The Lake Charles echo. [volume] (Lake Charles, Parish of Calcasieu, La.) 1876-1898, 1879-05-03
Merchant Politicians.
IN. o. City Item. |

the community that we have per-
sistently and warmly advocated
every method of attracting capital
to this city, and have denounced
all injudicious legislation inimical
to the establishment of local man
ufacturipg interests.
We have always believed, and
still believe firmly, that prosperity
is impossible without purity in
politics; that purity in politics can
only be secured and maintained
under prosperous conditions; and
that those prosperous conditions
can only be brought about by the
united efforts of an intelligent and
wealthy class of business men.
La other words we believe that
if we can induce capital to seek
investment here. with fair pros
pect to proft,-if We shall be able
to attract manufacturers to New
Orleans, and successfully encour-
age the growth Of large and new
commercial interests, we may
hope not only for material pros
perity but also Tor moral prosperi-
ty.
TO the business class of tire fu-
ture we mnst look for reform, as
well as tor financial recuperation.
IL is true that among the busi-
ness class there is just as much di-
versity of political opinion as
among other classes; and that
merchants are seldom or ever ac-
tive politicians. But IN these days
and under this governments, poll
tics exert a prodigious Influence
upon public interests and public
morality; and none are so we'll
aware of this as those who COM
pose the mercantile classes. A
telegraphic dispatch from Wash
ington may seriously affect the
markets Of Chicago or Baltimore;
new project of taxation in any
State Legislation may affect the
course of business with hnctua-
tons aS varied as the course of the
discussion.
None know better than bust
ness men that public morality is
essential to public welfare; and Il
great mercantile community will
always be faund united upon all
questions agifated in the interest
of law, order, and moral good.
La times when trade is flourish
ing, and the life of cities flows ON
steadily and serenely, the business
class is quite as strongly divided
against itself in political discus
sion as any other class, and each
variety of opinion will make itself
felt in the local or general govern
ment Bnt in times of corruption,
of threatened anarchy, ofriots, the
business men become as one, and
unite all their energies upon the
side OF justice and law.
La this connection let us quote
an admirable little paragraph from
the Chicago Commercial Adver-
tiser, which condenses a great
deal of truth into a very few lines
"When in local affairs, corrup-
ton becomes intolerable, the bus
mess element asserts its influence,
and restores law, order and hon.
esty. The trouble is in getting
them to remain in politics long
enough to purge the political cess
pool. They bring to bear their
powerful influence, and fraud and
corruption hide their heads. Re-
turning to the busy duties that
await them, and leaving the polit-
zeal arena, the bad elements again
return. We account for the weight
of business influence, on the
ground OF the well defined ideas
of right and wrong which they
possess; of their clear conceptions
of right political course; OF their
personal influence in the office,
store and workshop; of their earn-
estness, and their loyal devotion to
their country and its institutions,
to their homes, and to all that
they hold DEAR and did this class
and uninterruptedly
exert the great influence they pos
sess, society and the State would
be immeasurably benefited"
A nnsnnifn Is alWaus ready Ia