The Lafayette advertiser. [volume] (Vermilionville [i.e. Lafayette], La.) 1865-19??, 1907-06-05

doubtful utility in order to win votes
and ride into power. When l think
o. unquestioned integrity of purpose
and the fearless advocacy of great
principles, in which he thought. were
wrapped up the moral and political
welfare of his country, | recall the
calm, pale, 2hilosophic face and erect
military figure of Jefferson Davis,
Mississppi's foremost and mightiest
parliamentary leader, whose manner
was as serious as a saint and whose
pure patriotism rebuked the very sug-
gestion of insincerity, However
others may have differed from him in
Judgment, nobody eve doubted his
sincerity or suspected his %unsullied in
tegrity.
Who could ever associate the
stainless name of Lucius Q. G. Lamar
with the deceit of the ~demagogue or
the tricks of the small politician? He
scorned to scheme for place or power,
and would rather have died than be-
tray his people into the support OF a
measure of ever doubtful morality or
utility.
On this vital subject | commend the
patriotic and philosophic words of
old England's peerless statesman:
.'Plain good intention, which is as
easily discovered at the first view as
fraud is surely detected at last. is of
no mean force in the government OF
mankind. Genuine simplicity of heart
is a healing and %cementing principle
There is an ethical obligation upon
every citizen to take an active part IN
public affairs. Edmond Burke. whose
philosophic and political wisdom
commands increaing respect, on one
occasion uttered these words, which
need special emphasis in America to-
day: "He ~transgresses against the
law of duty who sleeps upon his watch
as we'll as he who goes over to the
enemy" In affairs of state, inditf err
ence and neglect are national crimes.
One as much betrays his country by
disregarding her needs as in the
desertiOn of her colOrs. Activity In
public affairs is the present and inn
perial demand upon every Christian
patriot. 1t is idle, even to crimina-
lily: to deprecate the course OF pohti-
cal events and viciously assail the
acts and motives of those in respon-
sible positions when we are doing
nothing to elevate the standards of
character and wisely guide the affairs
of government. The criticisms of a
slOthful citizen are worse than than
the emptiest can't. At an important
election some years ago in New York
An election involving not only the
interests of a great city but of the en-
tire nation-on Fifth Avenue, from
Fourth Street to Sixty-eighth, a dis
lance of one mile and a half, just
twenty-eight votes were cast. And
yet those are the neglectful citizens
who are loudest in their ~denunciatiOn
of corrupt municipal and national
politics.
Another point is worthy OF most
serious consideratiOn-the ethical
obligation of every citizen to support
the Government and its wise admins.
tratiOn. 1t is immoral and
unpatriotic for any one to claim the
protection of Government--enjoy the
faithful guardianship of its laws-and
yet withhold support of its admins
tration and refuse to share its taxable
burdens. l have sometimes though
that the final test of an American
citizens highest loyalty was not in thu
heroic rank of the Army or Navy
not in the sacred responsibilities O
public Office, high Or low: not in thu
busy marts of legitimate trade or il
the peaceful pastoral pursuits of lif'
on the farm-not even in church o.
school-but in the Tax Collector
Office.
OUR WORST TAINTED MONEY
is that which is concealed by ingen
ious swearing, and not that accumu
lated by financial maneuvering
Much has been done under the dill
gent and efficient direction of on
State Revenue Agent to compel al
the people TO bear their due proper
ton Of taxes in support of the Gov
eminent. tits right to stir up the in
dividual conscience and insist upo
absolute honesty in every citizen. 4
.o.Aain numhor shonld not he mad