The Meridional. (Abbeville, La.) 1856-1906, 1902-06-28
Political Reflections.
VANTAGE, June 20, 1902

GuLUOI O1EElDtONALs
Since my retirement from public
life, | have been looking over the
political horizon of the United States,
and was surprised at the political
progress made in Louisiana. 1 had
heard of the commercial progress Of
that great(?) State, but had no idea
that for political tricks, 1t was in it.
You know, Mr.. Editor, that for
many years, I was chief of Tammany
Hall, admittedly the greatest politi-
cal machine in the world, but l now
discover that the state of Louisiana
has an invention that knocks Tam
many silly. The Louisiana patriots
have largely copied Tammany, but
have greatly improved on its methods,
in robbing the stupid populace who
seem to delight in being robbed, and
pay great respect to their robbers.
The Louisiana machine which / shall
simply call the "machine'' for short,
is like Tammany Democratic" to
the core, and manlpulates the igno-
rant illiterate voters of New Orleans
and other portions of the State the
same as Tammany does the low Irish
and other ignorant foreigners of New
York.
That is politics and the "watch-
word" of politics is "boodle" as you
we'll know. The doings of the Legis-
lature now in session, call up old
"reminiscences of the city council Of
New York in its glorious days.
The greater the amount of money
for a councilman, or his esfriends,"
there vas in a bill, the greater the
cry Of ''patriotism'' and public good
was set up by the boosters of the
bill. Everything was done solely for
the public good and the greater the
number of political buns and poll
ticians-heelers that could be intro
duced into the business to handle the
public's money the more the public
good was served. Ali I see your
Louisiana patriots have caught on to
the secrets OF fammany, and multi
piled them even. How the world
''do move" III was only young
again! how l would delight to come
to Louisiana and do business. The
field is ripe for the harvest and how /
would just like TO thrust my sickle in
and just reap reap, reap-and such
nice company too as l would have
all sound Democrats. What a har-
vest we would have, and how the
people would cheer as.
/ know Of no such a place for
''business'' as Louisiana. She is
getting rich now, and then she il so
'seasy." There is nothing in all
Europe like it. It fairly makes my
mouth water to think of it. Il
thought l did well in New York and
so l did in a way, but how much
better [ could do in Louisiana-and
with such a fine lot of pure, patriotic
to assist me-always ready
and eager for the fray.
All me! It's too late now. I am
too old to return to the wars again,
even for SO much glory and Doodle.
[ must rest content with the few
millions l have earned by hard work,
and enjoy my cid age at Vantage as
well as | may; but Mr.. Editor I
shall note well what the machine does
in lovely Louisiana. You must mail
the MER1DIoNAL regularly to me for I
must keep posted. AS an old SOL
der loves to read of wars and bat-
ties, SO I enjoy the plans and schemes
Of the ''patriots'' to do the people
and keep themselves in ssplace."
What a nice piece of work was that
to repeal the poll tax law in
The machine wishes to
repeal it and will do it. OF course
will. These ignorant illiterates,
who are too lazy and too mean to pay
one dollar a year to educate their
children are the friends of the ma
It is they who elect them. If
no n was allowed to vote except
hose who owned some property and
paid taxes, and who had some intel
and knew what they were
about, the machine would
never get near the public crib. They
would be out Of a job.
| always found that enc ignorant