The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1866-09-05
PoIiticianss.

Politicians. -
The following sensible remarks are
from the New York Journal Of Com
naercc: - @A
Politicians are al work in all parts
of the country, looking, as. usual, for
personal advantage. The curse of She
country is party,-a and the enrse of
party is the power given to managing
men who make trade of politics. It
Is one of the strangest and saddest
features of our; national character,
that designing men can obtain con
tro1 not only of political machinery,
but of the minds of intelligent and
we'll meaning, citizens, who regard
them as the exponents of principles.
There is no emplo. meDt more tho
roughly demcralizing than the life of
a politician. There have been good
and great men in our country who
held Office by virtue of their goodness
and greatness, without themselves
exerting any labor in the miro Of par
tisan politics. But in contrast with
these, there have been at al times in
the country men who were tho ma
nagers of parties, seeking Office and
holding it by virtue of the vilest
schemes and such men, strangely
enough. standing high in tho 'estima-
ton Of thousands of their fellow
citizens. The civil war was due to the
conduct of this class OF men. The
e1ll Influences which they exerted
directly on the minds of the people
were aided by the indirect effects of
their course as public representatives.
The people of the North were not
truly represented by their public
men, nor were the people::of the South
correctly or fairly represented By the
leading politicians from that section.
The miserable abortion called Peace
Congress, or Convention, stands rs !,
mournflll evidence Of this truth. Had
the men who wcro commissioned to
that meeting been honest representa-
tlves of the public sentiment of tho
day, the nation would have been
saved the awful slaughter of the past
four years Some such there were.
But the Governors of States in too
many instances took care to. make
their delegations in majority ont of
political hacks, or men who were
bound to political parties, and the
precious hours were wasted in strue-
giles to preserve party instead of
efforts to preserve the peace Of great
nation.
There is 4 fearful similarity in the
present aspect Of affairs. The ener-
Gies Of the prominent men in politics
seem everywhere devoted to party
aggrandlzement instead OF national
preservation. There is no great pa
triotic spirit visible among the lead
ers OF the majority in Congress.
There IS constant, steadfast devo-
ton to the interest Of the party and
the s;ooils of otlicc-but no self-sacri-
fee. 1t IS long since any one has
been heard to speak of member of
the majority in Congress as q devoted
patriot, seeking the nations good,
ready to lay down life and fortune for
her sake. On the contrary, it is
understood that every man of the
party IN Congress seeks personal
benefit: and looks out always for ''the
main chance"
When Il great political convention
is about to assemble, the intrisucs of
political managers become visible.
The wires are arranged with refer
ence to certain results. Care is taken
that the effect shall tell in favor of
the managing men. Apprehension is
visible lest some other party, and the
managers of that party, should reap
some advantage from the meeting.
Newspapers In the interest of the
managers exhibit nervousness, ankle
ty, andaNuarre!some spirit generally.
In short, the people never have Il
chance to speak their minds in this
country. They arc everywhere har-
messed and driven in the traces by
political leaders, and compelled to
drag the loads put on the wagon by
these leaders. There was never a
more thoroughly enslavcd mind than
the mind of America in political mat
tcrs. Men think they are free, but
are IN reality bound to party, and
party is led, in most cases, by un-
principled men. 1t is sad state
ment, but tic truth grows palmer
every day. We were led into civil
war by politicians. We shall not re
cover from its effects till we can rid
ourselves Of the men who led us into
it.
Live m;nnows We're found in can
OF milk sent to II cheese dairy in