Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1869-05-07

There IS a class of persons t nam
erOus for the credit of human nature
wisdom consists n a dominant
and all-ahFOr5ing selfishness. They
sometimes glory in being considered
conservative vt their conservatism.
traced to its fundamental principle, is
simply a selfish policy
Such people End IL convenient to
shun a distinct and definite commit
Rent on all Questions involving diff
Guilty or Suggesting any peril to them
selves. They never ouch an unpopu-
lar cause, hOWeVeEsHrgent may belts
claims. They never advocate a meas
ure till it ceases to be doubtful; and,
hence, their services USUALLY come
when they are least needed. It is with
them a matter of deliberate policy to
run no hazards in respect to them-
selves. We never see them inthe thick
lest of the fight On any subject In
deed, they never do fight till the victory
is o /; and then their courage gener-
ally comes Up to the mark. 4 SPLEEN
did eulOGS tbon Martin Luther-One
of the sturdiest radiealist of any age
flows most gracefully from their eIo-
quent lips; but whether they would
have stood with Luther in Luther's
day is quite another question Tell
them which way the current of popular
feeling runs, and it will not be their
fault If they do not rUnin the same di-
rection.
This type of character, developed in
the cunning and artful politician, has
for its foundation sthe cohesive pow
err Of office aGdpublie plumber. Moth
ing is so Interesting to him as to have
the majority on his side. His princi-
/ pies always depend on votes. His plan
is to be with the winning party. he
goes against reform or for it, advocates
this measure and denOunces that,
aLaurAr fraadnrn mr. -arNnnIVnG GNaWzaFV-
Joins the temperance party or ahliates
himself with b rum interest, aecOr-
/ ding to the calculations and forecast Of
a purely selfish policy. He makes it
his business to study the temper Of the
public mind, and always coincide with
/ Ii, whether it be right or wrong. Hav-
ing no principle except that of politi-
| cal success, he frames platforms, adj
/ heres to his friends or forsakes them,
/ sets up men or knocks them down,
just as it may be necessary to meet the
] demands of this single e There is
scarcely anything which he viii not
do, or anything which he Will not leave
undone, if judged essential to the
game which he is playing.
An honest man, with upright feelings
and positive convictions, upon which
he is accustomed to act, finds it eN-
| ceedingly difficult to keep his patience
with these pOlicy-hunters, these selfish
and inyeteTate dodgers, comPromisers,
| trimmers, and mere w-eathercOeks of
public feeling. He has the inward sat
! isfaction of thoroughly despising them,
| and the good sense to trust them.
Whether they viii betray or defend a
cause, blow hot or blow cold, is simply
a question of profit or loss to them
selves. conscientious fidelity to a
principle is a thing unknown in their
creed. From all such conservatives we
are inclined to say, in the language of
the Episcopal Liturgy, Good Lord,
deliver u.s."
What, we beg to know, would be-
come OF the world, and the interests of
moral truth. if this type of character
were the universal model2 Who would
be the advocate OF truth in h day
| when it wants self-sacrifciug friends F?
Who would plead the u Of the
weak against the strong? Who would
take the ground of remonstrance
against prevalent and popular evils?
| Where would be the martyrs for con
science sake-the Luthers, the Pauls,
the prosecuted ones who c~heerfuIly
bear oblOquy, and even give their own
lives, to make this a purer and better
world? All such exhibitions of hui
manity would become obsolete, greatly
to the damage of the moral interests OF
| mankind. The world wants me9l-hOn-
est and neutrality-suspicious. who love
God and love the truth more than hui
man favor. The policy-hunters it can
easily spare; but T men it cannot
spare without serious loss.-N. Y, IN
depeaPeat