St. Landry democrat., 1879-03-15

j
will show that the voting of ignorant
and uneducated people is detrimental
to its interests and therefore not right
but wrong, it is clearly the case that
society has not only a right to interfere,
but is in duty to its members bound to
do so. But we do not wish to be I'M
derstood that we should do an injustice
or commit an invasion of the rights of
Others for the sake of greater or Interior
good. It is only this, that the right
which may have existed in favor of any
individual up to that time, ceases to be
q right and at once becomes wrong
when it is no longer beneficial, but in
furious to society. Should the liberty
of man he considered fright" when
it is allowed to put our lives in jeopardy,
to destroy our property or to overturn
or endanger our political institutions?
The necessity of curtailing the natural
rights of man is we'll known in all civil
lied communities. In fact the very
laws which restrict such rights augment
the liberty of the individual whose rights
are thus restricted, because he gains
more from the limitation of other mems
freedom than he suffers by the diminu-
ton of his own. So we conclude that
society in duty to its members must
restrict the natural liberty of man in
order to promote the public welfare. |
do no disparagementt to the dignity OF
human nature even in its humblest form
when say that the rights of the civil
| lied and cultivated man should be
greater than those of the ignorant and
uneducated. The general diffusion of
political knowledge is essential to public
prosperity and to the security of our
liberties. A government whatever its
form is not really free when its theory
and practical operation are not under
stood by the great body of those from
whom its powers are derived. Universal
suffrage is valuable only as its exercise
is directed by an enlightened public
sentiment. While these propositions
are generally acknowledged as self-evi-
dent truths, it must be confessed that
the general knowledge of our govern
ment is too limited to secure the unin-
terrupted enjoyment of a good admin
istratiOn.
A large portion of our citizens assume
the duties and responsibilities of freemen
without the information requisite to a
faithful discharge of the vast RESPONSE
bilities devolved upon them by the con-
stitution and laws. Many of them am
bilious of civil honors or impelled by
greed for gain, accept important public
trusts with attachments in political
science too circumscribed to enable them
to render efficient service to the State
or to gain for themselves an honorable
distinction. In the character and acts
of many of our officials at this time does
the truth of this remark find abundant
confirmation. Our present political and
financial condition is caused by univer-
sal suffrage, and on that account our
experiment of Republican government
is in one step of failure. All the talent
In existence is scarcely sufficient to gov
ern mankind, what task would it be
for the ignorant. Experience seems
to have shown to most of nations that
not even an enligbten people will do to
trust with the election of their Offices,
and in consequence the officers OF their
chief rulers are hereditary and their
minor officials are appointed.
The experience Of ages has taught us
the necessity of intelligence as a ma
tional safeguard. A dearly bought and
ever to be remembered experience has
taught us the effects of universal suf-
frage. Is it to be supposed that an
ignorant voting population would use
any means or adopt any measures by
which education would become univer-
sal or even general? Is it to be supposed
that they would invent or approve OF
any system that would advance the
progress of science and litegatuTef
Experience has Taught us the painful
response. Our legislative halls would
be filled with men totally unqualified to
hold such Offices of responsibility. Our
judiciary would consist of men who
know not the meaning of law; and our
executive Offices would be held by trick
sters and sharpers, who were by the
generous distribution Of public money
enabled to corrupt the ignorant masses
of voters,
Bnt these are by no means the only
evils necessarily connected with snch a
state of affairs. Civilization would be
checked In its rapid march, and once
again the dark ages Of ignorance would
envelope our now enlightened people.
The glorious results Of scientific inyes=
tigation would be lost, and society would
be lost, and society would once more
relapse into its original ignorance. Pa
triotisn you'd be unknown; moral
rectitude would DO forgotten, and the
progreas OF oar progressive sphere re-
tarded. For welt we know that the ia,
separable companions Of ignorance and
vice would prove destructive to the
progress of man while the destiny ~ ~
naaa is infpite progression. Indeed we
| fully appreciate the fact that oHr world
4 a. progressive one, and that knowledge
/ is the end Of all human ambition-the
the full extent Of human happiness.
Let us then place the reins Of govern
snent lip the hands of men who will di-
j rarsifv nlr lard with FREQ nrIlin insti