The Louisiana populist., 1896-12-25
THE TALE is TOLD.
THE ARGUMENT BETWEEN THE
MASSES AND CLASSES.
The People Are the Law, the Courts
and the Government - An Interest
ing Chapter from the Eook-yoiney's
Ruins.

cannot have failed to find especial in
terest in the chapter entitled The
New Age" The Genius of tombs and
ruins has shown him the empires of
the past, the causes of their ruin and
downfall and the influences which ever
retard human progress and develop
ment; and, in view OF these, he is lead
to exclaim:
Here, sunk in sorrow. my op-
pressed heart no longer found utter
ance. The Genius answered not, but
l heard him whisper to himself:
Let us revive the hope Of this man;
for If be who loves his fellow creatures
be suffered to despair, what will be-
come of nations? The past is perhaps
too discouraging; must anticipate fu-
turity, and disclose to the eye of virtue
the astonishing age that is ready to BE-
gin; that, on viewing the object she de-
sires, she may be animated with new
ardor, and redouble her efforts to at
tain it,
New Age" in which the author is per-
mitted to catch a glimpse of futurity.
1t is as follows:
Scarcely had he finished these
words, when great tumult arose in
the west. and turning to that quarter, l
perceived, at the extremity of the
Mediterranean, in one of the nations of
Europe, a prodigious movement-such
as when a violent sedition arises in a
vast city-a numberless people, rush
Ing in all directions, pour through the
streets and fiuctuate like waves in the
public places. My ear, struck with the
cries which resounded to the heavens.
distinguished these words:
What is this new prodigy? What
cruel and mysterious scourge is this?
We are a numerous people and we
want hands. We have an excellent
soil, and We are in want of subsistencel
We are active and laborious, and We
live in indulgence! We pay enormous
tributes, and We are told they are not
sufficient! We are at peace without,
and our persons and property are not
safe within. Who, then, is the secret
chcHy tHdt ueVOurS US.
Some voices from the midst of the
multitude replied:
Raise a discriminating Standard
and let ali those who maintain and
nourish mankind by useful labors
gather round it; and you will discover
the enemy that preys upon you.'
THE standard being raised. this ma.
tion divided itself at once into two
bodies Of unequal magnitude and con-
trasted appearance. The one, innum-
erable. and almost total, exhibited in
the poverty of its clothing, in it's ema-
ciated appearance and sun-burnt faces,
the marks OF misery and labor; the
other. little group, an Insignificant
faction, presented in its rich attire EN-.
broidered with gold and silver, and In
it's sleek and ruddy faces, the signs of
leisure and abundance.
Considering these men more at
tentively, found that the great body
was composed of farmers, artificers,
merchants. all professions useful to so.
ciety; and that the little group was
made up Of priests of every order. of
financiers. of mobiles, of men in livery,
OF commanders of armies; in a word,
of the civil. military and religious
agents of government.
These two bodies being assembled
face to face, and regarding each other
with astonishment, / saw indignation
and rage arising in one side, and a sort
OF panic in the other. And the large
body said to the little one: Why are
you separated from us? Are you not
Of our NUMBER
No. replied the group, you are
the people; We are the privileged class,
who have our laws, customs and rights
peculiar to ourselves
"People.-'And what labor do you
perform in our society,"
Privileged class.-'None; we are
not made to work
"People.-'How, then have you ac-
quired these riches?
Privileged CLASSIFY taking the
pains to govern you
"People.-'What! is this what you
call governing? We toll and you en-
Joy! We produce and you dissipate!
Wealth proceeds from us and you alb
sorb it! Privileged men. class who are
not of the people; form a nation apart,
and govern yourselves
Then the little group, celebrating
on this new state of things, some Of
the most honorable among them said:
We must join the people and partake
Of their labors and, burdens, for they
are men like US. and our riches come
from them;' but others arrogantly ex-
claimed: Tt would be shame, an in
fanny. for us to mingle with the crowd;
they are born to serve us. Are we not
men of another race-the noble and
pure descendants of the courageous of
this empire? This multitude must be
reminded of our rights and its own
origin
The nobles.-'People! know you not
that our ancestors conquered this land,
and that your race was spared only on