The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1874-04-30

We hear q great deal now a-days about
the rule CT second rate men )" and there
are many good people who fancy that the
country is suffering from the lack Of great
ttltesn1enship among our lawmakers and
executive ficers or the government. There
J. measure Of justice in this Judgment,
without doubt, but il does not eorsr the
ground. There ia, at least, ability enough
smong q ee. men to carr their policy,
what eyet It h,a9 BE- f,irre Is no hek Of
Ingenious subterfuge, far eaching intrigue
LalI and possrfrtse saiag .and personal in.
haence and public e!oqueEc>, 20 compass
any end desire. There is no lack Of nstru-
meh;alltles to push any approved party
= erne to forward any special interest
{" advance any sectional policy to secure
the personal aggraudizement of any pet of
. cabal Fromtbe low standpoint Of the
prevalent political morally. there seems to
he abundant intellectual ability to carry
any desirable measure. II is not the brains
that are at fault +; i: n the heart 1, is not
ability that is wanting it is morality.
lave ~ at the head Of the government
mans Of hightoned morality "a man
whose supreme desire is to do right who,
above all personal interest, above all party
policy, above oil the influence Of corrun.
men, is exercised by the dominant purpose
{" keep his co7iscience clear and bis lands
ceae, and toserse bis people with answer
y'u@ integrity? Ara the lenders Of our na-
tional councils and the men Of influence
there, trustworthy men Are they men
vino take the Straight path Of duty and
f'Ilow j.. irrespective of all The brides
which power AMI wealth hold in their
hands, AMI regardless Of oil tho threats Of
nnprnciplei bullies and intrisuers We
ar' not cail"i npon to answer these qucs-
irons IN, all those who feel compelled 20
rivr thsn negative reply bold IN their
hands snA cient explanai ion Of the evils
from which tho country suffers to-day.
Ilis not necessary to point ID the Credit
ND hcr. or the Salary Grab, or any Of the
corrupt schemes by which these men betray
themselves low morality among our
legislat5 rs and rulers gives, ali though, by a
fatal necessity, immoral legislation admin.
igtration. IF this lox morality exists, every
interest Of this country is at its mercy
All the national questions that arise
yuu-t be- settled by it. II yitiates the ma
'ionnl policy; it psIsons every political
measure it narrows everything down to
the limit of it's own party and personal H.
torosts.
The people Of America richly deserve
TIN iu1ction Of all the evils from which
tncr suffer From the time of General Jack
-nu to this day there has been practically
lut one rule in the selection Of chief
.naa,.4tr-,n. a-d that rnla has haen manly
followed in tile election Of national legisIa-
'nrel This rue Is knownas ''avai!abil.
'y Each party has pu. forward for its
leaders. l,ttlc and large, those Who for any
reason seem likely 10 get the greatest num-
her Of votes 10 no instance during this
period have we had in the presidential chair
first class man. some of our presidents
have been good, but weak; some have been
old pol teal trlmmcrs; some have been Doors
Who we're the laughing stock OF the ma tons
some have been mu'ish and ignorant
Certainly no one has stood on an equality
With Washington, Jefferson and the
Adarnses. The question Of morality is
not one with which our people have con-
c-rned them selves ut all. Men have been
chosen because they were not state smen; be-
enuse they were unknown beceus they
vere popular with the rabble; because
they were good soldiers because they
could get votes We do not know Of one
nnn during Il e whole period who has been
chosen because he WAS q Christian gentle
man aud statesman, and so above all un-
worthy motives III the administration Of the
duties of his Office. o. the rules that pre-
vail il the election of our national legis]a-
rors are good judges, and they know that al
most everything else is considered before
morality Thcre are men Of influence in
both Houses Of Congress whose personal
characters and histories will not bear in
spection for moment men with whome
no one Gao co ne into association without a
strain.
Far be it from US to deny the presence Of
good men in Congress. There are as noble
mel. there to-day as there ever were, but
their influence is nuiifei by their bad and
unscru1uIous associates. Some Of the very
mcn who are trusted least By the country.
and whose moral reputation is stencil
m the nostrails of the world, are most prom
inrnt in the national councils aud most
powerful in the direction of government
patronage.
We long ago ceased to expect perfection
IN the world Of politics, but the duty Of ev-
" hen VIC gethonest men in the places of
trust men with home honor is more than
money, and duty more than preferment and
codntry more than party, aud God more
than all, we shall hs,'e wisdom IN law and
purify IN RdminIstrat on. personal immor-
nifty and wise statsrna oship cannot exist to-
gathsr, and until the American people
INSIST that their public ssrvents shall be
Gentlemen, at the least they must expect
10 suffer a. large from sheconnicsrng pol
iciss Of selfish and corrupt men.-Dr. J.
q. Holland, Scri6aer' ! or Nay.
ART - versus LAW.