The Lafayette advertiser. [volume] (Vermilionville [i.e. Lafayette], La.) 1865-19??, 1905-03-01

To The Advertiser

To The Advertiser
When guided by strong passion men
are devoid of reason, and 1t il with
regret that the writer sees that some
persons are Influenced by this malady
in the presen. municipal contest: men
who on ordinary occasions are ~
sidered sane and of sound common
are apt, in the excitement per-
vading those whose business 1t is to
introduce the plague, to contract b
disease in its most virulent type. and
before they realize it look upon their
neighbOrs. men with whom they
ha We been on best OF terms, others
known by long reputation to be model
citizens, as crooks and municipal
grafters, should they by chance
favor q certain candidate for IN ONCE
to be filed at the election, or that
they are candidates for such ONCE.
Is it strange that under such cen
ditiOns many men we'll qusli1ed,
refuse to enlist themselves in any
political contest?
Abuse and v~illification are not
arguments, but only the insane vapor.
ings of malice and prejudice; the
worst type-Of the malady generally
appears when the victim OF the dis
ease makes incOherent charges Of
honest purpose of these neighbOrs Is
public officials in the performance
of their duties with the dishonest
purpose of benefiting themselves a
. chosen few; by stating that 1t Is moi
his purpose to discuss the merits OF
any set of men but that in the opinion
OF many, q part of these men should
not be trusted; that although he has
no opinion IN the subject there Is
firmly established opinion In the
community that if some individuals OF
. class without naming them) are
successful in their efforts they will
proceed OF once, like the potter with
his clay, to transform the City Fathers
into statues for playthings to be per
formed with like msri0nnettes, while
engaged themselves In exploiting
matters of State to such IN extent
that their own children are even now
ashamed to own their parentaGe.
There is however q we'll defined plan
In his madness; the incOherency and
Inconsistency avoids the possibility Of
being brought up before the court for
Islander. and more especially, 70 his
und0ing, . public and uneQuivOcel
to the discontinue Of his
friends and associates. This apparent
cunning ia known to assert Itself In
other cases of insanity and this feat
ure, with corresponding -earnestness
in the speaker or writer, IS the Case
may be, are strong symptoms OF the
disease.
The redeeming traits sof this malady
however r manifold as compared to
Others dethrOning the reason OF men;
the victim impresses his hearers with
the sincerity of his motives, and It
you fail to accord him q hearing he IL
apt to unload his invectives on your
hesd IS one devoid of all patriotic
q Of duty; should you listen atten-
lively the warmer he gets on his sub
ject, and ut times imbued with his
importance, grows really eloquent.
When In this mood he is 1t his hest
for the scientist, and may be cured
either by causing the withdrawal Of
the candidates which he opposes or
calling on the election.
The ssddest part of this malady II
that men affected with 1t have been
known to abuse their benefactOrs or
praise those who were anything but
their friends at times when they we're
In dire necessity.
There being such . prevailing
epidemic In the town ct present, the
writer thought it . his duty to place
the matter before the people o. .
not to take seriously to any
personality INDUCED in by these UNI
AN IMMUNE.