The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1886-09-29
THE LAWS.

If labor is the foundation of all asricnl-
tural and commercial communities, it can
be said that the laws governing them is
their corner stone.
Labor and laws arc SO closely allied and
so well blended together that to destroy
the former is to render the latter useless,
and TO abolish the latter is TO forever ex-
tirpate the former.
Labor is peaceablc-thc fruits of its toll
is peace and the handmade of its efforts is
improvements; therefore to the concentra-
ton Of labor We owe the first laws for
mutual protection, whereby each one felt
secure in his personal safety by the guar
antce he received from the whole commu-
nifty, as represented by the laws govern
ing the mass. Otherwise no community
could exist except the military, which,
being always armed and obeying no laws
but those Of necessity, acknowledges no
master except the mighty arm which can
oyerwhelm it. But even then, though
ever on the offensive, it finds itself forced
to obey within itself the interchangeable
rules of right or wrong inherent to man.
Like the Condottieries and free lanccs of
the middle ages, the military community
might march from conquest to conquest,
but when the goal Is reached and the
arms are at rest the same laws will face it.
Labor is conscryative-its arms are in
dustry and accumulation; it therefore
seeks cooperation and support. Where
fore, at first, it found itself forced to con-
centrate in towns where, by mutual aid
and protection, it might resist the en-
croaclments and attacks of the idle and
the warlke. From whence arose that
mighty fabric of commercial and manu-
featuring enterprise, Which growing from
year to year obliteratcd vandalism and
ieudaiisnl, establishing this axiom of civ
ilization, that no nation can exist with
ont labor and that the protection of labor
demands just and equitable laws.
For otherwise, labor being pcaceable
and conservative, the idle and the lawless
would th~-art all efforts for Improvement
and accumulation, and the community
without laws would become like water
logged ship at sea, floating helplessly at
the mercy of all winds. The lawlcss of
to-day, himself overpowercd tomorrow,
would join his victor, While all scoi1ing
and scorning at the useless laws which
they daringly disobcy, would make COM
mon cause and prey on the Industrious
Industry thwarted and oppressed at every
step would fly or abandon aimlcssly its
laborious pursuits.
1t is thus that labor following the march
of civilization became its foundation,
while laws keeping pace with them both
have formed that network Of protection
which insures to each man his RIGHTS
Political and social commissions have ta-
ken place but the immutable law of the
Creator has stood unchanged: that man
Shall toll, that labor controls the world
and that man Shall be governed.
1t follows, therefore, that no prosperity
can exist without labor and that labor
requires laws justly and cquitably execu-
ted. To both combined earth will pay its
most bounteous tribute, Willie peace and
plenty will reward the laborer.
But the lawlcss is like the whitening
blast Of the deserts wind-desolation fol-
lows in his wake and the cries of the
mourners answer the echo of his step.
The earth that bears him knows him 10
more and brings him forth nothing but
waste and barrenness.