The Dawson journal. (Dawson, Ga.) 1878-18??, 1884-05-22
Returning to FIRST Principle.
Telegraph aud Messenger.

II Is not unfrsquently the case
tna' one sees in the papers of the
STATE expressions of contempt used
Win reference to the Legislature.
The feeling that prompts such uuf.-
Vorsole references is not confined to
the press but is largely entertained
W the people. 1t has come to he a
settled conviction with a great
many that no honor and but little
responsibility attaches to those who
represent the state in its General
Assembly.
This has not always been the
case. Although our connection with
the political affairs of the state does
not extend beyond the war, we can
we'll remember when high honor was
supposed to be inseparabIy connect.
I'd with the Office of legislator, and
when the first men in the state, in
point OF learning and intelligence,
we're not averse to taking upon them.
selves the laborious honors of tho
position. The station was recogniz
ed as one of high trust and Of great
responsibility; and those who
sought it did 30 with the conscious.
ness hat the records rade by them
would be inquired into, and that
they would be compelled to give An
account of their stewardship.
Since the war matters have under.
gone change in those particulars
for che wogse A number Of reasons
could be given in explanation OF this
degeneracy. The standard of citi-
zenship and the qualifications for
Office, attendant ON it, have all been
lowered since the devil began to con-
troll the destinies of the country
through the Republican party, en-
throned at Washington. This, in
itself, would be sufficient to account
for the manifest degeneracy in all
that pertains to the Legislative Office,
without any reference to the fact of
there being only one white party in
the state-a fact growing out of the
infamies and expressions Of Republi
caniSm aud IL necessary consequence
of them.
TO these two evils-the one being
the consequence of the other-may
be ascribed the lowly estate into
which the station in question has
descended, during the past two
decsles. 1t has been necessary to
lose sight Of much chat was positive
" good, and to close the eYes to
much that was not specially credita,
ble-even- it not positively bad, in
order to save the state from the
hands of a set of Vandsls, worse
than those that piilages the provinces
of ancient Rome The dangers OF
the situation are not yet overpast
hut it is not too soon for the people
Of the state to be casting about in
their minds for return to the meth
DDS of other days. 1t is not too
soon for them to see to it that the
standard of membership in the Leg
islature is elevated above mere con
siderations of availability and re-
ward for party services. 1t will not
do to longer underestimate the du-
ties aud responsibilities of the Legis-
lative office.
1t is really more important TO the
people of Georgia to send able men
to the Legislature than to send them
to Congress, for reasons that must
be apparent at glance. If there
must be inefficient men i'll either of
these bodies, let them go to Wash
ington and be swallowed up in the
rabble of Jack Cades from other
states. Here, at home, where the
enactments must bear directly upon
the people and their varied and in
creasingly varying interests, let the
law making power be vested in wise,
pure and true men-men who are
wise enough to know the demands of
duty in the changed relationships of
the present time, aud brave enough
10 discharge it.
The notion that any man is good
enough TO be member Of the Gen
eral Assembly has prevailed too
long and wrought too much mischief
to he further tolerated. Let the
people clothe that body with some
thing OF the dignity and honor that
onco characterized it, for the sake of
the glory If the state aud its pro-
press in all that is true and elevat-