New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-02-10

in many places, lightly esteems the most
shining qualities and actions of those WAC
govern, if they do not tend to promote the
two great ends which We have mentioned,
the virtue and happiness of the people: and
he refutes, in the first book of his republic.
one Thrasymachus who advanced that
subjects were born for the prince, and not
the prince for his subjects; and that what
ever promoted the interest OF the prince
and commonwealth might be deemed just
and lawful.
We have declared, and WHY not practice
the doctrine inculoated by Plato, Cicero
and other sages and teachers Of good gov
eminent! We certainly possess the means
and power to make ourselves prosperous
and happy; but have we the courage and
manliness to make ourselves virtuOus and
law abiding Let tine spirit Of repu oiican
government" answer. Let us ask ourselves,
Is the citizen born for the officer, or the
officer for the citizen! Is the office and it's
emoluments created for the officer, or the
officer and his duties created for the Office!
Are the people responsible to the officer and
the office or the Office aud the officer to the
people! These are questions We should not
hesitate to answer for ourselves.
Can ignorance and dishonesty secure to
us the objects of government? Can either
ignorance or dishonest be absted by muir
der, assassination and plumber We should
answer these questions by performing in
Christian spirit all the duties incumbent
upon us as citizens. Ignorance is not al.
ways nor in all cases associated with dis.
honesty, nor is dishonesty necessarily the
offspring of Ignorance; but ignorance In
public places is necessarily subject to an
influence not provided for in the rules of
inally the representative of the government
of the people, but in reality is the passive
agent Of characters unknown to the law and
the people. whose acts for good or evil, hon
est or dishonest, are laid at the door Of the
official Such an officer should be severely
punished by q proper rule of reason for
taking upon himself duties pertaining to
the public welfare that he knew he was not
competent to perform. He who trades OFT
on you false or bogus money you endeavor
to have unprecedented and punlahed for dis
honest dealing; then why not apprehend
and Justly punish him who cheats you in
the dearest of ali earthly goods. the admin
istration of your government 1t has been
said of Dion that he lacked in the essential
points or principles of governing; that he
laid down the rule ana the duty with In
flexible rigor. Now, in republic like ours.
where the people. in the proper qualined
sense. are sovereign; where virtue and IN.
telligence are supposed to pc the rule and
not the exception, impartiallty, inhexloliity
and rig0r should be the motto. But officers
should be chosen to apply this rule who are
possessed of great knowledge of men,
and thoroughly comprehend the priu-
ciples of our republic. With Rollin
we say: From the highest to the
lowest office in the State, whoever is
charged with the ruling or conducting our
affairs. ought particularly to study the art
of managing mems tempers, and OF giving
that bent and turn OF mind that may best
suit the measures Of government. People
and duties to society before they can be
trusted with the power OF governing It.
They must be thoroughly acquainted with
the wants Of their country and the body
polite before they attempt to leglsiate tor
the benefit of either.
Shall We show ourselves, notwithstanding
our reputed progress IN civilization and en-
l;ghtenment, interior to the ancients: DO
we not claim to be superior TO the Egyp-
tians, even in the days OF their greatest
glory and achievements that went to make
man prosperous and happy! The kingdom
of Egypt bestowed its noblest labors and
finest arts on the improvement OF mankind;
and Greece was 50 sensible OF this, that its
most illustrious men, as Homer, Pythagoras,
Plato. and its greatest legislators, Lycurgus
and Solon. with Others, travelled into Egyp.
to complete their studies and draw
from that fountain whatever was most rare
and valuable i'll every kind OF learning.
God himself mas given this people glorious
Moses, He SAYS of him that he was learned
in all the wisdom of the Egyptians" These
people we're ths first who rightly under
stood the rules OF government and a ma
ton go serious. grave and wise could not
but perceive that the end OF politics Is to
make life easy and people happy. And
shall We not profit by their example and, II
possible, III prove the art But we can not
practice with ignorance, nor can we improve
the art BY means of dishonesty and evasion
of our real duty. Instead of making politics
a source of actual war, murder, riot and
assassination. We must use it to make lite
and property secure. the people vlrtuous
and intelligent. prosperous and happy
bound together by the Incubation OF Chris
tan charity, and united for the common
good by the spirit Of republican govern
ment.
To give a summary, the spirit of repub
lican government teaches US TO keep sacred
and invioiare each and every article OF ou'
government compact. 1t teaches that w
shall freely and willingly abide by all the
restraints imposed upon ourselves tor ths
common good; that we shall do unto men al
we would that men do unto US: that VT
shall not only guard our own but also oul
neighbors' rights; tina, we shall not only SEE
that all commissioned in our name do thei
whole duty. but that We also set the exam
Pile by performing our own; that the ,ignor
ant be educated, virtue lnculcated ant
practiced. vice and crime punished, ant
Justice impartiaiiy and speedily admins
tered in the manner directed by law; tina
the lawful liberty. prosperity. virtue AM
6 -, an
grand aim Of politics. and the supreme mo
tive of every act of the citizen.
p. P. c.