Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1854-10-16
truths for Plain Men.

truths for Plain Men.
| particular attention to the fol
n,nuuieation because Of the pu-
uggestions:
|;r.t County Herald. -o ersr2.
/ Waterloo, October zth, 1854.
|,roR: In penning these lines |
|mded that now for the first time, !
/ to meddle eoith politics in my
|raations to your paper. But if all
/ I have kept silence, i've done Ike
ia deal O thinking In ira
Bets to their causes / fancy / can
|r whence all misgoYernment en-
|1robabIy the discovery has been
|ore, but it will do no harm as e.
1r is drawing near, to draw the
Of voters to q few simple facts.
II place it is an axiom in politics
,gernruent, however arbitrary or
| qn exercise its tyranny but by
|,egence Of the masses. This fact
all nations, but more strikingly
democracy than of any otherfom
lament; hence it follows, that what
airnle or oppression at present ex-
Is Republic, is sanctioned by the
nee Of the people it is true the
nee is mostly passive, but none
fatal in its effects. The philan-
and disbeliever in total deprayity
sion for joy that oppression and
are suffered by the people rather
ignorance Of their power to make
rise, or inattention to political mat
be abstract, than through any in
rckedness Of their own. But may
/ to make the assertion that all
nnts this Government from exhi-
.,eIf to the world as a specimen Of
.emocraey, IS a lack Of interest IN
@airs By the people. Now I
noticing some Of the reasons for
lof interest. First-although it
remarked by learned men that it
of the greatest privileges of a mu-
form Of Government, that any Of
.ers might aspire to any Of its Of
Yet hitherto, humble, unobtrusive
stood about as much chance Of
|auod to Office as Satan docs of
| in heaven. Offices have been eli
|nt upon men who did not need
them, or given to the crafty and
9; as a remedy fol- this let the
NIX about them and select men
|mg themselves, such men az will
arft the country and be benefited
s. IT'S a rule I have myself a.
vote for no man, no matter how
e may be who does not possess a
pal character; and if strictly adhe-
bis rule would Of itself work won
boz Government. Another reason
2rel4ss inattent;on given to peliti-
+ BY the people is found in the
they prefer letting some one else
thinking in regard to politics as
|clgion, to doing it themselves -
ncsont time, public sentiment is
INance Of our legislation in moral
IgrJue; it would almost seem as if
.H-House at Madison were an enor-
H@i'ice drawing all the corruption
'9iy polite there to a head; for
/. witness the disregard of the peo-
raes in reference TO a Prohibitory
Law, the sale of the School Lands
6eH other misdemeanors. The
9naed by the last Congress had
partially aroused the sluggish cur
popular thought. But SO did the
e Slave Bill of 1850, and what
1s have we now that the people
as then relapse into their wonted
y True, a new party has been for
.tot several old ones, but this party
within itself much of the elements
pa, and those elements unless care
Nched by a jealous people will soon
@uoder. | would that all men of
"a might be pursuaded to make their
part Of their religion, to consider
5e' not merely as individuals, but
''nal parts of the most glorious of
'ad feel as if it required all the ex-
u their power to make, to prevent
Il Of our Republic from growing
ne light Of unholy fires or being
I'm long, dark night of despot-
f. w. f.