Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1862-10-29
The Past and the Present.

better men,
The Past and the Present.
The earlier days of the American Republic were
distinguished for the disnerestedness, the patriot
ism and the wisdom of its statesmen Citizens who
were called to fill high posts of responsibility were
confided in for their capacity and incorruptibiliV
Thirty years ago even, men of bad moral character
and Of dubious political integrity, if once foisted
upon the people, could not long deceive them. The
wholesome checks of the elective franchise, not
then SO much corrupted and subordinated to mere
partyism, would soon rid the public councils of the
mere demagogue who aspred to fill the place of the
statesman.
The country was safe in the hands Of such men,
whichever party was in the ascendency. Then par.
ties were created for the preservation of government
and for the conservation of the liberties and rights
Of the people, and not for their destruction. The
interests Of the representative, government and Of
the people, were synonymous. Politics had not
then become trade, BY which the bold and the base
might live upon the government without work.
Government in those'purer days was the patron Of
industry, Of enterprise and commerce, and not the
mere provider for those who were in the interest of
its rulers
What change that brief period has wrought -
Men versed in the science of government, trust
worthy and competent began to disappear from the
public councils of the country just so soon as the
great interests Of the nation be thrown into
the seething caudron Of political and sectional par
tyism. Men of principle, of character, Of integrity,
shuddered to be put up in the political shambles
with the demagogue and the tme-server They
skunk from the unequal contest with tricksters and
the country lost the services of her best men when
she most needed them.
The great sectional contest of 1850 resulted in the
gradual yet early withdrawal Of the leading states
men of the country from its councils and the histo-
~ of the nation for the last twelve years. presents,
with but few exceptions continuous strife between
SPARTAN zeaos too mbecie to forsee the rocks and
quicksands which lay in the track Of the ship Of
State or wicked enough to foce her. so reckless of
the common veal, broadsidc upon them.
1t may touch the pride of the would-be statesmen
Of the present age but truth compels the admission
that the present caamites Of the country have been
brought upon it. for the lack of statesmen in our
public councils and by the reckless headlong parti-
trcksters wAo hare controlled its destiny for
tho last Jice OF ten years.
Controlled and shaped by men of this class both
North and South, what could have been looked for
but revolution which must, shake, if not to their
fall yet terribly the very pillars of American liberty
May Heaven nterpose and preserve those pillars 1t
least, which support the arch over Southern free-
DOM
Nor has the case been better either North or South
since the revolution began. Let the honest reader
scan for moment the Congresses and the Cabinets
| of the two belligercnt powers. Where are the men
in either who we're known to the country before or
since the revolution began as possessing profound
craftsmanship and moral worth? Seward is the
only man who had established any reputation a
statesman, but he was regarded in both sections as
being more willy and selfish and evil.designing than
wise
North and South, the military and the politicians,
minus the statesman, have been combined to man.
age and control the revolution. West Point had
come to be regarded as almost useless appendage.
1t had skunk away from the public gaze under the
benign influences of peace and the arts of home in
dustry. But soon the war-clar;on was sounded,
with boots and spurs it strutted forth king and
straightway in both sections became the ruling
demgod
We think we have proper appreciation Of mill
tary talent and of our military men, The military,
controlled and guided by coolheaded craftsmanship,
is valuable adjunct to the government But men
who study the science Of war vocation, and
who bear its immediate responsibilities know how
to train men for the field and how to maneuvrc
them, but what do they know or care about the
wants, or the rights Of the people? Our Generals
such men as Lee, and jackson, and Beauregard, and
Price, and Longstreet, and others-are the right
men III the right places. But in tho conduct of the
war in the South, it cannot be questioned that our
seemed for the moment to be "miiitary necessi'
ty," or the exigencies of the times.
To suggest the requisite number Of men for the
war or for an emergency; to estimate the wants oi
the commissary, quarter master, ordinance and
medical departments lie within the duty and the
province of military men, but how and from whence
the men shall be obtained, and how the ways and
means are to be provdedsso as to affect least nju-
rously the great body Of the people and the re,
sources of the country, are questions belonging
purely to the statesman.
Craftsmanship is fairly presumed to Inow, to
forecast and to grasp all these important interests
Exigencies or emergencies do not MWart the real
statesman. He.foresees and provides for them.
But it is palpable to every reader, that the Con
crosses and Cabinets of the North and South have
failed utterly to measure the girth Of this revou
ton as our fanatical and factious politicians, who
brought it about failed to see, or if they saw, cared
not for the direful consequences which must ensus