Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1871-10-05
GENTLEMEN IN POLITICS.

GENTLEMEN IN POLITICS.
The lecture season was opened in Bos-
ton on Monday evening by General Ha~-
lev, who took for his subject "Gentemep
in Politics. We find synopsis OF 1t In
the Boston Advertiser. 1t contains ldeas
which are worthy of consideration anu
,,o,,t,ca,oe The subject is one adapt |
ed to all localities. II
General Hawley began by saying that his
lecture had no partisan application, as IL was
wriften three years ago. What had been
bappening about the country, however, had
convinced him of the force and soundness OF
what he had written. 1t applied to all parties
for it applied. to all good citizens. He would
affirm the duty of the gentleman to be po- |
ltican. He found the definition of gentle
man to be one who holds a middle rank be- |
tween a yeoman and noble, without title. |
But something more is now included in the
term gentleman. By it is meant man of
education and good breeding in whatever sense
you employ it; man of politeness, courtesy
and good manners; a man of honor, truth,
and bravery, punctual, faithful to a trust, re-
gardful of the truth, scrupulously just, man
whom good women insrinctivly appeal to; a
man who is proud of his country. The lectur-
er appreciated the distaste for the term polit-
clan, but he wished to protect the term gen.
tleman from use by those who could practise
all the forms of graceful hospitality, and yet
be publicly corrupt. He must save the term
politician for better use. He analysed the
word and showed it to mean both one versed
in the science and art of government, and
man of arts and cunning. 1t must be ac-
knowledged that the science OF government is
one of the noblest of sciences, and the truest
and noblest gentlemen may well devote them
selves to it. The lecturer would have men of
every profession and every calling become
more and more interested in politics than they
are at present. Above all constitutions and
all devices of parties he affirmed that if the
gentlemen don't take politics in hand there is
no hope for us. When some great crisis ar
rives the reserved moral strength OF the nation
comes out in its niajesty. and after struggle
the nation is saved but in Ii government like
this there must be no reserves; in other words
if the better elements of the nation all did
their duty there never would be any great
plot, or crises, or rebellion. Every Amer-
can citizen is peer of this realm with no
danger of the destruction of his order. To
what higher station, to what greater glory
can any mortal aspire than to be, during the
whole course of his life, the support of good
government, the control of bad government,
and the guardian of the public law? To be
sure, our rulers many in number, some
who claim to be cultivated above the average, |
the men of culture and social position,-
who train themselves in academies and schools |
and colleges to be the helpers and rulers and
instructors of the rest, are in great minority
and while they, even this minority, are what
they should be, watchful friends of popular
government. the country will be safe. They
control. They rule it. Now, when you say
that you viii have nothing to do with politics,
and call this noble science dirty business,
you, so far as one of the peers Of this realm
can, and so far as you are counted, defeat :
the whole experiment of republican institu-
tons. No thanks 10 you that We have gov
eminent. You abdicate and call for mon
archy. You will agree with me that II this
experiment is to prosper it will do so only by
the aid of all the cultivation that exists in the
republic, all that it has of the very highest
type of character. The definition of science
shows it TO be sufficient grand science and
art to justify the devotion of the best hearts
and minds of the world to it. General
Hawley then portrayed the marvellous growth
of the country, and commented on some of
the considerations which render it more i'm
portant than ever before, that the best mind
of the country shall be given TO the subject
of its government, and ask how any young
man conld come upon the stage in this nine
teenth century without leaping up and hear
ing all his manhood call him to prepare for
this great future. Then he spoke of the de-
monstration of the strength of our form of
government, and after some pungent COMPARE
sons between it and the admired forms of gov
eminent in Europe, he treated of corruption
in politics. At times he eloquently denounc-
ed the current federation of dishonest men in
churches and decent society. In speaking of
the duties of citizens, he emphasized the duty |
Of all citizens to attend the primary meetings.
He closed with an expression of faith in the |
perpetuity of free institutions. He was
listened to with close attention. and his hear
ers applauded and otherwise indicated their
. appreciation of the lecture.
No action having been taken by Congress
at the last session on the apportonment ques-
ton, the Secretary of the Interior WILL under