The American. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1857, 1857-08-26
REFLECTI0Ns.


REFLECTIONS.
Marius GURUS Dentatus, in the year Of Rome,
462, obtained as consul double triumph for
ton, having their country laid waste, sent their
principal men as ambassadors to offer presents to
GURUS for his credit with the Senate, in order to
their obtaining favorable terms Of peace.
They opened their deputation and offered him
gold and silver. He answered them politely, but
refused their presents.
The transaction here related occurred in the
462d year of Rome: in later times, when wealth
and luxury abounded, he who should have refused
gold and silver from any one, and for any purpose
would have been laughed at. How many are there
in the United States at the present time, the sls
year of our independence, who would do as GURUS
did, under like circumstances? We trust there
are many but, "the spoils" doctrine has so de-
moralizing and debasing an effect, that we appre-
bend few Curiuses can be found in the party who
consider public Offices as fair booty" to be dis
tributed among the victors in political campaign.
We are progressive people, as win be seen by
comparing us with the old Romans; for we have
reached point of political proAigacy and demon
alization in eighty years, which they had not at
tanned in 462 years
Yet, with all his public virtue and incorrupti-
bility, GURUS was not popular man--not a favor
tie with the people. Unfortunately such men sell
dom are they are apt to be austere, and will not
condescend to play the demagogue, or descend to
the level OF those who do and who, that they may
be generous and spend money freely among their
friends, are necessitated to get it, by hook or by
crook, honestly or dishonesty; and the people
seldom give themselves any concern about where
the money comes from or how it is gotten.
Mankind are alike everywhere, and in all ages.
The great majority will support those, or that
party, who, or which viii promote their individual,
personal interests, even though they know those
they support to be unprncipled and proaigate,
and the party to be pursuing course injurious to
the country. The political events now transporting,
and which have taken place in the United States
for the last thirty years, to go mo further back,
clearly demonstrate this. Our government is bet
ter balanced in its action than were those of the
ancient Grecian and Roman, or the later Italian
Republics; lift were not, it would soon meet the
fate Of all these; for men are men, whether they
and in all Republics there will be those who fatter
and wheedle the people to obtain power, which,
when obtaiHed, they will use to enrich themselves
out OF the public treasury and distribute offices to
themselves and followers, regardless of the public
good. And in a republic whose annual expendi-
lures amount to nearly eightyfge millions Of dol
lars, and in which the great mass of the people
give themselves no concern whatever, as to how
this money is spent, such men, once in power,
have ample opportunities Of transferring large
amount of the surplus funds in the treasury to
their own pockets and those Of their favorites.
A distinguished writer and statesman of our
own country has written thus :
1T is often said that farmers, merchants, and
mechanics, are too inattentive to public affairs.
This is undoubtedly true, and will forever be So"
1t is true and their inattention to pubic affairs
in the United States enables the prohigate dema-
gogue to pursue his object fearlessly and perseve
ringly. So far from having anything to do with
public affairs, controlling the destinies of this
country-by THEORY in the hands of the people
there is scarcely merchant or mechanic, of any
standing, who does not fear, above all things,
being considered politician, or having anything
to do with elections, those peculiar institutions,
if we may SO call them, by which the people, If at
all, must regulate public affairs. So far from the
People governing in this country, they are gov-
erned by the demagogues, through party machin-
cry Who attend primary meetings? Who elect
delegates to conventions which make nominations?
DO the People, as a bodyp Do merchants, me.
chanics and farmers, who are "well-to-do" in the
world9 No; those who are looking out for Offices,
contracts, profitable jobs, "pickings and steal.
ings," plumber and spoils, and who combine and
work together; at least those who belong to the
same party; these govern the country.