The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1873-09-09
A StatesmaD's Call for Statesmen.

where, and especially here. | refer to
the arrangement Of class of preliminary
studies especially adapted to the prepara-
tion of young men to take an efficient
part in the treatment of difficult questions
connected with the management Of pub.
lie affairs 1t is not denied that the roll
Of the university bears the names of many
graduates who have served their country
with honor to her and to themselves, un.
der various circumstances of grave re-
sponsibilty. But even these examples
appear to me, generally, to prove that
the training which they acquired by slow
degrees in after life. often incidentally
in connection with a a profession not al
ways calculated to secure the best or the
most complete results, might be
much more effectively commenced here,
aud prosecuted independently afterward
There are many ambitious young men all
over the country, and the number grows
every year, who need and who would
grace just such an occupation
1t has indeed been often urged as an
objection TO this course that however the
case might be elsewhere, there is no de-
pendence to be placed in America upon
public life as career. Where the sole re-
lance must be upon popular favor, the
means to which persons are compelled to
resort in order TO secure it are often SO
repulsive that no man of nice sensibility
can long submit to use them without self
degradation. Besides which, even under
the most favorable aspect of circumstances
there is liability incurred of sacrificing
more or less Of honest convictions to the
dictatorial spirit of party, which cannot
fail, sooner or later, to undermine the
spirit Of independence. 1t is objected to
me that experience proves the greater
portion of the people to prefer superb.
cal pretender who has learned nothing
but the art of iugratiating himself,to any
man Of superior accomplishment and ele-
waited character, who knows no DISCUSSES
and scorns making bargains. Hence l
have often heard it maintained that one
Of the results of our present system of
government is, in measure. the exclu.
sion IRON public Lille OF the highest talent
and character, and the substitution of q
class Of persons little fitted for great re.
sponsibiity, either by capacity, acquire
ment or morals, and possessing only an
acuteness, improved by long.continued
practice, to scent out the popular inclina.
ton of the hour, aud SO 20 shape their
conduct as to secure the best chance OF
benefit from it to themselves. Thus it is
concluded by some that steady tendency
to degenerate is SO perceptibe in the ad.
ministration of public affairs that it is
not worth the while of any young man
who aspires to high standard of excel-
lence to think of vepturing in so desper.
ate Il pursuit.
| have listened often to much of Just
this sort of reasoning, but, l frankly con-
fess, with very slight inclination to yield
to its soundness. If the effect be, as it
is alleged, the existence of a considerable
amount of rosnrvad Powor,now lying dor
mant in the country, because excluded
from all opportunity Of a career by these
alleged causes, all that | can say in reply
is, that, if fault there be, must lie with
those who decline to develop their quail.
ties more palpably to the public eye, rath.
er than with the community at large for
not properly appreciating them. There
is such a thing as being so fastidious
about means as never to be able to reach
IA practical end. There may likewise be
Il form of constitutional sluggishness
which covers an aversion to the labors
and obligations incident to successful ex.
ertion under the guise of want Of oppor.
tunity. My own conviction always has
been, aud still is, that under no system
Of government now known is there moro
} full and free opportunity given to all, in
! whatever condition of life, use.ully to
, develop every natural or acquired power
r they may possess, as in none is there q
, more ready inclination on the part of the
public to appreciate both services and
character. And, if this proposition be
] admitted, then | should say, still further
} that in no place should the means Of de-
. Teloplng such powers be more abundant
! y supplied than in our universities OF the
AiShSoh Cldss.
t In saying what | have, let me not bt
b. misunderstood. Ii the purpose of this la
'orlous preparation be merely desire tc
, obtain this or that hign official position
c in the state, then will the pursuit doubt
!, less be attended with more or less severe
disappointment. Success or failure il
y reaching definite objects in life, we al
0 know, depends upon such an infinite var
n iety OF contingencies wholly beyond oul
i control, that no man is wise in riskipg hi
! hopes of usefulness upon any narrow
chance of fortune.
! should feel myself to be very mucl
r 5ellttling the accommodation ventur,
to make to my young friends to cultivat,
| taste for state.lnanship of the wides
0 scope, if ] wora to associate IL IN genera
e With the hope Of getting into power. No
v yet do | mean to 90 so far as to under-at,
h thar object, considered as Il means of de
It velooing innate force to purposes Of good
IS | quite concur in the wisdom of Lord Ba
e con when he says that such power i
:, the true and lawful end Of aspiring fo
d gool thoughts, though God accept them
(, yet toward men are little better thai
gool dreams, except they be put in act
d and that cannot be without power an,
IF place as the vantage and commandin,
l. ground" | should, however, venture t
y question the exclusive feature of the con
ID ditbn. | agree that power and place ar
RS " vintage aud commanding ground" bu
W | would 60 on further. On the contrary
st it mas for some time past appeared +
J. beone OF the wants of the time and tn
" country, that of class of persons bre
IS. incur largest institutions of learning
ms fited to be exponents of doctrine u tn
&c. slence Of government aud OF natural an
i'll International law, though with very SCI
ly oDiary view to the casual acquisition {
It. nice III not IN amselves nossass;no Al