The New Orleans daily Democrat., 1880-03-13

of Federal, State ur municipal uftsin, afs
political they are not necessarily partisan
livery American yputh should BIZ made to lin.
defstand that parties are absolutely essential
III q free government for the purpose Vi car,
fying out political principles. and as such
should be maintained but that politics
should never be made subservipnt to party
No free government can be long lived II
which tile people become lethafaic, ildffer
ent to their political duties and iorgetful o
| the high privileges end responsibilities o
citizenship.
| Eternal Vigilance is, end always will be. The
price gf liberty, and III proportion as people
are vigilant and jealously watnhful of theii
Fights. are publlc functlonafles faithful to tbs
trusts reposed M them. Many Of the worst
| evils from which this country In suffering TO-
day have grown out of the careleesneaa ef the
Intelligent classes In attending TO their pellti.
cal duties. We see exenplitled lii California
to-day the result of permitting the worst ele.
rnents tn gain the control uf party machinery
and II ls result which ls simply inevitable
Whenever ignorance and vice are left by In
telllgence and virtue to attend . politics.
The responsibilities OF citizenship are tou
lightly regarded, aud unleHs they come To be
mere highly appreciated, unless the people
who have Vital interest In good government
and III the maintenance Of law and order come
forward all over this country and participate
efe,getically and heartily III political affairs,
they need not be surprised II the disgfaeeful
and Violent proceedings ROW Witnessed III San
Francisco be repeated Ia other cities and In
all sections.
10 great an evil is thie apathy coneerninK
political duties felt TO be that In some States
II is proposed 10 make voting at the polls
compulsory. The absurdity OF such prvpo-
nitlon ls only equaled by the folly which gives
rise to 1t, The great trouble consists In the
fact that large proportion Of business men
and property owners fall 10 give that atts,,-
tion 10 the primary movements of party or
gafizatlons which is necessary 10 insure re-
suits favorable 10 aood government. There
can be n o greater or more fatal mistake thar,
for the people genera ~ To abstain from any
participation In pol ts until election day.
and 10 thls mistake committed and reconl-
inltted year after year may be attributed
most Of the evils Ok which the people through
out the country now complain.
a pFp6WeHblAl campaign l6 @DOuE opening
and II ID the duty of every citizen Interested
Ia the welfare of the State and city 10 maks
his intlu ence felt In the selection Of delegates
to the State convention called to select dele
gates to represent the Louisiana Democracy
At the N ational Convention TO convene at
Clnci nnaa In June.
The recollection of the frauds committed
by the Ra dlcals In the last presidential cam-
paign, instead Of dlspititing Democrats.
should spur them 10 the greatest activity In
their political duties. With united Demo-
tracy, and with anything like the old time
enthusiasm, auch as led the party TO victory
In 1aB2 and 1856, there Ii every REASON b hope
Ior the final overthrow OF Radcailsm but
with a subtle and unscrupulous enemy, hav-
NY the tremendous odds of Federal patron
we, end the patronage, too, Of such States as
New York, Pennsylvania and Ohio, the Dem
,cracy must put forth its most powerful Of |
orts. and no proper exertion should be spared !
" the lovers of our country and lts free In.
,titutlons to achieve success.
No more glorious cause ever enlisted human
sffort than that for which the Democracy
Viii battle Ia the coming campaign.