The Opelousas courier., 1894-07-14
Correspondence
July 10. 1894

EDITORS COURIER:
In our day and generation it is not re-
CURED that a legislator should have con-
siderable property in fact, it is not ne
cessary that he have any property at all.
Neither is it necessary that he have any
knowledge of law, nor is he required to
have much knowledge of any kind. His
fitness for the position is based princi-
palIy if not wholly and entirely upon the
pull " he possesses in the community
in which he resides. This consideration
dwarfs into insignificance any objection
that might be urged against him. The
greater the pull" the higher his quail
tications and the more certain is he to
have bis aspirations gratitied. This has
unfortunately been the practice here
with US, and judging from the mental
calibre of the present House of Repre-
sentatives, and several of its predeces-
sors the same rule holds good in most of
the parishes of the State, the parish of
Orleans not excepted.
In the last campaign the Farmers AL
lance were bent IN controlling the gov-
eminent. They not only wanted the
Governor, but they wanted the lawmak-
ing power. One Of their order was heard
TO remark "Give Us the lawmaking de-
partment and we will surrender the OIL
ces.n This bait held out to the politi-
clans was not only q tempting one, but
fashioned after the desire of their own
heart. The offices is what they UGRted,
with their emOluments and powerful in
%f1uences, and hence the compact was
eagerly entered into and carried out as
far as they were permitted to do SO.
Given the opportunity to dictate the
men who were to represent them, the
farmers set about their work with a
vengeance, and in many instances Sc
lected men from their own occupation
in life and elected them to make our
laws.
The mistake primarily made could
never DE rectified. The men selected as
aforesaid without educational qualifica-
tioDs for the positions they were to oc-
cupy have proven incompetent to hold
the offices, and in consequence have &C.
complished nothing. By their own eff
forts they accomplish naught. Left to
the superior ability of their fellow-mem-
bers, they are liable to be productive of
as much harm as good.
The good men are outvoted by the
bad element, so that between those who
are able to help themselves and those
that go there simply to help themselves,
the people are between the devil and the
deep blue sea. The incompetency of the
average lawmaker is ~stupendous. 1t
is nc exaggeration to say that a large
proportion of those who constitute the
House cannot frame a bill neither a
they by comparison draw their conclu-
sions as to the effects of the legislation
submitted to them. The laws upon our
statute books and the laws continually
being enacted bear evidence OF the un-
fitness Of the men who make them.
But the farmers are not alone to blame
for this state of things. In fact, they are
the least blameable, since they were
never before given the right to dictate
and select these representatives. Them
selves uu%acquainted with the delicate
duties to be assigned their representa-
tives, they were liable to err in their Sc
lecti0ns, as in most instances they did.
The people are to be blamed for this
state of affairs-lawyers, doctors, farm
ers, merchants, mechanics, priests, prea-
cheers and laymen are included in this
category. SO long as they remain indif-
ferent to the prevailing evil, so long as
they let the politicians and the Office
seekers select their candidates for these
offices, just so long will the evil con-
tinue. Adler men in your legislative
halls will insure the passage of better
laws; better laws will insure greater
peace and prosperity, a reform of the
ballot and election laws, a cheaper and
better judiciary, higher regard for the
sanctity of the ballot box, education
more generally diffused, taxation less
ened, and other untold blessings, the
direct result of such wholesome and be-
nefcent legislation. READER.