Meigs County telegraph. [volume] (Pomeroy [Ohio]) 1848-1859, 1858-08-17
G Communicated.
For the NJ Gigs Co. Telegraph.
America tu the Hands OF Her
Politicians.

Under every form OF government, those
who, by virtue of holding offices of honor
and power, exercise controlling influence
over its policy and action, necessarily de-
termine its character. By the laws they
enact, by the foreign and domestic policy
they establish, and by the changes they
INTRODUCE, they impart TO the Government
| its standing abroad, and secure for it con
fidence or distrust at home. And i'll Il
Republican Government, i'll which all laws
are enacted, all policy determined, and all
public acts performed by agents chosen
directly by the people, the Politicians.
from whom chiefly these agents are chosen,
must exercise an influence which can
scarcely be counteracted.
But this official influence, which, under
most forms Of Government, affects only
national affairs, descends in Republican
Government, to AL pursuits and to the
masses Of the people, and assists much III
determining their character. The Poll
tician enters the lists with his competitors
for the Office he desires. The people have
the post at their disposal. To them,
therefore, he must make his appeal, to
them present the qualifications which are
to fit him pre-eminently for the post
Upon his character will depend the kind
of means he uses to attain his end, and
the influence of the means he uses, and
of the motives he presents, will determine,
to some extent, the character of those to
whom he applies for Endorsement.
The selfish Politician naturally adopts
that course of policy which he regards as
most certain to secure the desired object.
Regarding office as a prize, offered for
sale to whosoeverc can buy, his whole policy
consists in an effort to win the public
favor. Selfish himself, he recognizes
most readily the selfish passions of the
people, and panders to them as the surest
means of obtaining their adherence. BY
Offering such Inducements in principles OF
policy as he thinks will prove most acccp-
table to them, he endeayors to obtain
present success for himself, and adds to
the degradation of those with whom he
deals.
Or he may not so boldly appeal to their
worse natures. lie may introduce into
his policy the hypocrisy OF tumid pat
rotism, the madness of ianaiicism, or Tie
loud prctensc of devotion to the interests
of the people. Insincere in all this, he
introduces by it the disease Of insincerity
into the whole moral life of politics. The
quick eye of the people is not slow to
detect the fraud. And too often, upon be-
coming conscious of the manner in which
they are approached, the acquiesece in it
AS necessity, or Il kind of joke, or meet
it with kindred trckery and scltishness.
So did Rome and Greece degenerate. So
in later times have the fitful Republics oil
Europe passed away. And to IA like de-
strucron must our own country surely
tend, under IL similar influence.
Such is the influence which the selfish
politician may exert, fearful in its power
and great in its extent. BY nourishina
popular prejudices and passions, by ma
king false pretenses, or by giving to un
wholesome and iniquitous measures til,
appearance of being beneficial and just
he may weaken the popular conscience
dethrone tie popular reason, and make
the people mere tools for the furtheranct
of his selhshncss
But the Patriot, the Statesman, the
Christian Politician, is gifted, iii a lant
like ours, with a power for good seldom
vouchsafed to mortals. BY appealing tt
the reason and the conscience, by course
marked with dignity and honesty, and by
consistent adherence to great principle:
and truths-even though suffering tempo
rary dcfeat-he may exert All irfuenc,
more than sufficient to counteract all oppo
sition. God never suffers people to Ie
main long gnorant of u truth which will
elevate their condition, if they honestly
desire it. Neither does He suffer Jus
tice. though temporarily baffied, to f;li
of ultimate triumph. And as Trutl
and Justice, in their various application
and degrees are the only suret;es of pros
perity to people, the Politicians wisel,
advocating these will realize in :he eleva
ton of the people, and at length in hi
own success, the Truth of the proverb-
l"Honesty Is tie best policy"
America is in the hands of her Politi
clans. To them is given to choose be
tween temporary personal success at tn
expense of humanity, and the elevation Q
their country to the exalted position Q
which It's foundation h.,eIit. Some OF u.
may be enrolled among this class. II 50 WE