The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1858-07-09
PATRIOTISM AND POLITICS.

The Nashville Banner truthfully says the
people Of this country are pretty thoroughly
disguised with politicians, which term in the
popular acceptations, means nothing more
nor less, In these latter days, than an Office.
seeker or spoiIs.hunter. The professional
politicians have kept the country in stew
for no other purpose on earth but the promo
tion Of personal and party purposes. The
abolitionist at the North breaches his vile
treason for the purpose Of riding into Office
upon the wave which his incendiary tongue
has produced. The ofice-seeker at the South
buoys himself up in the struggle for place by
exciting the prejudices and fears OF the peo-
pie in regard to slavery, ninety-nine times
out OF hundred by some imaginary scare
crow which he has erected for the purpose of
knocking down. The people of the North
are made to believe all sorts of absurdities in
regard TO the South and rice versa, and by
these absurdities political tricksters thrive
and fatten. We say the people are begin.
ming to comprehend the arrant humbuggery
Of politicians, and are intensely disgusted
Herewith. They will hail with acclamation
such sentiments rs the following expressed
by Mr.. Crittenden in response to the welcome
given him at Cincinnati:
He said he had always been devoted to
the Union. (Cheers.) When last elected
h,,K Il al, h. ho1 d..ta in
ed TO be less politician and more patriot.
(Cheers.) He said to himself, "You have
now run the heated race of politician, you
have loved the strife, you have sought, if not
delighted in the combat, but now you have
arrived at an age when you ought 10 desert
all things and devote yourself to your coun-
try. What may have been excusable in your
younger days il not excusable now, and you
have arrived ut that age when you should
lay aside party strife. Be less of partisan
and more of patriot" To that resolution
he had aimed 20 live. Dvesting himself as
far as possible Of partisan feeling, he had en-
dcavoIed to do his whole duty TO his coun.
try. (Cheers.)
We are glad to find the above extract quo
ted in prominent administration paper-the
New York journal of Commerce--and ac-
companied with the following just and ap-
propriate comments. When democratic pres
ses are constrained by the force of truth 10
speak thus, under the circumstances, the
time has certainly come when every body
should reflect:
These are the sentiments of the true states
man. We do not doubt that they were
honestly spoken, and we also believe that
they are the sentiments of many men in pub
lie and in private life, of many too in that
half public and half private position, the edi-
toria! profession.
To be politician is easy. To be true
patriot and statesman, requires other and
different qualities. 1t is not necessary that
mau possessing the qualities, and entertain
ing the sentiments, claimed by MIR. Critten.
den in his Cincinnati speech, should renounce
politics, and loss all interest in political af.
fairs. But in order to become useful and
patriotic public servant, or to acquire that
degree of confidence among men, which is
the province of the true patriot, partisan pol.
itcs must be made subservient 10 those high
er duties and obligations of citizenship,
which alone can command confidence and
respect. In other words, we must insist on
making politics conform to high moral prin-
ciple, and to those obligations, to our coun-
trv,-and its institutions, which devolve up
on every citizen.
Itis not necessary, in order to illustrate
this principle, that men shall eschew politics,
but rather that the morals Of politics shall be
elevated and digni6ed, that political action
shall be controlled and governed by the purer
and higher considerations to which we look
for the development Of man, and the estab-
lishment of constitutional government.
We are glad to see one at least Of the can
ddates for the Presidency uttering sentiments
so worthy of approval, and we trust that
others who may enter the contest for that
high position, can point to their action, IN
the sphere which they may have occupied,
with equal confidence.