The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1873-08-21
The Decay of Politics.

A recent number of the Pail Mall
Gazette contained clever article on
the decline of interest in Parlianen-
tary debates. Nobody cares much
for them, and '.Hansard" can hardly
bekept alive. The same thing is true
in this country. The debates OF Con-
gress and our Legislatures are gen.
orally WEAKNESS to those who hear
them, and are seldom, if ever, read.
They are regarded as an infection by
members, and Stunned as often as
possible. This decline of interest
in Legislative discussions, says the
Graphic, is largely due to the decay
of politics, in Eodern times. The
great questions of our day are not
political. They relate to trade, in
dustry, science, art, education, and
charity. They deal with laws and
principles and forces back of legis-
lation, and of vastly more conse-
quence than legislation. They are
studied in counting rooms, and lab
oratories, colleges and conventions.
They are debated by tongue and pen
in the Free Parliament of the world.
The wisest and weightiest intellects
OF the race are engaged in their con-
sideration- Every newspaper, review
and serious book prolongs the discus
sion. The talk of Congressman seems
the merest gable oftentimes, in
comparison with the earnest and pro-
found treatment of the ultimate
principles of human welfare and so
cial progress and national prosperity,
by,explorers, sages and savants. The
legislation of our country is mostly
done by party managers and ambi-
tious adventurers and shrewd busi-
ness spectators, who neither repre-
sent the intelligence, the culture, nor
the character of the nation. Most of
them are utterly ignorant of the prin-'
ciples of political economy and social
science, and have no conception OF
the great laws which interpenetrate
and control society and determine
the progress and prosperity of ma
tions. There is nothing in the aver
age personal Congress and our State
Legislatures to entitle their delibera-
tions to respect, much less to compel
the listening of the country. Thee ques-
tions discussed seldom, if ever, even
Craze upon any fundamental prinei-
pie of organic life or social welfare.
They relate to local personal interests,
the granting of pensions, the open
ing of roads, the giving of charters,
the imposition OF reduction of duty,
the manipulation of some profitable
job. Often pretty, and sometimes
contemplate, the discussion cannot
, possibly interest any large number
of people or take deep hold on the
public mind. The slavery question
J was radicalin its character. Itstruek
} deep inte the very constitution of So
ciety and the fbres of the public
heart. The discussion of that ques-
: ton agitated the nation to the very
, center of it's life. 1t was an educa-
ton. But who can even affect any
, considerable interest in one out of
| the hundred topics which engage the
attention of Congress today Pol
itics has lost its prestige and absorb
ing interest because other things are
so much more important and vital,
and because politicians no longer
? represent the intelligence, the cul-
l ture, or virtue of the people. And it
, is because our people see and feel
5 this fact. that they are so generally
e Indifferent to political platforms and
2 organizations.