The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1871-12-27
The Statesnar's Opportunity.

it's trne character as something bette,
and greater than party management
4 general election is near enough to
occupy the thoughts Of the people, YET
so farsaway that even the parties which
are to contest it ara not yet defined,
nor are the issues to he decided vet
drawn. The country is substantially
at peace at home and abroad there
are no threatening questions in our
foreign relations; the mighty issue in
volving our existence as a free nation
which has been the centre of our polit-
ical struggles for more than twenty
years is settled the national mind and
conscience are just now stirred as they
were never stirred before, by the ter
rible exposures made in our largest
city of the inevitable result when pol
itics are made a trade, and when per-
sonal character is not regarded as es-
sential to public Office; and now, for
he first time, the citizens of this gene
ration may choose an administration
with reference solely to it's worth and
its fitness for its work.
This is no time, then, for men capa-
ble of craftsmanship to waste their
powers in disputiug over personal
claims to the office of President. It is
not yet time even, to review the qnali-
ticatioDs of the many excellent men
whose names are before the country
and to choose candidates among them.
The next President is not likely to
have any brilliant work of war or of
diplomacy thrown upon him; the Of
flee does not seem to call for n Wash
ingt"u, capable, by his personal weight
of character, of regulating parties and
factions and of impressing npon a new
nation reverence for its own laws and
institutions; or even n Lincoln, by
whose invincible faith in his conntry's
destiny it may be led ont Of seeming
ruin will, safety and triumph. In view
of the awful duties which may at any
time fall upon the head of a nation,
the Office calls for a man WHO will rise
to greatness on great occasions; but
the work to which it will probably be
required to give its whole nergies and
power is that of thorough pnrifica-
ton of the government from the evils
Of political bargaining and Of money
seeking in the public service, which
now disgrace it aud debase the morals
of the country.
This work WHY, indeed. require a
strong, patient and earnest man, who
loves his country better than his fawn-
ing followers, and his lasting fame
more than thciI flattery. But the first
thing to be done is not tire selection of
the man, hut the formation and cduca.
ton of pubic opinion which shall
make The selection of the wrong man
impossible. The managing politician
seeks whom he may profitably serve
by pressing his name; the Statesmen
OWNS no ends but his conntry's, bows
to no determining power in pnblic af-
fairs but the righteous Judgment Il
public opinion upon the trne principles
of government. Now, when the pub
lie mind is ready for this great lesson,
when it is eager to establish dnty as
the law Of public life forever,.and only
needs wise guidance to accomplish this
WORK, now is the statesman's great OPP
ror.uiily.
Where are the men of character and
of power who will speak out at this
time, with that large faiti, in trutl,
which subor,inates to it all personal
and immediate aims 2 They alone are
needed now, to make the whole of the
approaching national canvass a strug-
gle of the honest people against all
that is undermining the public mo-
rality of the nation, and so threatens
Washington and New York with the
fate Of Rome and of Paris.-fNew York
Evening Post.
For months. the deyeloDment ri