Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1864-01-09
The Dlrtr PooI 81 PolItIc..

The Dirty Pool Of Politics.
There is in our country q class of men
not wholly without influence, who believe
or afect to believe the profession Of poll
tics is essentially mean and unworthy
one. Probably these men would all ad-
mit that abstrsctly the calling Of tie
statesman or politician Gn the higher
sense they are synonymOus) is able and
useful; but they aver, the affairs Of state
have been 90 abused BY bsd men, and the
whole craft Of politicians is so dishonest
and corrupt that no man Of a high sense
Of honor can consent to interfere with the
one or associate with the other. We DO
not pretend to deny that the political his
tory OF our country lends some sort Of
coun!enAnce TO these views on the con
trsry we frankly confess that the dishon-
est and corrupt dealings Of politicians
hsve brought their craft into merited dis
repute.
COuceding SO much to these men of sim
ulated virtue, we repudiate the conclu-
sions to which they would lesd US. That
the administration Of State sfAirs is un-
worthy Of any man, we do not cOncede;
that there is justly any opprObrium attach
ing 10 the calling Of q politician, we fatty
deny; that it is more discreditsble for a
man to give his time to the servics Of the
country than to the work Of education, or
even that of the ministry,w we challenge any
man to show. Be it noted, We do not af-
firm that politicians are as pure men as
educators or the clergy; we only say, the
one calling is as useful, necessary and
honorable ss the other. Who can do more
to benefit his country and his kind than
the statesman of commanding abilities, ell
evsted aims, and noble impulses There
are in every community few men, for
the most part Of reputable character and
life, sympathizers in general, with efforts
t3'improVe the condition or their Fellows,
who are addicted to the kind Of Stiffness
we have described. Some Of them are
found in the churches, and they manifest
thsir sentiments by a morbid SEN nsitive-
ness whenever the minister chances TO say
any thing having political bearing.
They do not seem to appreciate that there
are certain subjects with regard to which
there is no line OF demarcation between
religion and politics. II one of these men
is asked the reason Of his sensitiveness,
he responds in general terms" He is
minister of Kingdom not Of this world;
politics are in the hands of bad men; dab
bling would bring the ministry into dis
repute; his hands must not be dipped into
the muddy waters Of the political pool.
These men, SO fearful of contamination,
are apt Just now to have scruples with
regard to the propriety of wsr-Or at any
rate they object to christians fighting.
We have generally found that few
stern questions reveal their true character
with as much certainty as the
spear OF IEhurieI detected falsehood.
'sTO what party has this over-piOus man
bsIOnged2 Hls he heretofore been non
resistant or has he objected to Christians
taking arms against the enemies of their
cOuntryn2
In answer TO the first question it is uni
versally replied, "He has been not only an
intense partisan, but also an adhersnt of
the most corrupt political OrgsnizatiOn"-
while to the seoond-"He has sanctioned
every war, however wicked, when waged |
in the interests Of slavery or conducted by
his own party" We are always pleased
to see these men thus open hearted. We
make it point to send back the shaft.
"YOu are turning States evidence against
yourself and fellows; undoubtedly the pool |
you have been in is dirty-and very dirty, |
but you make a mistake. There are two |
pools,-you have been unfortunate in
your selections; the waters of the other
are comparatively pure. Besides, grant
ing all you say, the pool must be cleansed
or the public health suffers; the only way
to purify it and keep it pure, is for pure
men to possess it to the exclusion of the
impure" To conclude this talk, that be-
cause bad men deal with politics that
therefore the good must not is the shall
lowest talk of very shallow men.