The People's vindicator. [volume] (Natchitoches, La.) 1874-1883, 1878-05-18
"Tray, Blanche and Sweetheart. -

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subservient, his character is abhorred
by all that is virtuous, but when a
Press, supposed to be-and very pro.
perly-the free exponent of popular
sentiment, tamely submits to, acqui-
eses in, or defends that which it
knows to be wrong in principle,
most deplorable condition of affairs
can be said to exist.
The true power of the press lies in
its independence, while perhaps its
pecuniary advantages are the other
way. Since the foundation of the
INDICATOR it has been the earnest
and outspoken advocate of Demo-
cratic principles; principles which re-
quire independence of thought and &C
ton to successfully champion. These
fundamental faiths reside not in men
they are eternal, and when we see
our efforts assailed by JOURNALS, un-
worthy the name, we lose hope,
almost, in our cause.
Because the VIND1CATOR saw tit to
criticise the action of the Supreme
Court in the matter of Tom Ander-
son-because we were outspoken
against the treason of Democrats in
the General Assembly to Democratic
principles and pledges, we have been
attacked by every weak, cowardly and
pusilanimous penny-a.liner within
the borders of our Commonwealth.
Power has always had its courtiers.
Even the rude Kings ofAfrican hordes
are surrounded by subservient and
applauding minions. The defender
of baseness ; of treason, has his ex-
cuse in the nature of man, and his
example in history. The satellites Of
power that defended Jefferies had
their example from those who ap
plauded Trisilian. A powerful, un-
answered and unanswerable writer
very justly said, "Some men are will
cling to take law upon trust. They
"rely upon the authority of the Chief
"Justice, because they are too indo.
"lent to search for information or,
"conceiving that there is some mys-
"tery in the laws of their country,
(which lawyers are only qualified to
"explain, they distrust their judy
"ment, and renoupce the right of
shrinking for themselves.
Were these men in the majority, it
would be an unhappy hour for man.
kind, and had their authority been as
vast as their assumed eruditioD, liber'
ty had never been born, or been stran'
gled in its cradle.
Liberty lies IN free speech, and
those who denounce the criticism Of
public men are either unwittingly OF
purposely the tools Of power. When
this acquiesenoe, which is demanded
of us, becomes the rule, we will have
reached the grave Of freedom and
mounted the crown Of infamy.
Courts and learned jurists have
ever been the easy tools of tyrants
During every hour of louisiana
sgony-and her eight years of Radi
calism is without parallel-her task
masters could rely for defenders from
among the foremost members Of be-
bar, while "Ludeling's Court vii
live in infamy, niched as high as tn
\ Star Chamber of Charles I. To al
Executive, clothed with the power q
an autocrat; ruling under a centrali
zing and centralized Constitution, a
we have in our State, legislatures vii
always DO subservient; the Genera
Assembly Of 1878, were treache
rous to the people because the Execu
tive was clothed with more powe
than the people.
We firmly believe with that philo
sophie statesman, Edmund Burke
that nature cannot be so changed bu
that public liberty will be among vi
a. among our ancestors, obnoxious t
some person or persons; that oppo1
tunities will be furnished, and sougb
for, to attempt some alteration to til
prejudice of our inherent rig ht'
"For ambition" says this wonderfu
man, "though it has ever the sam
general views, has not at all time
the same means nor the same particr
lar objects" Radicalism has left I'll
slime of it's teaching on the bosom
our people, and we see evidences
around us that centralism is deep'
seated than We will admit, and TIL
power has votaries more numero'
than we will allow. .,..
However that may be-and truth
is-the INDICATOR proposes to ia
I'll its mission unawed by the frow
of little greatness, and unterri6ed
tho whelps Of "Tray, Blanche al