Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1874-10-01
POLITICS.

In the early history of the world, the inhab
itants mostly settled in cities. For this there
were various reasons. At first, children set
tied around their parents. This continued
until the number of families became very
great In order to protect themselves from
the invasion of similar settlements, they re-
mained in this city organization. The gov
ernment of these cities become matter OF
great Importance. Men of talent and learn,
ing devoted their whole time to the subject
From this circumstance modern nations have
borrowed the word "Politics," which literally
means managing a city; but is now used to
denote the science of government.
In our country, at the present time, it is
very difficult to decide what the word politics
does mean. Every man, woman and child is
a politician. The beardless boy talks politics
at the corner of the streets, in the cars and
at the gay party. Gray-headed sires talk
politics around the freside to their children,
and at church on the Sabbath day. Men Of
reputed learning and men of no letters at all
seem to be equally versed in the science Of
government. The thing is simply ridiculous
Either the science of government is so simple
as to be easily comprehended by the most ig'
norant, or large number of our people are
stultifying themselves in the eyes of the world
A learned physician once said that it seemed
to be passion with the Americans to have a
professional character in every family. II
the family had boy who was moral, he was
educated for preacher if he was very smart
and not moral, he was educated for the law
but if neither preacher nor a lawyer could
be made out of him he was put to reading
medicine. 1t seems that just now everybody
is wanting some office, and the office that any
and everybody can fill is that of legislative
The world has recently, and in some myste'
rious way, made great advancesin this respect
Men feel themselves competent to make laws
who have no idea of what the word law means
This reminds US Of young chap who took
charge of an agricultural paper. His first
editorial was to the effect that turnips should
be pulled off the trees and not shaken down
lest the fall might bruise them. An old far
mer was passing by his office shortly after the
paper was published. He stepped in and in
ouired if he were the editor of the paper
The young chap said he was, and very polite
ly inquired what he could do for him
"Nothing," said the farmer, 81 only called to
ask if you wrote that editorial OH the gather
ing of turnips." 81 did," was the response,
with a feeling of pride that something great
had been done. The next week the same edi'
torial was repeated with the addition that
thousands of bushels of turnips were annual
ly destroyed by shaking them off the trees
The farmer called again and remarked, 81 see
you repeat your advice about the gathering
of turnips." "Yes," said the editor, Il have
no doubt those two editorials will save the
country large sum of money" "No doubt
of it at all" said the farmer. This brought
the young chap to his feet. He just spread
himself on turnips in particular, and every
thing else in general. The old farmer listened
patiently until he got through and then he
arose to leave. Just as he was taking his
leave of the young editor, he asked him if he
knew that turnips grew in rhe ground and not
on trees. The green editor had been making
a fool of himself to the merriment of all SEN
sible men. Just so it is with multitude OF
our would-be Legislators. They are exposing
their ignorance, not, however, to the merrl'
ment of the country, but to its ruin.
The mania for politics has robbed the coun'
try of some good men. Iti pity but some
thing would convince our people that they
are not all born statesmen. 1t would be an
evidence that people were returning to their
senses. At present, there are two things that
every one feels perfectly able to do-go to the
legislature and teach school. This indicates
one of two things. Either we are very in
fools