The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1877-08-29
SOUTHERN CRAFTSMANSHIP.

eCG Helm . 4 Il l L 3 II 4 \ ) Ii r.
Freed now from the sharklcs that
since the close Of The war have hound
their hands and rid Of the necessity
that has hitherto tied their tongues
and no longer required to assume the
attitude of apoiogists for the South,
there is now an opportunity for the
statesmen of the South to show Of
what kind Of stuff they are made and
those Of them who are equal to the
emergencies of the occasion will ever
hereafter have an honorable place in
the memory of the generations yet
to CONS. The period Of the war will
be the dividing line in the history OF
this country and the problems to be
met and solved by the statesmen OF
the second century Of the Republic
will lie more important and have q
more direct influence upon the wei
fare Of the country than any which
we're presented to those in whose
hands was the Geetiny Of the United
States in the past. It is now to be
determined whether the experiment
of hundred years shall, after hav,
ing failed most signally, be con
tinued upon an experimental basis
Or whether our form Of government
shall be SO remodelcd, modified in
some parts and extended in others,
as to meet the changed conditions
which make the original form made
quate for the purposes it was intend
ed. One of the results of the war
has been to extend the doctrine of
individual freedom to such limits as
to threaten absolute anarchy. just
how much personal liberty is consis-
tent with wise and just admins
tration of government which seeks
''to do the greatest good for the
greatest number" is one Of the ques-
tions which the recent disturbances
in the North have forced upon the
attention of the statesmen both
North and South. With a more ig
norant and, perhaps, a more danger
Gus population al home it is ques-
ton of as much interest to the
statesmen of the South as to those
Of the North.
The old Constitution recognizes no
difference Of peoples, climate Or soil
and it strikes us that some provision
ought to he made to meet the diver
stiles in these respects so as to make
a Homogeneous whole of sections
whose interests clash and whose ha-
bits, tastes and mode Of living are
different. A form Of government
which would provide suitable regula
tions for the different sections with
out fostering sectional animosities
will in the near future be u matter of
necessity. The paramount duty of
the Southern statesmen will be and
is now to watch and guard the inter
ests of the South in these and other
matters that will require judgment
political wisdom and breadth Of in
tellect.
The trouble we see ia the way of
their being able to Go anything for
the South is a spirit of intolerance
which seems to possess the people
and makes them unwilling to be I'd
and hypercritical Of their public
men. Every man you meet is pol
itician and every other one is an as
plrant for office. The present re-
form we most need is that the office
should hunt the man instead of the
man hunting the Office. When that
day comes our be t men viii be put
in our responsible places and wien
the people submit to their advice
and leadership then Southern states
men may accomplish something on
our behalf. 1t has already in quiet
way done much for us, but we are
only at the beginning of what is to
be done.
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pITSSIAN GUT. VIOLIN STRINGS
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