The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1879-07-12
Another Speech
BIZ AN UNATTACHED DELroATE, ON THE
LICENSE QUESTION

privileged question. Whoever it
was that report.d my speech on
the State debt did me injustice in
getting some historical names mix
ed up, like reflections in kalei
doscope. as though did not know
better. / now, sir. desire to re-
peat to them the admonition given
by Moses to the reporters ia his
sermon on the Mount: Speak OF
me as I am; nothing extenuaie, nor
set down anght in inalace. Ihave
also been accused, Mr.. resident,
Of INDUCING in irony. Why, SIR,
fthis IS not an iron country, and
such indulgence, whilst 1t might
be appreciated in PenGsylvania,
Sweden or England, would not be
in this State. The ring of metal
much harder than iron has become
more popular in public affairs OF
late years.
Having now once more obtained
the floor, l trust that yourself and
the other delegates will hear me
patiently, for ! feel, sir, as though
my welfare in the future depends
upon my action here 1t natters
not, sill, much which side Of the
quection ! vote with, for l know
that / can not please every one by
merely voting; but no matter how
/ vote, sir, I am anxious to make
n speech that will convince both
sides that am avery proper man
for any public position. Mr.. Pres
ident, / desire TO assure you aud
this convention that my intentions
are entirely honorable. My desire
is to see my lnistress-the State Of
Louisiana prosperous. prolific
proud and happy.
i now, sir, propose to speak on
the license subject. It is well
known fact, sir. that it requires
almost rs good an education to d,
man for either the medical OF
legal professions as 1t does to make
him tirst-class mechanic; but, sir
respect must he shown to the Gus
toms ard prejudices Of the days il
winch we live, and the people fol
whom we are endeavoring to frame
fundamental laws =
Why. sir. it will never do to re
move from the shoulders of tn,
manufacturers and mechanics o
this State the burden of support
ing in one way or another the STATE
and city governments. spoke o
custom. Why look, sir, Mt th'
custom Of the city. II foundry
man makes casting with flaw il
| it, or a machinists puts up an en-
CINE, or other machinery that i
not perfect in all its parts to d,
the work assigned it, or if slate
leaves leak in a roof. or q plum
Der, or gasftter does careless
work-why. sir, the custom is
"geod and successful work or nj
pay; = but who ever heard of q law
yer being held responsibly for flaw
; done in indictments, writs of seiz
lure, informants, or the defeat Q
the Just claimant before the court
It is, then, always the fault Of tn
law, the Judge or the jury. or al
three. The lawyer gets his f.
all the same. aud that is right. Hi
is an honorable profession, AM
they are all honorable men.
The doctors, If they cut too deer
or give too much or too little medi
eide, or the wrong kind, charge Al
; the same; and collect, if they can
but they can not either recast o
repair their bad work. Why, Sill
our citizens never complain of pay
ing physician from two and
half to five, and even ten dollars
for ten minutes visit, whilst the
would swear like the army in Flar
ders at paying the most expert an
responsible mechanic in this cit
I the same amount for days servic
! in his calling, no matter how in
portant the work, or what skill
required.
Now, sir, with this custom j
view. how dare we impose An
license ON the professions referre
tol 1t is easy, Mr.. President,
educate a people into errors, GU
toms and prejudices, but it is nc
!, easy to educate them out OF either
! and it is foolish for the advocate
3 Of the encouragement of industri,
$ pursuits to plead their cause ut th
2 this time.
Why, sir it has taken Alabau
| and Gkorpia thirtv-fivo vears