The People's vindicator. [volume] (Natchitoches, La.) 1874-1883, 1878-02-02
PLAIN FACTS FOR LEGISLATORS.

SSOsO AASSS"'"'' WV w a">"S't
not equal to the occasion which pre-
sents itself to them. Public opinion
Is clamorous for radical reforms. Fo
anew Constitution which will, at ont
fell swoop, wipe ont, not only presen
corruption, but bar future legislative
judicial and executive vi1ainy.
On this point oar legislators stani
In strange contrast Will, their master!
the sovereign people. They ART
neither harmonious or homogeneous
And il We are to Judge, that small
men are incapable of else than little
sections, matter contains no minnta
wlerewith to contrast tho assembled
wisdom of tho Capitol.
The members of the Democratic
party 10 that body mistake their voca-
ton, and overlap their standing ia
our party, as we'll as assume too much
for their ability. We have not dele
gated to them the palm of party
'eaders|Iip-au Office their actions
would seem to indicate they had
nsurped.
We are well aware that man is an
sgotistical bundle Of humanity, and is
bpt to assume|prerogatives, when ele
waited above tho Common herd,' to
which he Is not entitled, and for
which nature never fitted him. Party
leaders are either born with the
genius for that office or selected by
consent. Our Democratic array In
Senate and House, If they possess
natures certificate, are a libel on
humanity, and we IRE certain that
Louisiana has not snnk 90 low 10 the
Intellectual scale az to "choose BY
consent" . leader from among them.
Politics 10 the science of human
governmental must be learned from
books. There are fixed and immuta-
bic rules governing its success. Our
legislators are not politicians; for that
We suffer, and for that reason they
can never assume party leadership.
Some. OF these Legislators have
strange ideas of aiding the success of
party-of promoting the end Of party
organization. A number live within
the shadow of fear-fear of Northern
prejudice; and desire, as we'll az urge,
that Louisiana shall be governed, not
for the benefit of the people and for
the happiness and welfare of the citf-
zen of the Commonwealth, but to
allay Northern radical censnre and
these men of course imagine that what
they don't know about craftsmanship
Is not worth knowing. There is still
smother class that are filed with the
idea that the enemy will disintegrate
that victory can be wop only by
allowing the opposition to blunder
and split. These are the Esop. lark
and-the. farmer statesmen, who are
constantly laughing at Macawber for
being fool, and are constantly act
ing Macawber without knowing it.
And there is another point we de
stre tn make, much as we regret to
descend to it. There is to-day, per-
baps, more mean, petty rivalries
among our legislators than can be
imagined in ono short day: Imagina.
ton has fondly traced in the mind of
more than one vain man his eminent
fitness to occupy the Governors chair
In 1880. More than one aspires to
head onr State ticket next guberna-
torial election-and there are not a
few who hope to name a governor and
then own him after he is in. This
with the pitiab1e lack Of braius-not
one with commanding superiority over
his fellows-'a dead level of medic
our assembly to a dis
organized rabble.
We have friends among these PEG.
pie, they are, in fact, afI our friends,
bat capdor and Our duty a. a faithful
journalist impels US to these utter
ances which, however harsh, they may
seem, the very peril Of our situation
mpesatively demands Of us.
Is it necessary to name the remedy
when the causes are pointed so clearly
As We have endeavored to point them
Orr people are not an unreasoning,
elamorous populace. Their demands
ore just, and founded upon sacred
pledges. They will not be forced
down By impudeut assertions, that
they are "howling idiots" who know
rot their situation.
The day Hhen few men could say
what the citizens of a whole Common
wealth required, is not with US yet.
We still totter on tho brink of ruin,
and until We are safely anchored with.
10 a sure harbor-sbeltered by \ Con.
stitution which Will protect our liberty