The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1877-08-12
THE VISIONARY AND THE PRACTI-
CAL.

y
presentfmaladies of'our body polite,
are Of very empirical and experiment
al character. They are intended more
to arouse and divert the patient than to
give any real relief, or even hope of re-
lief. The proposed Bureau of Labor,
and the courts of arbitration, are of this
character. That other remedy Of con-
stituting the government the sole or
principal employer and dispenser and
regulator Of wages, is one Of those mon
strosities which could only emanate
from crack-brained theorists, or dis
guised monarchists. 1t is not worthy
OF serious consideration, except to put
the honest and Democratic people OF
the country on their guard against
those who propose SO fragrant treason
against the cardinal principles OF our
political system.
The other remedies, we affirm, do not
purport to embrace any larger scope
than that of philosophic inquiry, such
as has already occupied the ablest in
tellects Of the present century. We
doubt IL such inquiry, by politicians
and officials, would be productive Of
any more tangible and practical results
and relief than the innumerable books
and essays with which the world has
been flooded. Public officials, poll
ticians and legislators are expected to
accomplish, or, at least, to undertake
something more practical than the pro-
duction Of mere essays. plans Of reform
and schemes of social organization.
We want no more bureaus and commits
sions. We cannot wait for closet
schemes and theories to be elaborated
at the leisure and for the advertisement
OF political or philosophical dreamers
or superficial demagogues.
The evil is too serious and urgent to
abide their tedious and interminable
What the people de-
mand Of their representatives in the
government is an active and heroic
treatment OF the dangerous disorder
with which our society Is afflicted. That
is within the power and is the appro-
pirate practice of those who shape the
Of our government. The
task which they would assume is that of
the philosopher and social reformer.
The task which belongs to them is the
easy and simple one Of the sensible
physician who rescues the patient from
the effects Of previous bad treatment,
of overdosing, Of what is called heroic
practice, which have aggravated the
original form Of the complaint and
given 1t chronic character. Throw
physic to the dogs, restore the patient
as nearly as possible to his original
and reassert the ais medical
triG nature, expel from his system the
poison which previous treatment has
and by just and simple
methods of aiding and cooperating
with nature you may rescue him from
The early grave to which too highly
scientific" practice is rapidly hurrying
him.
This is the most familiar illustration
We can give of the proper political
treatment of the present great social
Ind political evil OF our country. Our
patient has been overdosed with stimu-
ants, narcotics and violent so-called
that have defeated and detied |
he national processes of hygiene. Our
political administration and legislation I
or the last fifteen years has had no other
Tim than to give a false and plethoric
appearance to the body polite, which,
o far from indicating healthy condi-
ion to the rejecting and observing,
My presaged the appoplectic and drop,
ical crisis into which we have now
allen.
When the government passed from
Democratic control and direction it en-
cred upon a career Of vicious, corrupt
nd licentious administration and legis-
alton which is the true and real source
t all our present troubles. It re-
ounced all the time honored principles
nd policies Of the Democracy. Whilst
rousing the people or intiaming their
artisan and sectional passions until
hey were made as blind as the rattle
make in August, it occupied itself ex-
lusively in every device Of the oil
archical as opposed to the Democratic
ystem of government. It established
so-called protective tariff for the
enefit Of capitalists and spectators,
'hich has operated to impoverish the
aborer, to discourage honest industry,
) destroy commerce, to increase enor-
nously the cost of subsistence, ana has
My made the rich few richer, and the
lany poor poorer. 1t created q
anking and paper and bond sys-
em with like objects and results.
Its national works, upon which SO
lany millions Of the public revenue
1ere expended, were placed in charge Of
class Of the most audacioas public
obbers that ever cursed a country. It
1uandered the public domain in bogus
.xoo,Io ord Crol;k MoL: