St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1889-11-23
FAMILY GOVERNMENT.

FAMILY GOVERNMENT.
Toe Hueh Of rs Alness - Bsd - . 1e'
tai Absence oe Authority.
Every body has probably observed
at some time the hardships and in
equalities that result from spasmodic
endorsements Of the Law. and from the
enactment OF unnecessary or ill-con.
sidered laws Law-malking Is. or
ought to be, . science. but as it is In
trusted to men with no special training
for the business. much Of the legisla-
ton follows no settled principle or
scheme Of government. but Is prepared
as some special occasion seems to do
mand. and often under the influence OF
passions or emotions that prevent
calm and reasonable consideration OF
tho measures to be taken. Examples
Of this may be found in fire-escape
laws promptly enacted after some
great connagration and loss of life.
made unnecessarily marrow and
rigid In their requirements. re-
sisted on that account and
ultimately neglected. Frequent
examples are also found In
city ordinances passed In great mum.
Der for the regulation Of every thing
and every body. and 50 numerous and
exacting that many Of them are alto
gether forgotten by citizens and the
authorities. The mischief to which
such ordinances may give rise lies in
the fact that. having been neglected
and forgotten. they may be discovered
and enforced spasmodically after the
custom Of violating them has become
established. and when it is . hardship
to require compliance with them. Such
defects in the ordinances Of c0uncils
and in the laws enacted by State legis-
latures and by Congress have been fro
quently noted and commented upon.
but it is not so generally noticed that
precisely similar faults are sometimes
committed by business men. by edu-
Gators and by parenta The employerof
labor issues unnecessary rules. neglects
TO enforce them, issues new rules. and
through his own administrative neg
iect leads his employees into the
belief, founded on experience. that
these rules and regulations amount TO
nothing. and arc not intended to be
enforced. Some day, however. . gross
violation, or an accident resulting
therefrom. turns his attention to the
subject and he becomes q strict dis
ciplinarian There Is no doubt that
his rules have been disobeyed; that is
his excuse for harsh measures There
II just a. little doubt on the part Of
his employees that he is unjust in over
turning long established customs. and
hence results q trade dispute difficult
to uottle. The unwise teacher In q
similar way issues 90 many directions
and fails to have them obeyed that his
school is without discipline. and when
he tries to enforce order he appears In
the light Of petty tyrant Tho
parent also needs to study the
science Of government that he may
apply its principles in the family
circle. II he issues orders without due
consideration. il sometimes careless
about requiring obedience. sometimes
rigid In his demands. his children will
grow up without due respect for his
authority. In the family. as in the
State, only reasonable laws or rules Of
conduct should be made. bot these
should be strictly enforced. It il pain
full to observea q parent giving unneces-
sary directions 70 . child and then
yielding to the latter's persuasiou Of
resistance painful because Of the bod
effect such experience must have upon
the child. Unconsciously he learns
that BY cajolcry or rebellion he may
obtain his own way; he becomes sell
fish and imperious. and ~ he Gr0ws in
years gets altogether beyond the con-
troll of his irres0iuto parent Too
much government is quite a. bad -
mono at all The happy mean Is
reached when the laws Of the State o.
Of the family are only those necessary
to the orderly administration Of affairs
when they are founded upon reason
and arc impartially enforced. Consid-
Grafton Of this principle may furnish
. guide to parents who sincerely de-
sire the welfare Of their children. but
who endanger it by too great indul-
gence on the one hand or too great So
verify and discipline On the other.
Child nature should be allowed to un-
fold naturally as the flower blooms.
guided. it may be. trained. protected.
but not forced. Sun.