Richland beacon. [volume] (Rayville, La.) 1869-1890, 1878-02-02
"VOx POpali, vOx Del"

We do not fully endorse the sen'
,i,nrnt contained in the above quo
,ati"n. for the papulace Is not - pure
aid exalted a, iba, its will should br
considered a. meaning the Voice Ut
God-a!l men are tal.ihle-hui We d.
rrcnyi,iZ- the fact that The voice of the
people was considered of SD much
importance by the founders Of our
system of government that il was
mad.. one of the curper SiOnes-'he
chief corner slOnr-upun which rests
the mighty fabric known as the Gov
erument of the United States and he
governments of all the States coin
posing that compact Hence the
alarm with which We have Tor years
observed The tendency Of powerful
ciass-powrrful in wealtb-In ignore
this feature of our Democratic gov
ernmen'; this cherished principle of
our free American people.
Human nature seems to he so Cob
s,i,utrd that it has an inordinaie love
Of 2nwer a,,i dic,a'"rial authority or
a desire to rule. The wealthy seem
To think that their money should buy
this puwer-and it does. too often.
As al illustration. see bow presump-
iious and arrogant the h"ardrrs of
gold in the United States have he
come, ard with " ha, indignation they
view all attempts to better the cOndi-
lion Of the poorer classes, or The AS
sumption by these classes Of their
legitimate rights
This love of authority often exhib.
lis itself also in the conduct of ihUse
chosen by the people as their public
servants, who, no sooner than they
are thus chosen, assume the mrin and
authority of masters instead of
servants. and arrogaiing to them
selves the superiority of hereditary
monarchs or vicegerents Of such. be-
gin at once to disregard the wishes Of
those from whom they derive their
brief authority.
This is no imaginary picture. as we
will be borne gu, by all intelligent
observers in the assertion that there
has been for years a growing tendency
in this direction, and i, will increase
as The population increases and a. the
wealthy grow richer and the poor
grow poorer. Money is powerful,
and " i'll control when the masses he
come illitera,e from want Of means tn
arqnire education. and WELD a willing
obedience Ia wealth and superior in
,elligrncc. and. indeed. intellect should
rule Hence. the importance to the
poor of sustaining public schools
1t is true. We are in no immediate
danger Of the rule of an oligarchv,
we bcleve, fer we have vet in the
National Congress men Of broad and
patriotic views. Whu are brave de-
Tenders Of pure rerublicanism and
recognize he fact that they are the
servants AID not the masters Of The
public But it will come through the
blind idolatry Of the w"rshipprs OF
mammun. Whenever maturity of
Congress Weld To the demands Of The
gold gamblers 81 Tar a. to continue
the iniqnit"us policy of placing u
higher value on the money held ny
hs wealthy than the currency which
circulales among the poor:
+ II we b+l"ngad to either the monied
or offirr-hnlding class. we might not
feel alarmed. bu, might rcjoicr at the
signs of The times. t"r we are like all
other men ny MIXTURE. But as We b.
lung 10 tie herd who earn their bread
by The wear aud tear Of brain and
MUSCLE. We feel great interest in
preserving the rights aud liberties of
the passes. and can but express our
anxiety on the all important issue.