The weekly Iberian. (New Iberia, La.) 1894-1946, 1912-05-04
PUBLIC OPINION.


lua Is deep student OF men.
mattelS and roEii lon%, as we'll as
of the ~clrnre Of law and lulI>
IIulpncr. and Ol, rare occasions
hr can be persuaded to put into
he form of Al essay Tor publtca.
ton of one Of those dissertations
with Mich II Is bis occasional
wont to grace his intercourse with
hi. friends On several occasions
he ! As favored The Times Demo
crat with these essays for pnbIlra-
ton, ami tir following from his
pnn viii! br found 10 be of IN
sirGcirve interest:
public Welfare and the tifi
zrn's Consclchce-Pn Public Opinion.
The welfare of the community
ana Of the nation il, Niih"nt any
doubt. the most important SuhJrr'
in which the individual cltIZeD
can interest himself
The power If concerted pubic
opinion is urnq al II by any other
element III the composite hi" 81 i
great republic such as outs he
yond all doubt hat which makes
for the progress and conteHtmrnt
Is best obtained through tie inlln
tnce of enlightened and conSclrn-
hous public opinion.
Since public wea! is always il
proportion to enlightened pnbll'
opinion. an4 since pnhilr orlnloh
il bat he sum total Of The opihI
ons of individual citizens, we
therefore, as citizens, can contrl
butte something, however limited
TO the public welfare.
TO the end of assisting in tins
good work one need no, he in olli
Ger Of the State nOI the warden 81
religious or charitable lnstltn
lion A man, provided he hives
as he should live: the honest ana
truthful citizen, though humble,
renders very great service; he
thereby forms public opinion,
wise, thoughtful q consid. ra'r;
he thereby becomes the equal Of
he President and Of any OF his
ministers.
I'm "A government by the many,
the purpose should be to create u
sound and healthy condition. 10
accomplish this, correct thinking
is needed There is force in uniI-
ed will. When sound, il should
he controlling.
BASIS OF GOV ERN Nj ENT.
Government, in any Of it's de
parlments, if il is ~ opposition u
we'll considered and correct public
opinion, is Il travesty on govern
ment. In those instances mutual
respect and good will disappear.
The controlling rule should br
consistent with right and justice.
As to these there should be no
great difference. There may be
different rules in regard to details,
bmt none IN regard to great princi
pies. Whenever these great prin-
ciples are opposed the majority
should unite in openly condemn
ing this opposition. Sometimes,
however, the remedy hes IN edn-
eating those deficient rather chan
IN directly opposing wrong gov,
eminent
One Of the great remedies is
proper legislation. The purpose
of Legislation should always be to
reform incoherent, unequal and
obsolete rules and law" by putting
an end to abuses, and by main.
tanning order in administration,
and by abolishiDg the burdens
and chains placed on industry,
and by improving the condition Of
The State generally. All of this
may be accomplished by enlisht
ened legislation.
An intelligent public finds little
to censure. The details of lrgisla,
ton may give Use to differen.
opinions, to which due considera
ton should be given.
DAYS OF DIRECT VOICE.
There was IA time when there
was no legislation. The inhabi
tants had not parted with any
right on the subject. Each man
had direct voice in the govern
ment. After the organization of
society, selected men represented
the community. The tlrong sur
rendered it's rights 10 these dele
gates. The condition of surrpn
Der IS that the representatives.
shall SERIOUSLY consider conditions
SO as to protect the will and inter.
~; OF the individual and Of the
community. In tins, the Iawmak
ING power should not always yield
to public opinion as mucn AZ har-
mony is desirable between the
law enacted and the public will
me latter should have ability TO
give tone and direction 10 public
opinion.
me ascer;alnment . Of public
opinion is not always an easy
matter. The different sources en-
serlng into the judgment are nn