The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1882-10-05
Politics as a Trade,

lndependtly rlch, still fortified them
against adverse fortune by compelling
them to learn a trade. They became,
when masters of their craft, no longer
dependent on the accidents of life
Banks might break and securities lose
their value, but skilful labor is ALWAYS
Ill demand. The man who works at
his trade is producer. He adds to
the. wealth of the world But there
IS trade which some men follow
which may fairly entitle them to fall
into the ranks of non-producers-
that is the trade of politics. The man
who does nothing for himself or any
one else in the way of promoting the
general welfare and adding to the
sum of the worlds capital in one way
or other. but who simply lives by pol
ltlcs, by always managing to see the
turn OF the popular tide and, so see
ing, to trim his sails and shape his
course accordingly, is producer
| OF the worst sort. OF what benefit
is he to the world OF to his kind ?-
What injury would be done if he we're
subtracted from the sum total of the
population? Nay, how much richer
would not society be by relief from
these barnacles on the ship of State
Every citizen of a Republic like
ours, of high or low degree, rich or
poor, should as duty, take certain
interest in politics. As member of
society, one of the body polite, he
should do his part in seeing that
proper measures are devised and car
ried out by which the general welfare
OF the Commonwealth is promoted,
and inasmuch as it is not convenient
or possible that every man should di-
rectly participate in the government
OF the city, county, State or nation,
it is eminently proper that he should
devote proper portion of his time to
Investigating the character of the
men who are to fill public positions |
and to represent the community in the |
Legislature or in Congress, as well as |
to the study and discussion of the |
measures best adapted to the general
good
This becomes a still greater duty |
when we reflect that under our meth
DDS of selecting candidates for Office
it is possible for a few designing and
unprincipled men to control the pre-
llminary machinery of the elections,
and by proper wire-working and
manipulation put men of their own
stamp into power. 1t is this handling
OF the machinery by those who make
politics their sole occupation which
too often disgusts all decent men
with the whole business and leads
them to neglect the very means by
which these abuses could be prevent
ed. Every good citizen who desires
to see good men nominated, men who
Will not only serve their country hon
estiy but will fairly represent the in
terests of the neighborhood which
elected them, should attend the
primary elections. Here is the start
ing point If these most important
preliminary meetings are left to the
control of demagogues and mere pol
nclans, as they too often are, most
serious and unhappy results will fol-
low.
We OF the United States have been
30 used to be at the control of mere
politicians, to vote the ticket held out
70 us and, while possibly regretting a I
nomination, still by reason of fealty
% party, voting for it, that it takes a
great occasion to rouse u.s. We sub
nit to the mismanagement, extrava-
5ance and corruption of professional
politicians until some crisis comes. s
when the Nation rises and draes the
politicians after it as CULVER lowed ,
'he combined fleets of the pigmies. /
vl,,4x