The People's vindicator. [volume] (Natchitoches, La.) 1874-1883, 1878-01-12
Apply the Knife.

OHf menu or the NC" va" ""
Democrat, generally very correct an"
never wrong from the heart, deals III
straDgo expressions at times. We
trust he will not frown at our pre-
sumption in calling his attention to
what we consider a very grave and
ralical error in lila philosophy. In a
late number 129th Dec, we Think he
says in substance that corruption in
government is q creature of slow
growth, "anl the reform Of those cor
rup,ions, in consequence, takes much
time as we'll rs labor"
We must cmphatically differ with
our learned contemporary in his n.y.
pothcsis. Evils which are plain to the
knowledge and sight; evils, whose
effect is apparent every moment, will
not admit of delay in their eradica-
ton. The cancer in the human body,
slowly eating its sure way to the Vi
tails, will not be checked by poultices
the knife il The remedy. So with
government. Those cortuptions and
excuses, such rs exist with us and
effect our material well being to the
extent Of prostrains our resources
rendering us incapable of exe'tlon,
call for radical remedies. They are
apparent to sight and knowledge.
The nearest tyro ID politics discerns
the cause, and self interest only de.
ters him from calling for the Surgeons
knife.
The corruption fostered and sns'
taiuea by the legislation Of the last
decade in this State lies too dec? to
he cured by any remedy less than
some great convnlsion. The drunk
ara in vain essays to ''taper off''-he
feeds the craven appetite with that
food which has prosttuted him, Know
ing that he is but sinking to his grave
with every drop imbibed, while he is
equally certain that by an effort Of
will-by stopping at once, life, Wig
or and health will result. So with
human government. Junius tells us
that, "to depart in tho minutest ar
ticle, from the nicity and strictness
of punctilio, is as dangerous to Ma
tional honor as to female virtue
And would it not tie an impossibility
to suppose that we could indulge in
excuses to q reasonable extent and
then claim virtue thereby because we
could have done worse. The propo.
sition is saved from a charge Of idiot.
cy simply because of its ridiculous.
ness; for it is demanded that the
State should be released from tho
dangers Of the past-should bc re-
turned to the "Dicest punctilio' Al
ONCE!
This same question of "slow re-
form" was asitated by the Democrats
of New York, upon Mr.. Tilden's as
Stunning the Office of Governor of tina
great State. Some conteading tina
reform was creature Of slow growth
while the great reform Governor use'
that immortal expression-"naugh
can save US, but the knife" New
York never was, in the worst days O
its ring rule, subjected to the torture
of corruption now feeding, like thu
vultnres of Promethens, upon the Vi
tails of our State. The complaint il
universal, that the effect of had gov
eminent still cxlsts-ligh salariet
officials and subjects 10 rags-unjns
and unequal taxation-revenues ex
tracted by an usurous taxation upo'
the lands of the citizen, while capita
in monies, bonds, and stocks, pa!
not a tithe-a cumbersome and cost,
judiciary system which is powerles
to effect its purpose, save at enor
nous expense-a debt heapea npo'
rs BY the Radical plunderers which
should not, nor will rot, be paid with
ont q strict Inquiry how it was incur
red. All these are ailments of tn
body polite which demand, not tn
slow process our worthy contempora
~ would have US invoke, but tn
swift and sure application of TIL
knife. ""..
Louisiana suffered in tho past from
the disorder, now she suffers fron
the physician it is DOW tie hand q
our government alone that can max
Us desperate.
Is this a time to deal in theories
to put to practice impossible ideas
to talk Of the "rights of the negro,
Of "quieting his mind" of gush, an
of seutiment7 Our administration 1
doing this. As the learned physical,
who stands knife in hand, and disert
snpon subjects that have no beariu
upon political philosophy. while h
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