The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1842-01-15
From he Bahiinore Sun.
BUSINESS MEN. al>


1t has been remarked by some one we forget whom
that "he States will learn, by and by that men Of bu-
siness must be selected to attend TO matters of bust
ness. The mere politician is wholly unfit for such
task. 1t is one thing TO- be popular and eloquent-it
is quite another to be practical clear head ed and bu-
sness-hke. Yet these the qualities most needed
in private well public matters" This is all true
perfectly so; and it is because the truth here set
forth, simple and obvious u.s. has been very gene
tally overlooked and neglected in the choice of cgis-
lators, that many Of States literally "over
head and in debt and that the public time and
treasure have been SO often consumed in worse than
useless debate at Washington to the utter neglect of
the business OF the nation. Not that speeches
reIy unnecessary to the business of legislation, but
that irrelevant ones and tho intended for selfgorf-
cation, for effect elsewhere than in the legislative
hall, are. The business member makes speech only
when il necessary, and then it usually found to
be pertinent, and characterised as much by obser
OF bfevty as the nature of the subject and the
circumstance OF the will admit Of But the nun
Der who thus do their duty is usually small compared
with those who speak "for Buncombe, and who de-
light to waste tine in telling stale anecdotes, making
miserable puns, playing upon words and cracking
jokes or may be, quarrellng with ther peers ban
dying abusive personalities, and vending Bngsgate
at he rate OF eight dollars day; while poor clerks in
departments are tied down to the hard labor OF the
desk, and perhaps ongue-ed be -ides for mere v.
ing compensation. That we have often censured
members Of Congress for this kind of conduct is true;
but that not, like many others wot Of dis
posed to lay the whole blame them alone is true
also. 10 fact the people are themselves guilty to
very considerable extent. Common, pam sensible,
and xperieced business men will not suit them;
they must have long tongued orators for their repre-
sentatives Indeed from the indications Of late years
Benjamin franklin himself, not to speak OF Wash
ngton, would stand chance of election if
placed on the stump in competition with almost any
of the political gabbers Of the day known to the pub
lie and certainly If the people toW choose men on
account OF tier volubllty they cannot consistently
find fault with them for " much speaking" even
though be at their expense There is but one rene.
dy for the evil and that is in the hands of the people
themselves that islct them choose business men to
fiji all the elective Offices if they do this their b, 81
oU be DONE and that too at the smallest possible
Cost to themselves if not, they will find that even
the censures of the press will fail of its reforming
object. And more-they may find in the absence Of
the remedy, what they can now, that with true
business for President, one who il at the head
of the nation without being at the head OF party they
have set OF Legislators at Washington disposed with
perhaps few excepons) to do any thing except
the public business and to represent any thing under
h. aven except their constituents. The honest me.
dun, middle ground, firmly assumed by an indie
pendent President, suits them not; his rectilinear
course sets their sinuosities at nought and throws
them off the scent. He has party unless that por-
ton of the people that despises party rammes can be
considered; and neither party has properly, as
heretofore considered, single head. This relative
position of the Executive and Legislative branches of
vorable to the public business, will we predict be
found ultimately benefcia its tendency being towards
if not the entire abolition of partisan lines of division
at least to the very desirable moderation party spirit
In the present confusion created by President Tyers
independent position among politicians in and out OF
Congress these amable and dsinterested guardians
Of the public veal have, for the part los, their
latitude. Never were leading partsans on both sides
either side, extremely puzzled find how to
lay their course hence see them beating
about" each in a head wind and without chart or
compass and hence the public business suffers and
hence again, while single States straining every
nerve to maintain their faith that of the naIlon has
been seriously put in peril in the National House If
Representatives. Well-bad as all this is, il NAV
issue in ultimate good The people will learn, in
course of time, the difference between business men
and men of mere falkland between a President of
he people and the representatives of parties and
cliques.
~ Fourth Presbyterian Church, 9th street north
Of Patent Officer John G. Smith will preach
sermon Sabbath Tomorrow morning at ii clock
for the benefit of the Washington City Orphan
ASYLUM.
The Orphans will be present, and sing "The Or
phans Appeal" A collection will be taken up ub
lie invited.
January Is, 1912.