The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1873-12-25

There IS no country In the world that has
been more prolific of true statesmanship
than this country; norris there one in which
! the mere charlatans of party have been
more numerous. And it is easy TO account
for the fact in both instances. Under. our
free institutions, the people being the source
of all political power, men Of ambition.
whether for high or low places, are put
upon the alert to see what they think will
please the people. Some of them, moved
BY motives of high patriotic regard for the
public good, with brains broad enough to
comprehend in all their amplitude great
questions involving the vitality of the GOV
eminent, walk boldly forward without wait
ing to see by whom they are followed, clear
ing the way as they 60, asserting principles
and leaviEg light behind them. Others
fold their arms, sit in silence at some point
of observation, watch the popular current as
it flows, and when they are satisfied that
there is no danger of its turning, leap into
it with a shout; swim up abreast with the
foremost men, and, if possible, ahead of
them; claim the first reward for their seTvi-
ces, and too often secure it at the hands of
deluded people. The first class we have
represented Is composed Of statesmen, the
second of demagogues.
"A
are esteemed so by themselves and others
who have accepted their own assumption of
the fact which is not fact. He who talks
little, but learnedly about governmental
matters of grave import, solemnly draws
parallels in the different histories of differ
emit ages, and magisterially refers to abstract
ideals in political philosophy as atfording the
only true tests for the truth of doctrines
under discussion, may appear great; but he
is not necessarily so. Such men, In truth,
arc not only utterly useless in shaping a
practicable policy for the conduct of public
affairs, but they serve to retard the move
ments of the machinery they are unable to
direct. They are theorists, drcamers and
drones in politics. They are always fault
finding, because there Is nothing sufficiently
approximating perfection to please them.
They are opinionated, exacting, precise and
so infexible that if they must lower their
naughty chins to enter doorway, they pre-
fer to remain outside. They brook no OPP
position. They are beyond the reach OF ar
gument. They listen to no terms of COM
promise The world must move as they say
it should, or they will not move with it.
True craftsmanship is not made Of such
stuff. He who has the mind to take in the
situation, in all its length and breadth and
depth, with all its surroundings, and the
heart to do what the actual interests of the
people require,to be done, is the best type of
statesman. The impracticable political
philosopher may picture to us on paper a
state of things much more desirable, much
more beautiful than any we have ever had.
But he forgets that he has it all to himself
in his theory, and that he must take men as
he finds them, not as he would have them /;
that he may think as he pleases, but that
others will exercise the same privilege. The
statesman who deserves the name keeps his
eye steadily fixed upon the principles by
which he is guided; but because he is driven
from the direct course by which he would
attain his object he does not give up in de-
spair, or refuse to go farther, but moves on
ward and makes his way as best he may to
the end at which he is aiming.
Demagogues endeayor to please the peo-
pie, regardless of the public interests.
Statesmen endeavor to advance the interests
of the people, regardless of the articles of
the demagogues to supplant them.-Rict-
mOnd Enquirer.