The New Orleans Democrat. (New Orleans, La.) 1875-1876, 1876-01-22
Delighting the POpulace.

The love of the horrible Is deeply
seated in the human heart. With many
people it amounts to an absolute pas
sion, and they Will put themselves tc
any pains and sacrifice to crafty it. A
Spaniard will live for weeks on black
bread and onions that be may save
money to attend bull-fght. Negroes
i'm the West India islands will deny
themselves the common comforts Of
life to save the cost of admission to a
cock-fght. The most popular and best
read book ever written was Fox s Lives
of the Martyrs" 1t was the horrible
element in "Uncle Toms Cabin that
gained for it so many readers. The
more horrible crime, the more atten-
lively will the majority Of people listen
to an account of it.
Let it be known that the awful details
of u murder are to be brought out OF a
trial, and no courtroom will contain the
number Of people that will seek to
attend. II you want to take the census
of village, set two dogs or men to fight
ing, for all the people will be present II
they get the news. The secret Of the
success Of the drama Of "The Two
Orphans" is the horrible scenes it
represents. The plays that are best
patronized, the books that are most
eagerly sought after, the columns
to the newspaper that are first read,
startling horrors. The pulpit began
of lose its power to draw large
congregations when the occupants
stopped describing the passion Of the
Savior and the tormentS OF the damned.
The political leaders Of Greece and
Rome took advantage Of this love for
the horrible to add to their power and
popularity. They constructed at great
expense vast ampitheatres, and pro-
vided exhibitions Of contests between
savage beasts and more savage men. 1t
was the old way of electioneering, vastly
more potent in it's time than the distri-
button of fees and Offices is now. Ex
Speaker Blaine, who has been studying
the history of atrocities, and seeking
ways that should elevate him to the
and knowledge Of human nature, sought
to revive this ancient method OF cleo
tioneering. He has changed the hall in
which he used to preside into an
for the display OF acts
of cruelty and horror In so doing
he has no doubt added immensely
to his popularity. Unfortunately for
his private aims, however, other politi-
clans saw the object of his tactics and
entered the gladiatorial ring. On whose
brow the crown Of victor shall rest re-
mains to be seen. One thing, however.
is certain; the man who desires to gain
votes hereafter must first delight the
populace by narrating, with tragic
effect, deeds of startling cruelty, CHASTITY
horrors and atrocious barbarity. From
this time forward the National Capital
is to be devoted to purposes OF delight
ing the populace in the way most people
like to be amused. Questions will be
and bills presented that will
afford the best possible opportunities
for the display Of the horrible.
The public has many rich treats in
store during the present session OF Con-
gress. The Cuban question will soon
come up. This will afford an excellent
for recounting the satroci-
ties Of the Spanish people from the ex-
pulsion Of the MOors down to the MUIR
der of the crew of the Virginius. All
the horrors Of the inquiSition will again
be described, and the atrocities Of Alva
held UP to public view as though they
were the occurrences of yesterday. The
cruelties of Cortez and Pizarro will be
presented in a manner that will put to
shame the tame descriptions of Pres
colt. This subject will give some orator
Of Texas fine opportunity to keep
bright the memory. of the massacre OF
Alamo.
The Mormon question will give a
chance to describe the Mountain
massacre, the bloody deeds OF
,he Danites or Avenging Angels, and