The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1871-02-18

luOubIIy are ubeu III huoTlCH. III buld bouSo
it was the watchword and ralying cry of the
Irish people. Upon the cannon of the Irish
volunteers were inscribed the words free
trade-meaning freedom to protect Ireland's
trade, agriculture, and manufactures from
England. In this sense, every American Pro-
tectionist sympathizes warmly in principle
with Ireland's demand for free trade.
THE DIFFICULTY OF GETTING GOOD
MEN INTO POLITICAL LIFE.
From the NJ Y. Times.
We have already called attention to Mr.
Hoppins excellent address to the members of
the Union League Club, but the subject which
he raised cannot be too carefully considered.
He said that "the practical withdrawal of
great numbers of respectable and intelligent
citizens of the United States from public life.
and their growing indifference to public mat
ters, is one of the most discouraging facts in
our history. We act as if we believed that
good government would come of itself, like
the free air of heaven, without any effort on
our own parts to create it. We appear to
think we have the option to engage in politics
or not, as our tastes or temporary interests
may determine" The phrase ''our duty to
our country" he added, ''has become sort
of commonplace expression which nobody
believes in, and which is chiefly useful for
orations and obituary notices, and yet it is of
as much binding force as the ten command
ments.
All this is melancholy, but it is true; it is
the more melancholy because it is so often
said, and with SO little effect. It is said, in
substance, in all Thanksgiving sermons, and
in all the better class of Fourth of July ora
tions, in most addresses to young men, and
in large majority of such commencement
orations as touch on politics. 1t is said in
newspaper and magazine articles, and in
lectures. Everybody admits it; but when we
come to talk of a remedy, most people turn
their eyes in pious resignation to heaven, or
shrug their shoulders. Now, everybody
knows we are not disposed to shield 'edu-
but then it is but right, while condemning
them, to take account of the difficulties there
are in the way of their doing their duty
We might if went into details show
these to be very numerous, but we shall con-
fine ourselves to one, and that is the compli-
cation of the political machine. The machine
which our fathers worked, and which the
English work to-day, was far simpler than the
one we work. The number of officers elected
in England is very small. In fact, it may be
said that by voting once in four or five years
for one or two members of the House of Com
mons an Englishman exerts all the influence he
can exert in the Government. Through that
he pronounces his opinion with regard to the
administration of justice in all its grades and
branches the collection and disbursement of
the taxes, the state of the army and navy, the
foreign policy, the condition and relief of the
poor, and so on. The consequence is that by
concentrating his attention on the character,
and history, and opinions of one or two men,
he discharges his whole political duty. If he
does not like the judges, or the condition of
the finances, or of the State, or of the army.
or of the railroad system, he has only to
come down on the county or borough men,
bers of the House of Commons, and the
members come down on the Ministry; and
when great many county and borough men,
bers, feeling the pressure behind them, come
down on the Ministry together, the thing is
set to rights Nothing eau well be simpler,
or easier to manage, or require less sacrifice of
time.
A state of things in some respects similar
prevailed in this State, and in nearly all the
Eastern States, before 1916. The number of
elective officers was small, and the RESPONSE
bility concentrated on a few heads. To be
sure, the American citizen had two Legisla-
lures to elect, and two ministries" to look
after, where the Englishman had only one,
but still he was able to look to the Governor
for the proper administration of Justice,
the proper regulation of the prisons, the
proper collection and outlay of the taxes, in
fact, for the proper working of the greater
part of the administrative machinery. He
had, indeed, only to concentrate his attention
at every election on one or two men, to make
sure that he was discharging his duty
to the State effectually. In those days, too,
the strain of business was not nearly 80
severe as it is now, and men of respectability
and education had more time at their disposal
There was only monthly mail communication
with Europe; In this city, business with the
interior OF the State, or what was then called
the West, was almost completely suspended
as soon as the frosts closed the river and
canals. The community, too. in every State
was small, and the manners simple. and the
demands of charity and society few and not
very exacting. The stream of life, in fact,
flowed on with sluggishness of which wa
have now little idea. Merchants, and law
yers and ministers, therefore, had an amount
of time at their disposal of which they now
know nothing, and having it, they give it to
politics.
If we contrast the state of things here now
with with the state of things here forty OF
| fifty wears ago, we must perceive that to Gel