The Bossier banner., 1882-08-24
The Gospel Of Parties.

maDship in this country is, that de-
ceitful and designing politicians
have had things conducted very
nearly to their entire satisfaction for
twenty years. The rule of corrup-
tion was established during the war,
and, fastening itself upon the c0un
try, we have seen state governments
copy after the practices put in ope-
ration at Washington until govern,
ments at large have been degraded.
In the south, before the war, the
state governments were admins
tered with an eye to integrity, simi.
lar to that regard in which the
honor of the family circle was pro-
tected. The one was held above
suspicion, while the other was cher
ished as more precious than life or
property. Sad changes came over
the land during the wretched,
wasteful years of war, and when
the reign of corrupt usurpers began
society sank in the moral scale as
never before, and the south was pub
liciy clothed for years in the most
pitiable evidences of depravity. The
power that was robbing the federal
government of honor extended itself
into every quarter of the southern
states, and truth and honor were
made powerless that corruption
might have sway. Good people
dared not seek to impress their con-
victions, for deprayity had been en-.
throned as tyrant, and there was
no appeal from its harshest DEGREES.
Every element of badness, inherent
in the nature of man, was dov. lop-
ed, and the moral contagion spread
until it was by no means confined
to those with whom it originated
Glasses throughout the entire coun-
try fell into base conditions, and the
south was by no means singular in
remaining exempt from the tenden-
cies Of the times. Under reconstruc
ton our state governments became
most corrupt, and it is useless to
deny that contamination did not
spread until, if it did not involve
society, it at least dragged out of it
subjects perfectly adapted to the
new conditions surrounding these
states. Good certainly remained in
all its purity, but it was powerless,
except for recuperatioD, and in this
It had to patiently bide a time
Under recuperating conditionsin the
south it has made a meritorious eff. |
Tort to retrieve public affairs from
The conditions besetting them, and |
these efforts have been crowned with |
decided results. Still we may even |
now hear oflegislators being bought, |
Ind sometimes the evidences are |
very strong that Democrats, while |
acting in the capacity of public SER
Tants, have fixed prices for them
selves; bat these cases are becoming |
ess frequent, because the popular
mind, once moro in the ascendant,
weighs public men with the greatest
'crutiny, and, when found wanting,
'uch men are discarded as unwor |
ny. corruption for some years
Welded its power in Texas, and now
nsincerity and deception is proper
y met with the condemnation that
$ merited. The people are aroused |
o the fact that the purposes Of gov
have been long enough di-
rerted toward private gain and per-
'onal ends, and they are demanding |
'incerity and truthfulness from those
rho expect Office. The rule should |
70 established in all severity. No
nan should be admitted to public
,lace unless his record as a citizen |
y pure, and unless his pledges be
made and delivered for execution
The only means by which this may
" done is through the purity Of
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