Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1850-1859, 1852-06-11

necessary, in some cases, to enable ;
candidate to obtain Office at the hands o
less, jovial sociality-all these qualitie.
the people; and are the very rocks upor
which his reputation is subsequent,
wrecked. A most terrible case in point
has lately occurred in the person of th'
Hon. Edward A Hanncgan. John Went
worth, who served wrth him in Congress,
writing to the Chicago Eemocrat, says >
" Mr. Hannegan entered the lower House
OF Congress, many years ago, perfectly
temperate man; and in point of talents,
integrity and popularity, his prospects
were as flattering as these of any young
man in the United States. But Washing
ton fashions and habits were too much for
him. Dissipation drove him to private
life. lie reformed, became temperance
lecturer, and au exemplary member of the
church. His exhortations, in times of
great reyivals, are said to have equalled
those of the most eloquent divines living.
At length his old habits were forgotten,
and he was sent to the Senate. He took
his seat, an exemplary Son of Temperance
and Christian. But again the tcmpta-
tions were too great for him. His strug.
giles with himself were gigantic, aud the
assistance Of one Of natures TO clest Of
women, his wife. secured for him the
sympathies of every body. But he wcali
have his sprees, and be los. his reelection.
Like most politicians, he left Oiiicc. .miser-
ably poor
What an eloquent commentary upon
the vices Inherent in our present political
system, is contained in the above para
graph. Here Is man of line talents and
temperate habits, suddenly dearalod to
the lowest level of humanity by the ASH
ions and habits Of i disscl.te capital. He
returns home and reformes is reelected,
and relapsing, becomes worse druukard
than ever. Utterly debascd by this one
fearful failing, he returns to private life.
and like most politicians" says Mr..
Wentworth, che left oflice miserably
poor" If the case of Mr.. Hannegan was
solitary instance, it might be pointed
to as an exception to tie general morality
Of members OF Cong:ess,-unhappi!y, it
is an evidence Of the rule, rather than the
exception. Mr. Wents orth, in giving
a pog.ion Of Lis experience, c.3s On to
1ay:--
'''1e have seen many young man
enter Congress perfectly temperate, and
leave it totally ruined bus ::e never kew
one ;s'.o had 50 rlary c orts to save hin,
Sc Intellectually, as Hr. Hannegan. We
nos have in or mind three, N orr own
term, who lilled tlems.lye5."
Well may he add, 4 little further on,
'fahat an awful comment this is npon the
evil effects Of intsmpe-ance." 1t is more
than that. 1t is fearful evidence of /
state Of society that needs regonerating
md is consequence ofthc means usually
.asen by candidates TO insratiatc them
selves with their cons tituentS
If under these circumstances, we say,
hat the best and abIest men of our coun-
ry do ret hold any political Office, the
he reason is evident enough and the
act that they do not, is too well known
% need exemplifyiug.
There never yet was anything more
demanded of the American
people than thorough puriication of the
political arena. Fer some years past,
10Th houses Of CONGRESS hare been rapidly
into conventions for Presi-
lent making, where eager and hungry
,spirsnts for Office talk of everything
'nder the sun except the public business
7hich they were elected to transact
here convivial associations are formed, in
Yh..eh the red vine drovns the better wit
nd lioats the worst passions; and where, .
,ut too often, the steps are progressively
downward, until they lead to poverty and
lisgraee, and, not unfgequently, TO HON
eide. or to wiiful self-murder.