St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1885-07-25
The Influence of a Good Example.

HOAAUAS 40 w O A4SCN4VAAJ NOhNAAVAOA5 H-"H1
this tendency is defeated or checked
only by the liberation Of abuses
which corrupt the morals and en-
courage the evil doors. Among the
evils which have crept into modern
politics, and become so intermin-
gled that it is cardinal party prac
tice, is the habit of rewarding the
most active and INSCRIPTIONS work
ers with desirable offices and COM
handing positions SO that it has
become well understood that the
benefits Of this system are to be
graduated in proportion to the mag
nitude of crime. Out of this has
grown the rule and practice Of boss
ism, by which a dozen or less OF
skiIlful organizers of floating ras-
cality are virtually given the power
of appointment or election to all
places in the national, State and
municipal governments, taking care
to award themselves the choicest
positions. The system is expensive,
as we have seen exemplifed in this
city. The actual following, though
limited, when compared to the
great body Of voters, is yet too nu-
merous to be satisfied with the
legitimate patronage Of a govern
ment economically administered,
such as the National Democratic
platform demands, but which no
professional ballot box suffer has
any idea will be given a practical
meaning.
President Cleveland, however,
manifests determination to give
full effect to all the fine declarations
which have been made and reafirm-
ed from time to time during the
twenty years struggle to regain
power. He evidently holds that
the principles which were potent in
the struggle for success will be use
full in the work of maintaining the
hard won position. Accordingly he
has announced economy as the rule
OF his administration, which, il
strictly adhered to, will leave short
commons and scant rations to a
multitude of expectants who thought
their services would entitle them to
the first consideration in the new
distribution of favors. When the
fact begins to dawn upon them,
however, that for every place within
the gift Of the President and his
subo1dinates there are from twenty
to fifty duplicates, they will perhaps
discover the futility of depending
upon that source for the rewards
BETTING their merits.
But this is not the most serious
aspect of the case, as viewed from
the standpoint of partisans. Presi-
dent Cleveland, while showing a
commendable alacrity in turning
Republican "rascals out" whenever
a case Of turpitude comes to his
knowledge, by no means will, except
in cases where he may have been
deceived, let any other rascals in,
and this about blocks the game
This is the severest blow bossism
has yet received, as it shows The
people that a government may be
economically, successfully and salts.
factorily conducted without being
made an asylum for the unscrupu.
lous political workar, to whom jus.
tee would award punishment III.
stead of the guerdons Of public
honor and emolument. IL this
policy be continued until the PEG.
pie begin to understand its feasibili.
|ty, it will assuredly revolutionize
local politics, and throw the pro.
fessionai bosses with their small
army of DULLES, ballot box suffers
repeaters and false counters out Of
business altogether. The President
seems determined to avoid the error
Of the people Of Louisiana, who
turned one set of rascals out to give
place to others equally as accom-,
plished, and, as the sequel proves
better able to maintain their grip
upon political power, without much
reference to the way the ballots o.
honest voters are actually cast
The good example set by the Presi.
dent will have o beneficial influence
upon the people Of the city, who