The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1858-08-21
Prom the Springfield Republican,
Good Men for Public Omco,
nY HEy. JAMls FREnlAN CLARKE.

Fprrtai shiii, thru We need tirtt Of ul the
knowledge and experience which will guar
anty that skin, sydney Smith, laughing at
Lord John tussoll's love Of Office said that
"he would be ready az an hours notice 20
perform an operation for the stone, or to take
command Of the Channel Fleet" But Il is
evident that this eminent statesman will
never have opportunity of displaying his tai
ents Ia either Of these direclionsi for all
men know that In cases like these a special
knowledge is requisite for success, Weehould
never call on Rahaeile 20 prescribe for vs. In
an attack Of fever, noi send for Agasi1 10
paint our portrait, nor ask Chancellor Kent
TO make as a handsome coat, or Mr., Longfel
low to defend M five were tried Tor our lile
IN such cases, every one knows that special
skill is required which can only come from a
special study and practice, In other cases
this Is not 30 necessary or not 90 apparent
Though Cromwell was bred to peaceful pur-
suits and lived os private man I'LL he was
forty years old, he became the greatest cap
tain and the grcatest monarch England has
ever had, So, in France, no general, not
even Napoleon, has surpassed as military
commander the young peasant girl Joan Of
'Arc, Some interests, therefore, required for
their management special skin, others, rot
, II Is not always easy 10 know when It is re-
quircd. Is special training Necessary for a
| President? We commonly think that We
must select a statesman. But Andrew Jack
son, soldier, Is now generally admitted to
/ have made good president llc had good
sense, energy and honesty and these were
enough Is special training necessary for
q member Of Congress, nn ambassador the
head of a bureau, a postmaster, q custom
house officer. Itis usually thought'not and
in such eases those same qualities Of good
sense, energy and honesty would probably be
perfectly adequate TO success. In committing
the charge Of an important interest, public or
corporate, to any individual, We ought TO ask
lis Il ono which requires spociul training
md a special knowledge? lfso, this must be
the first rcquisiton.
The next thing required to CT a man for
the duties Of an important office is good
sense. And this is indispensable in every
is required. In these, skill will sometimes
do instead Of good sense though good sense
will not take the place Of skill. \ very silly
man may be n very good dentist or avery
good linguist But in all higher employ
mcnts where more thon mere routine is re-
-auired. good sense Is csscnlial
Energy or force OF character is the next
-analiGeaiian needed for impnrinnl dulics-U
lis a very noble quality, very dazzling and at
tractvc and essential where any invention
improvement oF reform is to hc made. With
out energy no new path can be broken open
in any direction. But this force OF character
has it's dangers. 1t often does moro harm
p than good. win becomes willful, hrmncs'
! tends to obstinacy, energy is restless and toe
dcsirous of change, la the form of ambition
when divorced from conscience, this quality
y has been the curse of the human race. Fol
o It's own ends, it scruplcs at no violence, frau,
: or cruelty, 20 remove obstacles. Moreover
it is not an indispensable qualification 70
Il public offices, except where new movemcn
is to be originated. In all other places con
! science will supply its place. A man who !
u determined on doing his duty faithfully vii
certainly succeed, because perseverance, vii
+, supply the want of force. He will ncglcc
l. no duty, do nothing corelcssly, always be a
= his post, keep his mind on his work, ant
l. thus the diligence of the tortoise will outru
/ the speed of the hare.
Conscience, therefore, ia the last qualifco
g ton to be mentioned. And it is the onl
w. one which is in all cases indispensable. /
X some positions knowledge will take the plac
r and do the work of good sense, in other
"a good sense will take the place OF knowledg,
Energy is not always necessary, for know
L edge and fidelity will often do very well viii
II out it. But in what occupation or employ
O. ment can we dispense with conscience
y Where il is absent there is no security thI
.e any work will be done thoroughly. In III
IL lowest occupation, whore mere manual labc
is required, the man who is not faithful mui
" be constantly watched, or he will neglect h
u work. That is, one mans fidelity must max
" up for another. You cannot drive slav
with the whip to do the work which the fro
- laborcr does, when no overseer is watchin
i him for conscience does more than the viii
p, or the oversecr. Cons ccnee in the one ca'
, is on the side Of the employer, but in Il
-, other not What we demand in every ofhc
, even the lowest, is n sense Of responsibilit
-. And in proportion as the work becomes hig
-, cr and more important, more of the sense
I, responsibility is constantly needed. Praci
cal skill in routine-work, will not supp
the place Of conscience, for even this sort
i'll work may be slighted, and the skill used, o
81 ly to conceal defects, not 70 avoid theI
- Good sense and intellect win not supply d
er want Of conscience for intellect without co
So science is sophist substituting excuse +