Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-10-01

| THE SEASON FOR DEMAGoGUEs.
! The elections that are TO occur during the
fall have given rise to active canyassing in
many Of the States. Candidates for Congress,
as well as candidates for various State Offices,
are busily engaged in canyassing their respec-
tive districts, and in harangueing the people.
There is scarcely an idea in politics, morals, OF
religion that has not its exponent in some one
or other of the numerous candidates now be-
fore the country. Our people in all the States
are afflicted with thirst great and growing
thirst for Office and for notoriety. They aban-
don the more quiet but more profitable indus
trial pursuits, to engage in the uncertain and
tantalizing chase after political fame. AS the
country grows, and as Offices multiply, this un-
healthy desire increases in corresponding
ratio. There are, perhaps, from half dozen
to dozen aspirants for every Office. When
one succeeds, all his competitors become dis
contented, if not turbulent. There is thus, al
ways, o very large force Of the disafected and
the grumbling. They are ready to embark in
any political enterprise or adventure that
promises them revenge and plumber. The OPP
position organizations are filled with such men.
Those who, by the bestowal Of Office, would
have been made peaceful patriots, become in
dignant patriots without Office. They take the
lead in all dsorganizing movements and keep
their followers in constant state of feyerish
excitement Such are the demagogues against
whom the fathers of the republic warned us.
They care for no body but themselves. For
every true patriot, there are thousand noisy
demagogues. The masses are honest because
they are disinterested- in their errors.
The leaders of the masses are generally dis
honest, even in their advocacy oftruth. is.
AT no period in our history, perhaps, has the
country so swarmed with demagogues and dis
honest political leaders as at the present time.
AS filth breeds vermin, so the unhealthfnl con-
dition Of public affairs has generated an innu-
merable host of those infamous creatures. Our
largo cities are filed with them. Every village
is cursed with their clamors. The. tranquil
solitude of the country is ruthlessly disturbed by
them. Their doctrines are as numerous as
were the languages at Babel. Throughout the
country confusion is worse COMPOUNDED. There
is general upheaving of society. Heresies
and schisms abound. New and strange names,
never before known to political nomenclature,
are dinned into the public ear, until they have
become as familiar as household words. Poll
ticians daily form strange coalitions and start
ling alliances. Instead of great parties being
of individuals, they are made up of
separate organizations that enter under regular
articles Of agreement, by which they stipulate
to render certain specified services for certain
portion of the spoils. Such is the composition
Of the great Wing party Of the north. 1t is
made up of all manner of cliques, coteries, fac
lions, and divisions. These different divisions
have their different captains and retain their
different banners, but they have all enlisted for
The war, as soldiers Of fortune, under the Wing
leaders. Such medley was never before seen.
1t may hold together until the day of battle,
but on that day it viii be torn into thousand
atoms, whether defeated or victorious.