The People's vindicator. [volume] (Natchitoches, La.) 1874-1883, 1878-03-23
Ideal or Real.

lis necessary IN a free State.
"The organization of political par
"ties is the on! y means by which the
"sense of the people can DC got at
"elections upon questions of public
"policy; and 10y party governments
"only can responsibility be fixed on
"political leaders, so that these may
''receive approval or condemnation
"A non-partisan government is the
''dream Of weak and amiabe men
ut belongs to an ideal condition, III
(which all men shall be unsclish
land sincerely DESTROYS of the public
good. In the present condition OF
mankind, non-partisan govern
'ment- one in which both or all par
"ty leaders should sliatc-would be,
land has been where ever tired. only
IAN admirable and effective device
ITO conceal corruption. because i,
"becomes then the interest of tile
"leaders of both parties to cover up
wrong, both having their share OF
"public plumber.
These are the calm and studied ut.
terances of student of political his
tory who has few supe1iors in Ameri-
ca. 1t seems he had prophetic eye
to what was to befall us in Louisiana,
after we had been ravaged by horde
that carried partizauship to an ex-
IRENE.
The calm observer can trace out
the insidious tutor that planted this
Conservative idea among rs. 1t is
traced directly back to Radicaism :
for they were always willing to share
plumber with any body of men-any
man Of inhuence-who would cease
to resist their faith or condemn their
works.
New York in her days of "Ring
Rule" was fed upon Conservatism to
satiation by Tweed's Knights very
arm of plundcrers, and that city fail
ed to correct the evils complained of
until it was done with q strong party
effort.
To-day in our State the most bla-
tant advocates of Conservatism are
our former tyrants-they get their
cue from Blaine, Foster, Garfield and
Hoar, who smilingly insist that the
"best element in Louisiana are op-
"posed to opening old wounds; are
mot in accord with the punishment
"of Wells and Anderson, and their
Every hearts bleed for some Radical
"thief who has at last been brought
Ito justice.
We warn our fellow. citizens of
these sentiments. They are alike
dangerous to our institutions and
fatal to our interests. We have had
full year of ideal government, and
the result is in plain view.
We have reached that era described
by M. De TocQuEv1LLE-the epoch
between misery and confusion, when
the existance Of society is endanger-
sd-the period of the ease of society
and when mankind seems to panse.
This great writer and close observer
says:
"This pause is, indeed, only ap.
"parent; for time does not stop it's
"course for nations any more than
"tor men they are all advancing to-
awards goal with which they are
"unacquainted and we only imag-
zine them to be stationary when their
"progress escapes our observation.
" But however this may
"be, there are certain epochs at which
"the changes that take place in the
SOCIAL and political Constitution of
"nations are so slow and so insensi-
"ble, that men imagine their present
"condition TO be a final state and
"the human mind, believing itself
ITO be firmly based upon certain
foundations, does not extend it's
Researches beyond the horizon
(which it describes.
"These are the times Of small par
''fes and Of intrigue!
Had this astute gentleman lived at
this day, he could not have better
told our situation. We abandoned
the only element of greatness that
party can claim; PRINCIPLE. We
looked to consequences to an espe-
:ial case, and not to general; to
men and not to ideas. And when We
abandoned that high plane we snnk
% duplicity, trickery, and cowardice.
Real parties are distinguished, and
have been since the dawn Of human
government, for generous passions,
genuine convictions, and for bold and
'pen conduct. If there be private
interests, it is so yelled under the
dea of public GOOD. that the vary