Dallas herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1849-1873, 1873-05-03
THE DEMAND OF THE HOUR.

THE DEMAND OF THE HOUR.
To the least observing Of men,
IL must be apparent that tho Amer.
Jean nation has arrived at that
juneture when it must choose DO. |
tween government Of politicians
or government OF patriots. Aftor
fifteen years Of dominion, a domin.
ION which has boon notable only
for it's weakness of head and its
strength in knavcry, when the most
responsible offices have been jobbed
off to the heaviest purse; when the
public moneys have been used as a
mischievous fancy or interruptions
principle may have dictated; when
personal liberty has becn vomiting
ly abridged to promote the better
security of some Machivelian pol
icy, and when States have been
carried off in tho carpet bag Of
some wandering Arab, and the
pearl of their beauty furnished, and
the heavenly air of their liberty
clouded in cropping darkness, the
startling fact should be blazed be
fore our eyes with all the vividness
of olcctrial fire, that our only sal
walton, our only hope ofperpetuity
rests alone in shifting from their
lofty state, these statues in o flee,
who
''solid sol and moulded In coll ossal calm"
simply represent authority, without
the brain or tho nerve to execute
it.
A fatal mistake has been that We
have looked too slightly at the char
actcr and capacity of those who
govern us. We have, in monstrous
blindness, surrendered the conduct
of public affairs to men who, as We
say, have nothing else to do, but
govern. Tried in every other posi-
ton in life, they have failed. I'm,
fitted for the more practical require
ments Of existence. we turn over to
them what we are pleased to term
tho mere theoretical, when, if we
would take moment to consider.
we would be appalled, at a
step which q moro enlightened
glance would have satisfied us, will
eventuate in the complete destruc,
ton of an intelligent commercial
system, a thorough extinguishment
of all civil rights, if not tho alb
soluto overthrow Of the government
itself.
And when we reflect at what cost
our republic was bought, when we
reflect how much priceless blood
was shed to secure it, and what toll
and sedulous vigilance it required
to maintain it, and looking over its
mighty growth to-day, a growth
which has advanced through sue.
cessive stages fgrandeur in spite Of
an ignorant direction of affairs, and
the blessings all this growth is
bringing upon us, are We prepared
to longer risk in the hands Of an
irresponsible class of Adventures,
a charge so tremendous in its ma
ture, and which demands the clear
est mind, the most intelligent feel
ing, and the most unimpeachablc
honor to exercise and guido it to
the honor and glory of the nation!
Every sound patriot and careful
citizen must answer, mo- And ii
bchooves us, then, as lovers of oul
country, Jealous Of her standing
among the nations of tho earth,
watchful of her honor and proud Of
nor peerless fame, that we commit
her only to such hands as will
strengthen her position, preserve
her escutcheon, and addyet bright
or garlands to her fame, all Of
which can be attained by ignoring
the claims of the mere Office seeker
and the professional politician, and
placing the reins ofgovernment in
the hands of the solid element OF
the country.