Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1870-11-05
PoIITIcR

4kCHNAoAASs ~ N0So AASs
necessarily mean anything more than
the public affairs Of public business,
government or nationality and in the
strict sense Of the word may be applied
to the despotism of Russia or Turkey.
1t may mean an oligarchy like that OF
Venice, in her prosperity, or the Gov
ernments of ancient nations by the
best neil, the Democracy" the
Aristf being a sharply defined class OF
favored families. Or the word republic
may mean a democracy, or a limited
monarchy; anything, indeed, in the
shape of government which will bear
the designation public" Usage has
both restricted and extended the em-
| ployment Of the term. 1t has restrict
oil it as ruling out despotlsm, heredit-
airy ranks, monarchy and C;rsarism.
1t has extended It BY making the word
apply also to democracies. But "Com-
monwealth means the common pros
perity and safety, the greatest good Of
the greatest number; and by fair In
ference, the common participation OF
all citizens in the promotion Of good
government and Its consequent bless
ings and adyantages-the common
veal or prosperity. In n common
wealth participation in public affairs
Il no: simply a privilege. 1t is duty
incumbent not only upon registered
voters, but upon women, upon youth,
and upon %non-yoters as well ~ those
yho hold the right Of suffrage. 1t Is a
duty of the young. because they are,
or should be, In the course Of educa-
ton to assume their place in the direc-
ton Of pablic affairs. 1t Is the duty Of
women and others who hold no right
to vote. because they form the major
ity, and by this majority public opinion
is created or moulded. Especially Is
this true of women. Given the direc-
ton in which the female and really
the most influential portion Of the race
desire that public sentiment should
tend, and You may predict the result
q confidently rs II q formal vote were
taken. Man may be the lord Of Gre
stion. but the power behind the throne
h greater than the throne itself. This
brings us to another point. Public
opinion is the ruling influence in n ma
ton Of freemen, and even in 4 despot-
Ism or monarchy the rulers must sub
nit to it, eventually, with whatever
grace they may. II is TO their duty,
under such conditions, that all the peo-
pie in u commonwealth should apply
themselves. The great error In our
own country, as indeed it has been In
all countries, has been tic regarding
of public life as the privilege or chosen
pursuit OF such rs elect to apply them.
selves in that direction, while it Is the
privilege Of others, and they far the
greater part, to ignore their obliga-
tioas to their country, and seek en-
Payments and pursuits more to their
taste. And thus grows up q class Of
politicians whose position Is held, not
so much by the public expression Of
their fitness, As by their own persistent
efforts to claim, to acquirc, and to hold
public office, or the direction of public
offices, for the benefit Of themselves.
This Is not, ordinarily, an cnnobling
line of life. While it is not to he de-
MED that public opinion, usually too
quiesccnt, is, OH occasion aroused, 10
put politicians upon their good beha-
vior, aud to compel the designation Of
good men for office /; neither can it be
denied that the great body Of %judicious,
sound and patriotic men are too negli-
gent. They are too much inclined to
consider the political movements Of
the country as 4 series of "matchcs"
in which they are not necessarily In
tcrested. But they look OH OCCASION
ally with excited interest, and are
ready enough to enter the lists at crit
ical periods, when the most they can
do i to choose the least Of the evils
which politicians have provided for
them, and to throw their votes where
their votes will do the least harm. All
this requires amendment from the very
beginning. II the Commonwealth Is
Indeed the common veal, all who are
Interested in 1t should assert their
The affairs of the nation should
not be left to any selfelected class, by
the neglect Of others to do their duty.
The public service should be raised to
Its proper dignity by the attention Of
the whole people. The places In the
gift oil the nation should become truly
honorable, and the implied rcproach
Of oIice-seeking be removed. Honor
and not profit should be the true guer-
don of public service. This can be
only when public sentiment Endorses
politics Ii \ creditable pursuit. At
present. n high personal character and
the faithful performance of public duty
are the only things which excuse a
man for lie. ccnding to politics or con
scnting to be nominated to office. Pub
lie Office ought, On the contrary, to
coafer dignity OH the incumbent, as
the evidence Of the high appreciation
Of his constituents. This can only he
when a reform in public sentiment
political knowledge to its true
and practical craftsmanship
to It, proper estimation as al arduous
and honorable attainment.
A WEALTHY lady Of New York re-
went through an extraordinary