The mountain Democrat., 1864-02-13

your tavas5as 5bAn 10 any Of your collie
giate or professiona! studies. know, too
that many Of you even now, look eagerly
forward TO the time when you will pass
from your professions into political life
This is the goal of your ambitious long
ings. Your hearts are Fixed upon it. 1t
is an honorable, holy ambition; an ambi-
tion not to be extinguished, but to be reg
ulated. lie is false teacher who would
tell the ingenious, virtuous, and public
spirited youth Of the land, that the polit-
ical service Of the country is fit only for
the vulgar, the impure, the corrupt. AS
there are hypocrites in the pulpit, en-
prizes in medicine, pcttifogsc"s at the bar,
>,'AtS ~. las>> m, : - Et0g, % iSeSe AVS
demagogucs in political life. But there S
as well morality as a philosophy, 3 sci
Ie0oe%a politics far HtoNe The 6Fe,e IS
these reptiles. Unhapply .hc low stand
ard Of capacity and morals set up and de-
nounced by those who define public life,
and practically but too often acknowl.
edged by politicians. is another oi the evil
pui4eAts which impcEd our country. O{
toe cofr4p,idg IL hGuehcGs vi avaiict, al aIi
times, need not speak. But more de-
basins and dangerous still in seasons Of
great commotion, is the execrabe vice of
fear All these combined maze up that
most loathsotne Of all the objects OF re-
proach and scorn, /" q scurvy politician"
lie has borne the same odious character
in every country aud age. Among the
Greeks, he ono: courtcd pop Ilarty and
place, by pointing out Inc smusgerS of
figs, and was cursed as both spy and in
former, and therce gave a name 10 the
whole class of demagogues. In Rome,hc
headed every petty popular tumuit and
clamored Gercciy for division Of lands
and goods. Currau described him in his
day, in feicitous phrase, as zone who
buoyant by putrefaction, rises as he rots."
lie is the vermin, the insect Of politics,
anl amid the heats ofcivil war and con-
vusions, teens into life thick as gnals in
the summer evening air. If my one
among you-and speak TO those who
would aspire 10 lie leaders among their
countrymen--have neither the capacity
nor ambition to be u statesman, let him
at least not stoop to become dema5ogue.
Preach heal, try causes, work, but Scorn
to be one VI that number who know moth
ing Of politics, except the passions and
personalities which they excite. fnot
able to argue upon principles, measures,
policies, debate not at all. If yon cannot
soar, do not creep. Whoever discusses
only men in politics, is always largely
elAnicrcr. Principles, not men, Is not in
deed, altogether = sound maxim though
| little liable to be abused since personal
tiles always make up so large and con-
trolling all element in mere partisan poll.
ties. Better say principles and men. 1t
is easy to be politician 'r dcu!a !agoSuc--
sail with the wind; float with the cur
rent look not to the compass, neither
lit up your eyes to the Heavens where
the consultations and the pole star-bright
glorious embleInS of God and truth and
right-s;il shine, steadfast, immovable,
just as they shone in the beginning of
time. Poeta nnScitur. So it is with the
drnagogue. But the statesman must be
made as well as born. His voyage is
! through md,occan and in Storm, lie sails
under orders. His port is a3cer;ained and
prescribed before he sets out, ana it is his
dnty to reach it and so like the majestic
ocean steamer, he sails on, and
| Against the wind, against the tide,
| Still steadies with all upright keel"
DeHoslheGeS more than tao thousand
years ago, in his great Grafton for the
crown, well distinguished between these
two characters, declaring that while they
were alike in nothing, ,hey differed chief.
! ~ in this that the statesman boldly and
honestly proclaimed his opinion before
the event, and thus made himself rcspon-
/ sibe to fortune. to the times, to his cGun-
trymcn, to the world; while the Syco.
plant or demasogue was silent till the
event had happened, and then governed
his speech and his conduct accordingly.
| And now allow me to add, that though
you may be patriots and yet not states
men, the statesman is always patriot
His love CT country is MS well principle
as an emotion. Duty enters largely into
it; hence it is stable, enduring. 1t is
not sensational certainly not a mere
feeling Of gratitude least of all, in the
meaning of that word as defined by Dr.
johnson; "a lively sense of favorS yet to
be received" He loves his country both
wisely and we'll He never sacrifices her
real though more remote interests TO q
popular clamor, and still less at the de-
mand Of those who hold the power.--
Neither will he corrupt the virtue nor
tarnish the honor of his country TO serve
her mere sordd interests. Rather will he
initiate the example nf Ari>tircS, who re
porting to the AthenianS that a certain
proposition was indeed for their adyan-
tage. but would bring d>honor upon the
State, counseled that they reject it.
have said nothing about " loyalty. -
1t is a word which belongs justly, but OH
ly to kingly governments. can compre-
bend loyalty to king and especially to
queen; but as an American, ! choose
to adhere to the good and honest CD re.
publican word, patriotism, "and to cher.
ish the virtue which it has ALWAYS b. en-
used to ex ress.
Aspire, then, young, gentlemen, you
who would pursue n pubic course. to be
patriot'stnteSmcn. Have faith, absolute
unquestlonlng, iEImovable mat Eaith
which speaks. to itself in tie silence and
calm OF the hearts own beating, saving,
II not >to'fay or this time. then to-tnorrow
or next or some Gther day, at some other
tthe' IN some other way. all will be well.
"lthout tniS, no man ever achieved
greatness. Be incorruptible in your in
tegrhy; be ScrupulouS and exact in hon.
"r; be 'ncxorable in your deliberate, well
considered purposes be appalled, by no
difficulties. Anplify your minds; but
still more, be great in soul. 1t is this
which shall lift you up high above the
earth, and assimilate you to that which is
divine. Without it, you will but crop
with dusty and droiing and wearied
wing. Without il. think not to endnre