Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1833-1861, 1854-06-30

rHxD1RrY POOL, OR SPLITTING IN THE

The unsophisticated Of our land have
often wondered why politics should be
so dirty pool, that respectable and
decent people may not dabble in it,
The fact has long been admitted that
it is sacrifice, that good man can
hardly afford to make, to consent to
have anything to do with the affairs Of
state. But the ghy of this fact, is, to
many a mystery.
That it is wrong ogive up the gov
eminent of the country to unprincipled
and goddess men, needs no argument
to those who believe that righteous
ness exalteth nation and that sin is
reproach to any people, That as a
nation we are now suffering. and are
likely to suffer, from placing power and
authority in the handsof those who bid
defiance to Gods law, and exalt HUI
man law above it, and even glory in
so doing, is also manifest. And, that
there is an awakening TO this state OF
affairs by the moral and religious por-
ton of the nation is one Of the fayora-
BILE signs Of the times. The natl on
we do not say too much when we say
the nation. has resolved on reformation
on this subject, and henceforth the
moral character ofcandidates will be an
important question with moral men.
So general is this sentiment that we
have heard drunkards themselves say
they viii never again vote for a drunk
ard for Office. The improperly of
trusting public matters with those who
are incapable Of managing their Pri-
vate business is 50 apparent that their
fellow drunkards will not do it.
The blasphemy Of Douglass and
Pettit,in the United States Senate, and
the affrontery Of Marshal Robinson in
his drunken harangues, and the APP
probation Of the course Of these men
by their drunken and disappearing as
sociates, have aroused good men, and
made them inquire il they can be true
TO their country and true to their God
in leaving the destinies Of the nation
in their hands. We almost bless the
occasions that have called out such
horrible denunciations. II is well that
the people should know the claim that
such men set up, while there may be
power to oppose it.
1t viii be remembered that Douglas
claimed politics as belonging exclu'
sively to dirty people. He called it Z
dirty pool, in which good men, and par
ticularly ministers, ought not to dabble
He seemedperfectly Mortified that they
should even come near enough to pc
tition Congress. The same doctrin,
was set forth in the speeches, and en-
dorsed by the applause Of the lat
Rumocratic Convention. The nomi
nation of a preacher. and his publi
acquiescence in their doctrine, by saw
ing in his speech before the convention
that he would go wherever the con
vention would 60 does not avail an,
thing. 1t does not level the conven
ton up, but levels him down to thei
standard.
The surprise and indignation {
these dirty men who have so dirtie
the pool that they think it is their ow
henceforth. without dispute. remind
us Of the way Col. Dick Johnson, use
to secure the dish to HIMSELF
His father was an early settler o
Bear Grass, where Louisville no.
stands. In those days, the cupboard
and tables of the settlers were not loaC
ed with splendid dishes. A few Woo
en- trenchers, and tin cups, made u
the assortment. There are many y,
living that remember the style of ca
ing from those uenchers. One wa
filed with mush and milk, or homin
and beans, or venison soup. and II
family surrounded il. In wealth
families, one was afforded for the chi
dren. and one for the old people.
very wealthy families. there were us
ally trenchers enough for only two to
trencher. Such family was Il
johnson family, and the mess mate
Dick, was his sister. Tradition say
and Col. j. never denied it, that whe
ever the allowance was limited,
managed to get his sisters share,
splitting IN the dish. He could lick h
spittle for the sake Of monopolizin
the dish, even at the expense of star
ing his sister.
1t is thus with the political dem
gogues Of the country. They ha
polluted the dish by their filth. in ord
to have the emoluments. and honors
Office all in their own hands. And nc
they stand by, and true TO their sku
kish character. defend their places a
power by ejecting upon all decent m
the filth oftheir own making.
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