Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1850-1859, 1851-09-17
Tor the Lewisburg Chronicle,

Jul AZ 10 w NstNih NuotOhi1 ohA
halls from the land which boasts of hay
ing made great improvements upon the leg
islation and political machinery of the old
er States And now it is fast coming to
be here, as it is there, that every aspirant
to office, from Governor to u Constable,
must turn out and take the stump, and he
who is unable to get up and make speech,
is politically damned.
This is an ace of light and information,
and society is getting wonderfully astute in
its observation Of men and things. The
old inquiries respecting Candidate, ''ls
he honest? Is he Competent are be-
coming antiquated and stale, and the indi-
vidual who presumes to make them, Is hon
ored with the appcllation Of cod Hunk
er," and told, as a salvo to this, that he is
behind the age. The inquiry moss COM
monty made nowadays, in political circles,
Is, 'What has he got to say :" and if on
ly Maj. this, or Col. that, or Hon. some
body-clse, can ".1,oat'' eloquen:ly, he is
the man for the times.
Thus You see Nr. Editor, that GAS, like
steam and Lightning, is finding its way in
to every thing, and that while men employ
oae Kind to cuIishtcn their physical cor
porocities,' some require another to illumi-
nate their understandings.
But, seriously, We look upon this practice
as pernicious, and fraught with more evil
than good. To say that it is to enlighten
the people, is only a r,s5e to catch the un-
wary, and Is certainly but left-hanied
compliment to the intelligence ofthe masses.
And, pray, can our good people obtain in
formation in no other way! The fact Is,
community are already pretty well in
formed, and all they desire to know, is not
what they must do, but what the .candi-
dates propose to DO. And is it necessary,
in order 10 give this desired information,
that these gents should go a-tilting over the
State, disturbing the quietudc of every
village in the Commonwealth-anda all this,
(as wag at our elbow hints to convince
the public that the salvation of the Union
depends upon their election? Why there
is the political press, gentlemen, as numer-
Gus as the Sibyl leaves of ancient story
use hm as those before YOU have done. \
communication, from a prominent candi-
date, addressed to one of the leadiug organs
Of either of the two great parties, would
reappear upon the pages of every junior
organ in the State, at its next issue, set
off in all the magic of big type, indiccs,
and exclamation points
Indeed, some of these stump-or rather
store-box orators, instead of teaching the
people, had need themselves to be taught,
d" first principles, and learn that truth, and
not the dollar power, can alone inspire true
eloqucnce 1t must assuredly be very hu-
initiating to an independent and honora-
bic man, to be obliged to come forward and
advocate his own election-but, We had
forgotten to recollect that excessive mod
esty Is by no means a prevailing sin among
politicians. Still, would it not look more
bciitting at least, in some Of our more dis
tinguished m:n, whose names are already
as familiar as household words, to remain
at home or at their posts Of duty, and leave
to their respective friends the pleasing
task Of urging their claims upon the pub
lie?
But the most serious objection to this
new custom, is that it will de5ar some OF
our ablest and purcst men from the posi-
bility of serving their country in high sta
tions of public trust. 1t is by no meaps
true that the most gifted and ornate speak
er, always makes the shrewdest and sound /
est statesman. Brlliancy Of imagination
and fuency of language, are not the essen
tial qualifications Of a great ruler These |
may adorn his character, and rs such are
not to lie despiscd bat what We desire most,
in the hellasman Of the ship Of state, is the
"quickness to perceive and the prompt
ness to act" 1t is equally incorrect to
suppose that the most successful pleader al
ways makes the best judge. And is this
the age in which solidity Of judgment and
sterling integrity are to be elbowed out of
the arena TO make way for the pompous
and the snowy Heaven deliver US from
such progress If this practice is to be-
come the rule, many men, whose compe-
teney we would not for moment, call into /
question, but IL whom nature has denied
the gift Of tongues, may be compelled to
remain in obscurity, and their talents and
their influence for good, be for ever lost to
their country.
While we entertain very high opinion I
of the distinguished abilities and moral
worth of the two candidates for the guber- !
material chair, yet we must demur as to
the propriety of the course they have Ia
ken in stumping it through the State; and
we would conclude by expressing the sin
4 al Al l. l..