The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1871-04-21

duty 1t Is to repair to the State capitol,
and there forming the House of Rep
resentativcs, proceed to enact-in con-
Junction with the Senate-such laws
as may be requisite for the peace, Sc.
curity, and welfare of the whole people.
These men are selected because of their
supposed fitness for the position. Be.
cause they are believed to possess the
requisite knowledge and personal
independence to vote for such sal
utary laws as the oxigencies of the times
require. But year after year the peo.
pie are deceived. The men elected by
them In many instances prove false to
their constituencies. Possessing at home
fair characters for integrity, many of
these Representatives (?) upon arriving
at Harrisburg come under the seductive
influences there brought to bear upon
them and fall-fall from the proud po.
sition they occupy at home-fall from
the exalted station of q high toned, in.
dependent gentleman, to the depraved
level of a trucking sycophant, the will
ing slave of tyranical master.
Losing their independence OF charac-
ter, and obeying the dictation Of their
masters, these men are living, moving
examples of the character POPE had in
view when he spoke of the seductive in
fluences of the syren, thus
| "Vlcc is a monster OF such hldeous meIn
That to be hated needs but to be seen;
| But seeing oft-fnmiliar with its facp
| We first endure, then pity, then embrace"
One observing the movements on the
floor of the House preliminary to vote
being taken upon bill in which some
particular party Is either directly or in
directly interested, sees in all its sick
ening phases the want of manliness-of
independence on the part of Represen-
tatives. The whip of the master is
cracked and the supposed independent
law maker obsequiously obeys the com.
mand of his owner, and subsequently
votes "yes" or ''no" us he has been di.
rected. Owned body and breeches by
another, he no more obeys the dictates
of his own Judgment than does the dom
| key bridled and bitted. TO assert his
| manhood and act for himself and of
himself would be the part he was elect
ed to play in the legislative drama, but
he has been cast in just such character
| as his new found master has see fit to
assign him-either in the affirmative or
negative of any proposition to be pass.
ed upon. Expected by his people to
act for them, he is found worshiping
false gods. Like the child of Israel he
has deserted the true God and worships
the Golden Calf.
Poor, drivelling, trucking syco-
phants, who sacrifice their manhood
and become the plant, suppliant tools
of certain parties who coil themselves
in anacondac folds about them, they
should meet the signal con demnation of
the people and be left out of place and
position.
While what we have said refers to
the House, let it not be understood that
the Senate is free from the same ami
madversions. Here too the same sub.
serviency and trucking is daily to be
witnessed. Sycophants there, too,
"Bend the pregnant hinges of the knee
That thrift may follow fawning."
Nor is this state of things chargeable
to any particular party-here are men
of both political organizations who are
Lost to honor, manhood, self,
And bound alone by love OF pelf
But there are men in both chambers
who rise above the dictation of power,
the wiles of the seducer, the blandish-
ments of the minions who with silken
cords endeavor to entrap them, and
honestly represent their constituents.
Guided solely by their convictions of
right, they fearlessly vote for or against
any bill presented for their considera-
tion.
To these men the people are indsbt-
ed for all that is good and wholesome
in the legislation of the State. Bound
by no ties save their personal honor,
party fealty and sense of duty to their
constituents, the honest men of the two
bodies are always found battling on the
side of right. To resist the malign in
fiuences which surround men sent to
the Legislative Halls, and come out
unscathed, requires more than ordinary
moral courage. To unswervingly fol-
low the straight and narrow, path" is
found not to be so easy task as most
persons suppose.
Long experience enables the profes-
sional "borer" to measure his man and
as his appliances are many, and his
ways dark, he manages to entrap all
who have not armed themselves against
the wiles of the seducer,
1t Is only by the assertion of frank,
open manly independence, by prompt.
ly resisting the proffers, Establishments,
menaces or cajolements, and sternly
starting out determined to act for him
self, that the neophyte can maintain
his integrity. To once come under the
influence of the cormorants who prey
upon the passions or prejudices, is to be
led dance that blasts and destroys,
and that forever, the regulations of so
many men who left their homes with
unsullied hands, clear consciences and
pure motives, to embark in the bust.
ness of legislation. Once under the i'm
proper influence of certain parties there
is no escape. TO break away is to be
exposed. Thus bound they must go
where they are hidden, and step by step
they are led to destruction. Better, far
better, were 1t for many who have been
sent to the Legislature had they remain
ed in their workshops-or offices, at
their plows or desks and retained their
own self respect and the good opinion
of their neighbors. Bound hand and
foot by the power they suffered to en-
trap them, they have degraded their
manhood, lost their selfrespect and
made the very name of legislator almost
a word of obloquy and reproach. Their
sycophancy, trucking and mendacity
has not only dlsgraced themselves, but
dragged into contempt the honest, up
| right men who have baan forcad into