St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1883-04-14
POLITICAL GOSSIP.


clusion that the people can not be made
TO swallow two candidates for the State
senate, from Opelousas and they are
on the ragged edge" as to whether one
can be elected. The political gridiron
has grown hotter, and consequently the
politicians whose sad lot tits to be upon
it dance more lively; but the dance
is not one of pleasure-the animating
cause is somewhat like that which made
the celebrated horse Bullet cayort
through the streets, as detailed in Long
streets Georgia Scenes. If ticket can
be fixed up so that some OF the states
men can run without opposition, with
the support of both Democrats and Re
tpublicans, they viii be happy and their
craftsmanship consists entirely in ma
nnuvering to rig up just such ticket.
To do this there must be opposing can
didates for all offices except the one
they are after, and for that Office they
must be supported by both contending
parties. These political circus riders
would ride two horses, or three, SO as to
make dead sure thing Of reaching the
goal. But the thing will hardly work
in the approaching campaign the peo-
Piles eyes have been opened, and tlie
cry Of wolf will not deter them from
nominating for all offices good and true
men who. will look after their constitu-
ents, interests first. Ii the people, the
taxpayers who support the government,
do not do their duty to themselves at the
next election and put men in office who
will clean out the Augean stables OF
corruption, they ought to be deprived
of the right Of suffrage. 1t IS worse
than farce for them to elect men to
oppress them. Men who seek office Tor
their own profit exclusively, and cor
ruptly at that, should be kept out. The
tone of the public service is at low
ebb and the only way to elevate 1T, IS
to elect to office men Of sound integrity.
The only durable foundation to re-
publican government, is honesty
in the administration OF public at
fairs: and that cannot be had un-
less honest men fill the offices
Andrew jackson, after serving two
terms as president of the Uni
ted States, and having unlimited OPP
portunities for peculation, retired to
his home in Tennessee poor man.
The statesman, so-called, of the present
day seek office by cuIFupt means in
order to plumber the government and
get rich by all means possible. 1t this
government is to be perpetuated, the
people must stop this. The reform
should begin at once, and with the Of
fees nearest the people-from ward
constable up. The people do not elect
u. S. senators, but they elect the State
senators and representatives who do
elect them aud if their representatives
are honest and incorruptible, the fruits
Of their action will be good. 1t the
people are deceived as to the honesty
and incorruptibility OF one elected by
them, they should never elect him
again. The people can put down dis
honesty and corruption in the admins
tration Of public affairs, by refusing to
elect the corruptionists to Office. The
people should send honest men as dele
gates to all conventions, nominating
conventions especially, and then honest
men will be nominated-and honest
men are not the ones who simply talk
honesty, but who act it, and show it by
the record of their lives. Spasmodic
honesty will not do it showsan incon-
slant nature, or is done to deceive. The
neople should hold their delegates to
a nominating convention, responsible
for the character of the men they NOM
mate and if bad men are nominated,
the delegates themselves are bad, or
incompetent, which should disqualify
them from serving as delegates again,
or from being elected to Office. It the
people will organize, not for the benefit
.of the office-seeking politicians, but for
their own benefit, and send the right
kind Of delegates to the next nOmina-
ting convention, we will have good of
ficers and good and economical govern
ment. aud the corrupt bloodsnckers will
be relegated to the miseries Of private
life.
Politicians are primed for the cam
d IL WIG Z ~ 4 Z u 1 a