The weekly messenger. [volume] (St. Martinsville [i.e. St. Martinville] La.) 1886-1948, 1899-08-26
Is Not The Laborer Worthy
of Hire?

1
sion and Obtuse understanding have not
failed to see and comprehend their GER
tain and often ruthless visitation. Death
being decreed by an inscrutable and all
knowing Power we cannot accurately
fOretell the hour Of his coming, but tax
es being the handiwork Of man we can
definitely predict the time OF their CON-
ing. attended often with pitiless exac-
tons. Now since the town, the city, the
state and the nation impose their bur-
dens with unvarying regularity ought
not each and every one of them pay all
who are appointed to do their bidding?
IL the officer has no duties TO perform
deserving of compensation then the
Office ought to be abolished. for where
there is no obligation resulting from a
pecuniary reward for services rendered
the sense of duty must be vague, its va
lue depending entirely upon the fear of
public sentiment. which by profess
siOnal politician or office seeker is fear
ed only when it becomes actively hostile.
These political positions without emOlu-
ments are positively demOraliying. and
they invariably. soon or late, prove a
curse to the best interest of the public.
Smaller the honor attached to the hOl-
ding of them, greater the harm they in
flict upon the people. No one is so fool.
ishly credulGus as to believe that any
person seeks an office through unselfsh
motives. from desire to servo the pub
lie for the public good. The non paying
Offices are more frequently sought for
the purpose of gratifying political spite,
and those who hold them are too often
the instruments with which those in
higher positions work to advance their
own ACKNOWLEDGEMENT. They are simply.
in many cases, objects of contention
among factions. of divided party, the
most bitter INSCRIPTIONS, and vindictive
OF political opponents. With paid Off
GERS the people could and would be more
exacting for a stricter performance of
duty.
In times past, when our streets we're
bOrdered with natures green carpeting;
when there was no light after twilight
but the moon or the stars to guide our
footsteps; when the doors could be left
open and the windows hoisted at night
for the admission of refreshing breezes,
without the fear Of dangerous intIuders;
when competition In business was con-
Quoted upon honorable lines; when ri
valsbip was less bitter and combina-
ton Of circumstances enabled the mer-
chant to fix his percentage of profits to
suit his avariciOus desiresregardless of
the plethora or the exhaustion of his
patrons pockets; when prosperity perva-
ded every avenue of life; when there wa s
some desire to be guided by public Opin-
ion; when those who by industry, econO-
my and good luck had amassed cOmpe-
tency did not think because of this fact
they possessed all the knowledge and vir-
tue OF the sphere i'm which they moved;
when man was esteemed more for his
mental and moral worth than for the
number OF dollars be possessed; when
wealth was not sought by the lOwly
born as a stepping stone to social and
political elevation; when broken prOmi-
ses inflicted stigma that time alone
could erase; when lie was not regar-
ded as all excusable pleasantly, but
something to which turpitude was at
tached even though it gained its evil
designs; when suspicion was not thought
to be an essential requisite as a safe
guard against impOsitiOn; when the
mocking-bird could sing undisturbed by |
the deadly aim of the cruel and unap-
preciative boy; when grey hairs ere not |
considered badge of mental weakness;
when libertines could not walk the
streets in open day with head erect and |
defiant step; when it was not considered
a manly and safe joyful evenings pas
time to debauch pure, but too confiding
girls, circumstances were such that one |
might be expected to fill acceptably a
nOn-paying Office; but when town has
thrown off its rural garb and adopted
airs and habiliments, as
well as the fOibles and vices that the
more pretentious position brings with
it its changed conditions and surround
ing call for new regulations, and man
being an animal that is influenced by
we must deal with him as
The times demand, not forgetting the
Did maxim. "Iimes channa and mon |