Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1871-09-15

In a letter of John Quincy Adams, the sixth
president of the United States, written in 1904,
and Just published for the frst time, occurs the
following passage:
"That heart mast be strangely, and, to me,
unaccountably constituted, which, on being
restored TO the pure aud tranquil enjoyment of
domestic life, after long experience of political
turbulence and vcXatiOn, should not feel and
pointedly contrast the operation of the two
conditions upon itself. But | confess / never
yet was able to comprehend the virtue which it
IS not uncommon TO see held up for admiration
IN the t0ce Of retirement. Selfshness may very
naturally be glad to creep into any corner, or
SINK into any thicket, for a shelter from the
driving tempest Of active life; but voluntary
secluslon, m country like ours, from those
concerns which constitute the great objects of
general interest, forms no item in nv catalogue
OF virtues. On the contrary | have long
thought il an important error, of many good
and distinguished men among us that they are
TOO ready to indulge the love Of ease and domes-
tic comfort-too ready TO withdraw from the
field of public action-too ready
To forsake the ship and gain the shore
When the winds whistle and the tempests roar.
This love of retirement aud domestic pleasures
has in this state kept in confinement to their
chimney-corners, numbers of men who ought to
stand forth the guardians of the public interest
and the guides of the public opinions. 1t is the
only thing which can possibly hazard the stead
mess Of our politics. | hope they will ever re-
sist the dangers Of this drowsy opiate.
This view of public duty has been often ex-
pressed, but seldom more happily than in this
extract. 1t is quite as Just and important now
as when the letter was written, and applies not
only to men Of great talents and distinction.
Political rights involve political duties and every
man, TO the full measure Of his opportunities
and DOWPTg : To 1
me poiineal issues OF the day, and to help decide
them' ms may require time and thought,
which he could give more pleasantly, and per-
haps more probably, so far as his personal
affairs are concerned, to his private business or
TO rest and enjoyment 1t is one Of the miseor-
tunes of our politics that there is prevalent
opinion, not so often openly expressed as
plainly implied, that he who takes no part and
feels no interest in public affairs is presumptvely
more YirtuOus man and better citizen than he
who exerts himself actively to accomplish polit
zeal ends. The pres sumption should be the other
way. The active politician may be controlled
by unworthy motives; he may be ignorant or
corrupt, he may deceive and deflaud the peoples
out he is only doing according to his nature and
framing the work that must be done by some
Dody' II better and wiser men, knowing what
he is, voluntarily leave the work in his hands.
they must share his responsibility for the mis-
cIief and disgrace that follow thought ia he con-
sidered praise, rather than dispararement r.
say OF a man that he is always present at can
euses. When it is 50 considered if that time
ever comes, eaneuses will represent the people
more truly than they do now, and bad men viii
paye less chance Of getting into Office,