Richland beacon., 1882-01-28
The New Party Movement.

of the press of Louisiana have had
something to say about the new party
talk. Some seem disposed to treat it
! as a matter of lest and have I.IiCuled
Mr. f. John Ellis ut q terrible rate,
while others regard it as serious
matter, and We are inclined to Think
the latter are correct.
We arg not prepared to take stock
10 the new party movement, however,
for-to use hOmely expressiOu-we
are not so sure but that it would he
"sw spping the devil for q WITCH"
But there is one fact that cannot be
denied nor evaded-the people are
getting very tired Of waiting for The
redemption Of unfullilled pledges. "a
burned child breads fire." aod the.
are not at all anxious for the restora.
ton Of Republican rule ; but that is
NJ reason that they are not willing,
in kind Of fit Of desperation, to try
q new party.
OF course they have no guarantee
that they will thereby better their con.
dition-on the contrary. they a-e
more likely to fall into the clutches Of
designing politicians and dishonest
demagogues-but dissatisfied poru.
lace do not stop long, as q rule. to
reason. if they have q few plausible
men. ready with promises of relief, to
lead them. They are disposed to Av
ION evils present to those they know
not Of, provided the latter are con.
cealed under specious promises.
Itis very true that the meal of relief
lie 10 the will of the people themselves.
if they knew how to exercise that will
to their own advantage and that this
relief can be obtained by an adherence
to party principles, and the selection
Of officers rom their own party ranks,
if they knew exactly who to select
but that Il is forever in the way, and
they are forced to continue experiment
ing, for, to use another old proverb,
mo man knows what kind of hog q
pig will make"
The unvarnished truth of the mat
ter is, our country is in wofully de-
generate condition, morally and politi.
cally. Honor, honesty, probity, fidel.
ity to principle and virtue are at q
very low ebb. Men boldly and un-
blusbingly resort now to means to
accomplish their purposes. that would
years ago have driven them from pub.
lie position in everlasting disgrace.
Such conduct as would then have dis.
graced them is only regarded now as
q coup d'etot. emitting them to com.
mendation en-. nive-sal admiration.
We must raise higher standard Of
honor aud virtue. and principle must
DO made to mean something, before
we can ever hope to see all places Of
public trust filed by men of real
worth and unsarnisbed integrity. No
new parties will in themselves bring
about this needed reform. The first
step towards attaining this end must
be taken by rescuing the reins of party
control from the hands of hoodlums,
ward bummers and all men of law.
less disposition; and the next and
only step necessary is to place men oil
known integrity and capability iu
official position, and then hold them
to strict and rigid accountability for
the manner in which they conduct
themselves while in Office. So long
as we assist or countenance men ia
obtaining positions by unfair means
We cannot expect them to discharge
their duties faithfully, honestly and
in such manner ss will eDtitle them
to confidence and esteem, reflect honor
upon their constituents and prove q
b1oco:or . ~ &1,o:. coc....