Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1856-01-16

Political Nccrolonv.

The Richmond Wing has an admirable article
entitled Political. Neurology, "-calIed forth by
the retirement of Lieut.. Governor Leake-from
which we extract the following:
Nothing is mole common in this State. and il
may be in all the States, than for young men just
from schuol, to abandon their profession. or regard
il rs subordinate matter, and 10 devote all their
thoug hts and time to the exciting topic of party
politics. by THIS means. they suon come to me-
glect their studies-for they find that extensive
and soil'' information is not necessary to make a
certain show IN poilcs-on the contrary, il is
rather an lmpedment 10 rapid progress in that
field they cultivate the arts of the demagngue
acquire a fluent. ceclamatory style, which flows
the faster the less weight il carries, and passes
with certain people for oratory. In little lime.
they obtain Early nomination and election to the
Legislature. They come to town with empty
heads and empty professionally unconscious of
the first. butfully alive 10 the last, which they
hope to fill from The public crib for the idea Of
making a;foriune by short cut and without work
is the premium mobile with them all. In the
city. they lead lazy irregular life, which engen-
ders all manner of bad habits sumo deposit their
per diem and what other sums they can borrow
on tie credit OF their expanding craftsmanship
and future emiyence. in certain banks, which
make il a rule never to recognize draft; others
become confirmed topers; and others again indulge
in derecle,,,eats. which might offend ears polite
TO mention. After few years Of such life, aud
having Acquires, babils which utterly unfit them
for any vocation of induslry-if they fail to gel
the office on which they have relied from the be
ginning-ihey fall back upon their constituents
lo,,1 u,fp
more or less cumberers Of The ground II they
happen to have a local hahitaiion near ra!roas
depot, they attend every arrival and departure oi
the cars they frequent the village taverns-in
shiny silk hats and flash coats-both seedy and
worse for wear; discourse grandoqnenily and
patronizngy 70 strangers-oi whom il an oppor-
tuuiy presents Itself, they eagerly borrow quar-
ter! Every mans observation will supply him
with numbers of these political Micawbers, yho,
having long waited 10 vain, preteud still to be
expecting 'something to turn up"
We have already discaimed any special. per-
sonal allusnn to Mr.. Leake-our remarks are
general, and directed to class engendered by a
vicious political system. How far he may have
been tainted by association and connection with
that system, we know not. But we dare say, he
will agree with US, that now, that he is stranded
been happier and wiser man. and more useful
citizen, if in his early manhood. instead Of dab
bling in politics. he had devoted himself TO study
amassed an Independence, and, above all.acqured
the habit of regular and continuous labor. The
desulury sort OF life he has led in politics may
render him content to retire to Madison Cour
House watch the arrivals of the stage coaches, and
| nier oraclps from the tavern porch; but his old
| age would have beon more dgnilied and happy II
in his youth he had come 10 love labor tor abOr's
sake. Work is. after all, tho great engine OF hu-
man greatness and human happiness The scrip
tural curse. ''by the sweat Of your brow" &c.
though ostensibIy curse. is found in practice a
real blessing.
1t is no doubt the interest of the people Of Viz
gnia that their affairs should not be entrusted t.
such adventures as those OF whom we have spa
ken; but it is doubly The interest OF the young
men themselves, that they should never engage
actively In party politics. until their habits of in
dusiry and temperance are fixed, and until, il
they have it not by inheritance, they shall have
acquired fortune 10 render them Independent u
all The vicissiiudes of party.