The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1884-05-24
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CoLFAx, La, May 20, 1854.
Editor Collar Chroaic'c:
In my last / proposed to cali the
attention OF our people to . chief
cause of our troubles and embarrass-
ments. OF course there are other
canses, but if / can show one, and
point out a way to treat it, l viii
have contributed one mans part.
Whatever occasions, weakness or dis
ease to q community should be look
ed after by the custodian of their in
terests, and, that too, with vigilance
and resolution increasing with tho
importance and magnitude of the
cause of evil. In q Republic, tho
people are practically The custodians
Of their own interests. Elections are
so frequent that there 10 tendency
on the part OF our officers to be over
anxious to please that particular
class of voters BY whose suffrages
they hold their place, rather than
look after the real interest of the
whole people. Hence. an enlighten-
ed public opinion is q most powerful
factor in the three departments; Leg
islative, Executive and Judicial, OF
our government, whether OF parish,
State or National. The whole COM
munity is interested in, affected.
more or less, by the doings Of every
element in it's midst. What mighty
power is held by our people scattered
as they are, in farm houses. shops,
stores and ofices? They have the
right to say who shall make their
laws, who shall execute them. and
who shall decide their Disputes.
Voters are the Sovereigns. They put
down one and elevate another. u
they recklessly disregard their respon-
sibilities or underestimate their pow
er. especially if they permit them
selves to be employed as tools by
selfish and designing men they may
expect TO live under o bad govern
ment-bad in comparison with what
it would be II its citizens came upto
higher measure Of faithfulness.
To show that our government is. in
one particular point run in the in
terest of individuals ct the expense
of the people at large. and further
more that our lawmakers have acted
ignorantly or have betrayed their
trust, and sold themselves to design
ing men. Let me call your seriors
attention 10 the following facts: IN
der the claim that the liquor traffic
brings to our government = revenue OF
500, 600. it is held under the FOSTER
ing care Of orr people . gigantic
fraud-a miserable swindle costing
rs FIVE dollars for every one dollar of
revenue. The liquor dealers are the
curse of Christendom. This 10 said
with all courtesy to those gentlemen
and their families who subsist on the
traffic in intoxicants. For as rule
our people. like those Of other gov
ernments do not rise higher in these
great moral questions than the laws
under which they live. A good law
is good educator. whereas . law
morally bad, made 80 in order to ca
ter to . vitiatad taste. is demoraliz-
ing, and lets the people down lower
than the law itself. True if we have
the best law possible. one which gives
expression to the purest and most
enlightened public sentiment, pro-
hibitory law, the governments seal
OF disapprobation and condemnation,
many will still fall below it. Yet the
higher the standard the more elevat-
ed the public sentiment and practice.
Because people win violate prohib-
tory law is no reason for not having
one. they violate every statute on our
books. We have law against steal
ing, killing and perjury, yet our peo-
pie violate them. But do the laws
not lessen the crimeP If there were
no laws to protect the good, in their
property, their lives and their good
name what brood Of vipers would
crawl out OF this nest Of anarchy to
poison the very fountains Of our be-
ingf To have Law against the sale
cf intoxicating drinks % beverage
would be in harmony With the gener-
al spirit Of our laws.
There is nothing perhaps which
interferes more with the labor of u
country than intempezance, nothing
which increases crime and wretched-
ness and poverty than the use OF II
quor. Sheriffs all over the world
almost unanimously concur III the
statements Of our OVID excellent sher-
if (who, it may be said is passing.
himself no mean judge OF certain
brands) that liquor is at the bottom
Of four fifths of our crimes and mis-
demeanors as people. As to whetL-
er or not it is practicable to have
such law enforced / propose to
show in my next. v. q. G.