interests, constantly
dwelling upon themselves, involqntarily
leads up to the conviction that the bal
ance of creation is a comparatively in
significant and rather inadequate tail to
their kite. The egotism of democracy is
colder, harsher, meaner than the egOtlsm
of ar~istocracy, and any n who holds up
q glass in which it may see itself faith
fully reflected will be doing good service
to "the people"
Parties have as little right as indi-
viduals to wrap themselvesin the mantle
of the solemn saw, voX populi, and lgz
more the existence and beliefs OF even
the smallest and humblest minority.
Not only have they no right to do this,
but no party even becomes powerful
enough to do it with impunity. 1t is
poison to the body polite, and however,
small the germ, will certainly breaks
out somewhere with disagreeabfe re-
suits. :;
Every roustabout, huxter, field handI
law, the constitutions and genius of ou(
iUSUIbutIUuSS uS ldA So NhN 1hIpOAUNAo ~A2
integer of the people, as the proudest
%aristocrat. Jefferson Jones, cartmanf3
SO far as rights and privileges and peo,-
pie are concerned, fills exactly as much
space as Mr.. Astor or Gen. Grant. Intela
lect, character, standing, may and dE
give vast advantages in certain ways
but they neither add to nor take fror;i
the value of the individual as a facto;
in that great sum known to the law al
" the people, ~
1t would, therefore, seem to be till
first duty of intelligent citizens to carei
fully regard this distinction, and to iii
nothing on the assumption that ,tfH
weaker party, 4, or or + the no Opposing parry
Were this principle fully accepted, VIC
apprehend that much of the ~rancoroVE
mounting with which the State has besf
cursed for years would disappear, to tlle
no small comfort and relief of a muGl
oppressed and too much narrowed pep.
nile.