The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1868-01-18


sondition d things that Ne ~ yea to join /
lands with ss, . n6kstsenhoi cause fof
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sidss.
PUBLIC MEN or TEE FAsT AND
THE PREsENT.
One Of thsslgns which alwsys astsnd The
dscadensssof nation 10 The disregard By
its psblie man Of the consequences Of their
political action.
When thsrulsrs Of people are animated
BY high motives, when they only propose TO-
themselves the benefit Of the Connonwsalth,
ana are inspired BY honor sndrecogniss chat,
the courses which lead 20 public grandeur
and individual happiness, sre those which
are founded in, and rest upon impartial jus
lice, the csrssr Of that people 70 always on
| ward and upward. Does any one imagin>
that II the members Of the Committee which
framed the Federal Constitution had been
moved BY the same motives and proposed TO
themselves the same ends 90 sne members
Of the present Federal Congress now assem-
bled at Washington, that the work-of the
revolution airy war would have bean perfected
and its fruits saved to delight and rej,i:e
subsequent generations?
Every one knows that the opposition and
repugnance which existed, in every one Of
the thirteen colonies, to the new government
which was offered TO them b. the Conven-
ton were overcome, at last, only BY the
pervading public consciousness that the
members Of the Convention had acted upon
the feeling Of the highest responsibility as
men and public representatives. They had
given evidence of devotion 10 the public
good which was not to be moderated OF
turned by any personal or selfish considera-
ton.
They we're honest to the'aseves. and
Were, therefore, honest to ~ ps opie.
They were content to mould q form Of
government which would not only protect
life and property, but would foster every
reasonable aspiration for freedom, and gave
full play to all the activities Of the mind
} They were public men, because they were
capable of doing something for thepublic
good. They sought no place for its honor.
for to them the honor Of Office consisted
, in the performance OF all its duties.
In those days eft &c was not attractive mol
sought after ON accc mt of it's emoluments
nor was it then, as now, lucrative BY the op-
portunity of speculation.
Contrast the Philadelphia Convention o
l7s7 with the National Congress e 1868
and tbs picture is not more different thar
that which Hamlet portrayed to the Queer
between her dead and living husl md.
; A ring whose segment are Whisky, Ma
tional Banks and Bonds, Land Grants sn(
Tariffs binds the present Congress in on
circle Of corruption.
The men to whom in former years tn
peools locked as guardians Of their inter
ests, are now found prostitusing to ths. in
Jury Of their constituencies the privilege
and the places which they owe to their pos
serity. lit should appear how much stool
Congressman own or have owned in tn
various railways which have been built b,
grants Of public lands, one reason would b.
manifest for the lavishness Of those grants
If it should appear how much bank stool
Congressman own, one reason would appea
why the National Bank system sho uld b.
considered the best in the wo-ld. If tn
precise relations between Wall Street and tn
Secretary Of the Treasury were known, th,
public would have the key to bis contraction
policy, and similar relations world explain
why the Senate Finance Committee thinl
the Federal bonds, pay able BY law in green
backs, should be paid in gold.
Were the people really to appreciate how
little of legislation there is which is based
on considerations Of public utility, and how
much that is founded on motives personal
to the Legislator they would have their eyes
opened TO the causes which have nearly
sapped the foundations Of the nation, which
have corrupted the public virtue and demon
a''zed the people.
How many an idol which the trusting sim
plicity Of the people has adorned with every
good quality have turn ed out to be no more
powerful for good than the objects Of Fetish
alteration.
In these supreme moments Of the nation,
when public liberty seems to be balanced
between anarchy and despotism. Il the peo-
pie look toward Washington for hope, they
see Only party squabbles,-
"Fiddlng Nerc's" engaged in defeating {
Presidential appointment for frozen mis-
sion, justifying the vaeilations of Stanton,
while the lists Of bankrupts Iengthens, and
the nation itself rushes toward Insolvency
and dishonor.
A CHRONIC GRTTMRIER