The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1867-06-20
5 NUMBER 20.
DesertiOn OF the Republic,

1t is one of the most lamentable
signs Of the times, that men of real
worth and disintercsted thought show
a disposition to take no part in public
affairs. This has been so noticeable for
many years as to be common subject
of remark, not only since but before
the war. The very opposite was what
was expected at the foundation of the
Republic, and was one Of the weight.
est considerations of that day. 1t was
believed that q Democraticl govern
mont, in which all had a voice, would
be carried ON by the best men of the
Republic, or that their opinions and
advice would be predominant therein.
For time this hope seemed to be
realized and the consequence was, that
all the departments Of the Federal and
State Governments were filled with
men who ranked among the first of the
Americn people. The earlier Presi
dents ana their Cabinets enjoyed the
confidence Of their contemporaries both
at home and abroad, and have left be-
hind them honored personal and
political memories. The Supreme
Court was revered and its decisions
were the undisputed law of the land.
The House Of Representatives was the
forum Tor the eloquent and practical
discussion of political questions of
every kind, and the Senate ranked
among the most able and dignided de-
Lucrative assemblies in the world,
The same encomiums history pro-
nounces upon the State Governments,
and upon politi al discussions and
administrative justice throughout the
country.
But all this is distant history, As
we trace the record down nearer to our
own times, we find that the best men
have gradually withdrawn themselves
from public life, and left the direction
and practical administration ofthe GOV
ernment to inferior hands We know
that thele are now living in the United
States as many learned jurists, able
statesmen, accomplished diplomatists,
as many good men and true, in proper
ton to the constantly increasing popu.
lation, as at any previous time in our
history, and yet how few of them do we
see in public life! Our diplomatic
corps is the laughing stock of tho
world. The Senate is made up of
politicians rather than statesmen, the
House Of red hot partizans rather than
calm representatives Of the people, the
Supreme Court has fallen so low in the
estimation of the people, that they look
upon its decisions as moulded by the
desire to perpetuate lis existence rather
than by law and Justice. And tho
same may be said Of all departments of
the Government and of most men Ell
gagged in public affairs.
10 illustrate the subject still further,
look into the administration Of the pub
} lie affairs ofany community with which
, the reader may chance to be acquaint-
ed. Where are the ablcst jurists, the
best informed planters, the most cX-
pcrienced manufacturers, merchants
and shippers, the good men and true,
, known and trusted by all, where are
!, they? Not in public life, but with
drawn as far thereirom as possible
In the places where our forctathcrs,
who founded the republic, hoped they
would be, we find now, almost univer.
sally, men whom all know to be tho
most inexperienced, the least trusted
and least respected members of the
community. In very many towns and
cities we could name, have thus fostod
themselves, or been foisted by Others,
into the first official places, men who
are not known in learned, professional
norpoite society, and could never gain
admission therein. The humilating
spectacle, therefore, is presented, of the
least respected of alr the members of
society officially representing it, and
degrading it at homo and in the eyes of
the world.
1t is notso in England, nor France,
nor Germany, nor yet in Italy, nor
Spain, where they have had more revo =,
lutions than We have ever dreamed Of
However violent they may have been,
the ablest men always came up to the
surface and vindcated the glory, hon
or and fame of the people. Even the
French revolution was illustrated BY the
eloquence, philosophy and vigor of the
public men of that day. But ours ap-
pears to bca leveling process. which,
instead of raising the best men, or even
the ablest and most active, to places OF
prominence and authority, brings all
down to one dead level TO n foreign
er, travelling through the country and
observing only our public men, as most
travellers do, it must appear as though
we had raised up none fit now to con
, duct public affairs and perpctuate the
4 noble republic our fathers founded
If heard of at all they will be found,
= scholars, statesmen, orators, philoso-
. pliers, in the innermost reccsseS of pri-
S tSate life They shrink from coming in
f contact with the world and keep as far
; out Of its gaze as possible. This is Il
! deplorable state Of things which, unless
= arrested, will continue to plunge us
e deeper and deeper in mala lmini. ira.
ton, and debt, and disgrace, and make
: the noble republic founded by Wash
ington, Madison and Monroe, and illus
S trated by Webster, Clay and Calhoun,
+ laughing stock aud jest among the
} nations of the earth.
:
i One of the ablest papers in the last
number of the Westminster Reyiew