The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1874-06-13

We have our ears sometimes greeted or rather
grated with the expression of desire for leaders
for the party, national, State and county Some
folks have chronic notion that everything de-
ponds upon individuals they are wont to term
leaders in the party. And the most common
mistake that some folks make is that certain in
dividuals are leaders because they hold certain
prominent positions aud consequently it isrequi-
site that all the rest shall sneezs every time these
folks take pinch Of snuff. We are not one Of
those who believe that any position man can
hold necessarily makes him a leader. That man
land that man only-is leader Who leads pub
lie sentiment. he may be in Office or ont OF it,
II the man has the true mould of leader it makes
no difference whether be hold position or not.
He is 4 bad leader who leads public sentiment in
the wrong direction, who educates the public
mind in an erroneous opinion He is a good
leader who points the way to the best and truest
interests of the community aud the country; who
educates sentiment in the direction of the general
welfare. The man who does this may or may
not be in public position. He may or may not
be man of prominence. The private citizen
who, in his immediate neighborhood, talks with
his neighbors and gives them information upon
public topics and directs their sentiments in the
right channel, does more to mould public opinion
than that member of Congress whom some folks
would call leader-who, rabbit-like, has his
political eyes stretched 10 their fullest tension to
discover what be can dscernin his future that
may trouble him, aud his political ears peering
timidly and anxiously back into the arena of bis
constituency to hear what they are likely to say
about his speech upon this bill or his vote upon
that one. That constituency-and that one alone
lis in a healthy condition politically that are
their own leaders. The people in the aggregate
may be slower in working out correct conclusions
upon the finance or the tariff than certain gentle
men who are thrown in associations where they
get frequently the advantage of comparing ideas
working up others opinions and calling them
their own. But when they have worked out that
conclusion it is more likely to be right than the
other fellows who has been comparing ideas and
agonizing himself to make his notion fit what he
thinks will meet the approval of the majority -
He sometimes makes a mistake in guagng public
sentiment congressman are presumed to be the
leaders of sentiment in their districts. We are
sacere in the belief that majority of the present
House of Representatives misrepresented their con-
stituents in their votes on the finance BILL Many
of them we believe to be followers instead of
leaders of their constituents.
- ne
spect for themselves should not accept without
investigation the dictum of any man. They
should listen to his original ideas if he have any,
and adopt or reject them as they see the common
welfare advanced or retarded thereby. Every
people can and should be the masters of them
selves AID those they may select to represent
them in positions, creator small. We don't be-
lieve in tie leadership Of any but the intelligent,
manly sentiments of the masses.