The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1868-11-20
Politics not Profitable.

Politics not Profitable.
We believe political agitation in the South
since the war to have been Improbable to
us as a people and as individuals. We
therefore propose in the future to hold this
paper aloof from parties. We do not mean
to be neutral, but Independent Of party afil-
iation. We are neutral in nothing. We
expect to def nd the right and expose the
wrong wherever we find them, whether they
be political, social or moral-expecting no
reward except that which comes from the
answer of a good conscience, and relying
upon the good sense of the public to sus-
tain us in our independence.
Nearly four years have passed since the
war closed, and polical agitation has been
the order of the day from Maine to Texas.
Viewing the ceaseless activity and excite
mentin the field of American politics, the
Richmond Wing thinks, a stranger would
be led to the conclusion that all Americans
live by politics; that they have nothing to
do but to think, talk and write politics.
The truth is, that we all, at the North and
at the South, waste more Of our time on
this improbable subject than we bestow
upon our leading industries; and we are
drawn into it by TIE comparatively few men
who make politics a trade. Statists and
economists have calculated with precision
the annual losses in material wealth conse-
quent upon floods, fires, commissions Of ma
ture, accidents and various other causes;
but we are not aware that any of them have
estimated the much greater loss in America
by reason Of the almost universal waste of
time in attention to politics. We venture
TO say that at the South, in the last four
years, this loss has been frightful. Here
tofOre our white population alone interested
themselves in this subject, and the laboring
class, knowing nothing about it, and caring
nothing for it, pursued their usual labors
without diversion. The great work of ag
riculture, and of such manufactures as were
carried on by black labor, knew no inter
rupton. But 10 the last four years large
share OF the time Of both classes has been
given to politics. If this time had been
devoted to industries, we world all have
been worth three-fold more than we are now
worth, and the aggregate of wealth would
have been trebed. And what have we
gained? Literally nothing. Gu; loss has
been a clear one. The gift of suffrage to
the negroes was free gift by the North,
and the negroes have added nothing to it
by their ceaseless efforts aud agitations.-
AS for ourselves, it is by no means certain
that we have not Increased and aggravated
the political disabilities and Industrial bur
dens we sought to get rid of by our active
participation in political movements. If
any one should doubt as to this proposition,
no one certainly can doubt as to the loss
sustained in material wealth. and the waste
Of productive industry involved ia the sac
rifce ofour time and energies to PoliIcs.
This two-fold loss should be warning
TO US in the future. There is, perhaps, not
an individual among Us, Of sound mind,
who does not feel that the time spent in
politics has been thrown away. Many, in
deed, hold that it has been worse than
thrown away-having resulted in multiply
ing and aggravating our political grievan-
ces. Let as all, therefore. resolve to profit
by this lesson, and hereafter to devot- our
time and efforts to our business. Even the
negroes are beginning 10 learn that the field
of politics is a barren field. They have de-
SPARED of getting the mules and the forty
acres once promised them, and begin to un-
derstand that it is BY industry alone that
they can live.
One thing is certain. the white people OF
the South cannot live by politics. Those
who tiy it will starye.