The Portsmouth inquirer. [volume] (Portsmouth, O. [Ohio]) 1849-1855, 1855-06-08
Honest Politicians ana Political Deina-
gogues. ~

and designing, dlctators. Honest and in
dependent in their opinions the better and
more valuable portion of the community
express on public questions their true SEN
timents, without stopping 10 consider CON-
How often is it that such a
course, which deserves commentator and
respect, is perverted and misrepresented
by political hypocrites and unprincipled
schemers? If the individual who honest
ly and boldly expresses his opinions is in
a position to attract attention-if heis con-
nected with the press-if he hold situa-
ton in public life, orif he possess great
influence which he does not abuse, there
will be sly and malicious ISLANDERS against
him by bad men, for mischievous purpo-
ses. Though forbearing and tolerant to-
wards the opinions of others, he manfully
tells his own-if he sees a tricking, sche-
ming piece of expediency, that departs
from principle he denources it, exposes
the wrong and maintains the right--such
a man will be called a dictator by the in
triguing, undermining, cat-footed mana
gers, who meanly attempt to pull down to
their own level men elevated by nature
and by natures God above them.
No longer ago than yesterday we heard
know nothing excuse his desertion Of the
Democratic party, by denouncing certain
Democrats who have taken considerable
interest in the actions of their party in
Scioto county, as being "dictators that
"the party was ruled and controlled by
them" and he "would not support an or
ganization which could be influenced by
such men," He did not object to the
principles which governed the party-on
the other hand, he was inclined to believe
they were riyht-but he was simply often
ded because other individuals had more
influence with members of that party than
he had. In plain english, he left the par
ty because he could not "dictate" the ac-
ton Of the party himself. That was where
'the shoe pinched." He was not actua-
ted by principle in selecting the dark coun-
Gil chambers of Know Nothingism as the
fit place for his future operations. Princi-
pie, he virtually admitted, was not an in
gredient Of his nature. yet, such as he,
are the men who are eternally bowling
like some dog in the manger," about the
Democratic party of Scioto county being
ruled by clipues. 1t is all humbuggery
of the shallowest kind, and none but in
significant demagogues are in the habit of
employing it in an argument with a sane
person.
We admire the nruu OF any party, who
frankly avows his opinions and boldly
maintains them. When man withholds
the expression of his sentiments, is sly and
sneaking, disagreeing with none, and on
public questions is never prepared to give
an opinion until he has ascertained the ap-
parent popular current, he should never
be trusted in public life, for he has not the
courage to be an honest man. He will
never discharge a public duty that involves
responsibility with conscientious fidelity
and independence. Place him in a station
to try him, and you will always find him
ready to surrender principle for policy
and those who trust him will sooner or Ia
ter be disappointed, because he will be
tray or fail them at the critical moment
Yet such man is not called "dictator.
he is plant, and ready to take any turn
that circumstances may dictate. He i
not radical-and if there is at any time
division among his political friends on an,
question, he ~iU be found aoiM that porto,
1Ohich upiteS ViM tie opposition, for h
generally manages to keep with the cur
rent.
1t is a misfortune that the latter elias
tco often manage to elbow and thrus
themselves into public life, and places O
high responsibility. The actually merito
rious and dosel ving-the honest and bold
who would do right regardless of persona
consequences to themselves-are thrus
aside for mere policy men, who never hav
an opinion, and who are as ready to d
wrong as right, provided they can pre-
mote their own selfish schemes thereby
The Democratic party is better off with
out them, and for one, we do not mour
the loss Of the Hindoo, whose thoughtles
expressions has given us a text for this al
ticle.
!
COlton's SIcrI Plate rIuPs.
e. M ", Barker, Esq, the generi