St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1888-12-15

pie that IN the exercise Of its functions and
powers it will deal with the body of our citi-
zen gems IN a manner scrupulously honest and fair
and absolutely Just, It hes agreed that Alneris
can citizenship shall be the only oredential nee
essary to justify the claim Of equality
6f,ion 9eioTe the n ,iin law ana ana that no con
dscrmination IN the treatment II the poo-
pie by thei Government, The citizen of
our republic In its early days rigidly insist
ed upon full compliance with the letter of this
bond, and saw stretching out before him a
clear field for individual endeavor His tribute
10 the support of his Government was meas
uaeo u oy the cost OF its economical mainte
nance and he was secure in the enjoyment
OF Inc recompense of his steady tribiite and
contented in it. III those days the fruga lity
OF lhe people was stamped upon their Govern
nent, and was enforced by the free, thoughtful
ana intelligent suffrage of the citizen. Combina-
tons, monopOlieS and aggregations of canital
were either avoided or sternly regulated and
ments less free offered no temptation and pre-
sented no delusi0n TO the plain people who,
SIDE by side in frien ily competition, wrought
lor the ennoblement and dignity Of man; for
the solution OF the problem of free government
ana Tor the achievement OF the grand destiny
awaiting the land which God had given them.
PRIVATE VS. PUBLIC INTERESTS.
century has passed, our cities are the abid-
ing places OF wealth and luxury; our manu-
factories yield fortunes never dreamed or by
the fathers of the sRepubl,a; Str business
men are nadlg striving Ii the race for riches,
tne imagination in the magnitude OF their un-
dertakings. We view with pride and satisfac-
ION TINS bright picture OF our country's growth
and prosperity, while only closer scrutiny de.
velops d somber shading, Upon mere parsftsi
inspection we find the WealtA aid luxury of
our cites mingled with poverty and wEetched-
ness aaa !, ,unremuneratve TOLL. A crowded and
constantly increasing urban population sup
gests the lmpoverishment OF rural sections and
alscontent with agricultural pursuits. The
s,Ia snres snd son, not satisfied With bis tathop
lor eas1ly-acauirFd wealth. We discover that
the fortunes realized by our manufacturers are
no longer solely the reward of sturdy Industry |
from Iu s foresight but that they result
H,.a dieii'' aLu are largely built Upon, i'm
Que exaetions from the masses OF our |
people. tS The gulf between the employer and |
the employed is constantly Widenifs AID |
classes are rapidly fermpg> ole COMPRISING
me very rich and powerful, while in another
d are iouna the tollfng poor. While we view the
tue existence of trusts cembinatitas and mo-
nopolles, while the eitidea is struggling far in
tne rea1, or u tfainpled to death beneath an
IRON heei. Corporations which should be the
creatures of the law and
m the servants of the people. are fast becoming
lne peoples masters Still congratulatinE
ourselves upon the wealth and prosperity of |
our country, and compiaRentiY Contemplating
every incident of change inseparable from these
conditions, it is our duty as patriotic citizens
20 allulre, at the present stage of our progress,
ne people has been kept and performed, In
tead OF limiting the tribute drawn from our
itllens i 70 the necessities of its economical aa.
nihlstfaLlon, the Government still persists in |
Aacting from the substance of sha pcople |
nllllohs winch, unapplied, are useless ana lie |
oanant on, IN its treasury This fragrant injustice
ortion to the danger attending the dipersiaIi of
q ne currency OF the country from the legitimate
hannels of business Unuer the same laws by
'hch these results are produced the Govern
2ent permits many millions more to be /
dded to the cost of living Of
' ur people, and to be taken seHe from ON !
rohts of small but powerful minority IIhe +
eople must still be taxed for the support OF {
ne government under the operation of tariff L
Tvs. .iE But to the extent that the mass of our
tlZens are lnordinately burdened beyond any {
selul pubic purpose and for the benefit of o r
sVoreo Few, the Government, under pretest OF i
s5,s exercise OF its taxing power enters gratuit
their advantage and to the in D
ny OF "a vast majority of our il
,ople; sa e. This This nj, is not equality be- a
rious to the health of our entire BODY polite. O
stlfies in those for whose benefit it is per e
itted all patriotic love of country and substi- o.
arice T.
Devotion to American citizenship ter It's own ic
ke, ano 1or what it should accomplish as a ii
osave ,,. 20 cur Nations advancement and the al
pplness OF all our people, Is displaced by the W
sumption that the Government, instead of | ii
ing the embodiment of equality is but an in &C
,iri.s ,,uimiesntallty through which especial and ic
=. - iuoai aapantaSeS are TO be gained. w
le arrogance of this assumption ia fe
concealed. 1t appears in the sordid dis lii
sasd OF All but personal interests in the re- re
sal to abate for the benefit of others one iota III
selfish advantage, and in combinations to Oh
rpetuate i such advantages through efforts to SC
atrol legislation and improperly influence the ST
,aos - asss ~ lIe people. Ine grievances of su
ose not included within the circle of these ii,
nenciarles, when fully realized, will surely of
'use irritation and discomfort. Our farm su
!, long suffering and patient, struggling | wi
the race-of life with the hardest and most tn
.emltting toll will not fail to see in spite of Sc
representations and misleading fallacies. | IN
y Ihey are obliged to accept such rices for to
II products as are fixed in foreign markets of
ere tney compete with the farmers of ou
world; that their lands are declining in It
Ne while their debts increase, and that ha
hout comnensating favor they are forced by TO
ac'Ion &C. q tbs Government TO pay fss the fln
So u others such enhanced prices lor the ex