The Lafayette gazette. [volume] (Lafayette, La.) 1893-1921, 1903-02-14
TIE ONLY REMEDY

button from the pen of DR.. N. p.
Moss. DIR. Moss contends with
much reason that the failure of
hundreds of men to pay their
poll tax is attributable to litter
acy, rather than to a lack of
patriotism. We believe that DR..
Moss is eminently right. Most
of these men who temporarily
disfranchise themselves by fail
ing to pay the poll tax are not
unpatriOtic. When the South
called her sons to the defense of
constitutional liberty and the
crucial test of civic devotion was
made on the field of battle, none
responded with more alacrity
than the citizen who, in time of
peace, took little or no interest
in the affairs of his government.
Men refrain from exercising the
right of suffrage because they
do not understand it's import
ance. Illiteracy or false educa-
ton is in a large measure re-
sponsible for the lamentable in
difference among the people re-
agarding the performance of their
duties of citizenship. The
apathy evidenced by the non
payment OF the poll TAX is an
evil which. BIDS fair to under
mine our system of government.
It naturally prevails in a greater
degree among the illiterate peO-
pie, but unfortunately it is not
confined to any class of citizens.
Even among the educated. there
is an inclination to shirk the
performance of civic duties.
Men of intelligence and educa-
ton often employ questionable
methods to escape the discom-
forts and responsibility of the
jury-room, and they consider the
hours devoted to political mat
tiers as so much time lost. Many
evils grow out of this popular in
difference to governmental af-
fairs. One of it's legitimate re-
suits, and the one which has
caused more trouble than all the
others, is that abnormal product
of modern society known as the
political boss, who, after all,
merely ,,wields the power of
which the people have Invested
themselves by their own apathy.
The boss avails himself of con-
ditions for which he is not re-
sponsible, and if he has not
grown more powerful it is a tri-
butte to his own moderation, be-
cause with so much Indifference
among the voters there is nothing
to prevent him from becoming
the absolute master.
There is something defective
in the education or rearing up of
a people who care so little for
their government. It would
seem that the Importance of dis
their civic duties has
never been properly instilled in
the minds of the men of to-day.
Both the home and school ap-
pear to have been derelict in this
respect. The percentage of citi-
zens who are not cOnverSant ,
with the workings of the govern
ment is appallingly great. The :
popular idea seems to be that
The government is a thing which
will take care of itself and that it
s not the citizens business to Z
AXE part in it's administration.
The only remedy for this con-
lition of affairs lies in the hands
# the State. It is the correct +
education of the young. That +
,road education of the child 6
which the State alone is able to +
i've offers the sole cure for this !.
Ommon disease which so Sc .
iously affects the body polite. e
n country like this where
he people are supreme and
there the popular will is law, it A
, important that the voters g
hould have proper apprecia -
on of their duty to the State.
90 much about the government
n L. l. Il IL