The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1874-06-11
Political Morality.

..,r Political Morality.
Dr.J.G. Holland, editor of Scr;bner's Montb-
H. is utterly disgusted with the present condi-
ton Of American politics, as most sensible
people are, and relieves himself in this fashion:
We hear great deal nowadays about the
rule of "second-rate men," and There are
many good people who fancy that the country
is suffering from the lack of great statesman
ship among our Lawmakers and the executive
officers of the government. There is measure
of Justice in this Judgment, without doubt, but
it does not cover the ground. There is, at
least, ability enough among these men to carry
on their policy, whatever it may be. There Is
no lack of ingenious subterfuge, far-reaching
intrigue, bold and powerful leading, and per-
sonal influence and public eloquence, TO com
pass any end desired. There is no lack of in
strumentalities to push any approved party
scheme; to forward any special interest; to
advance any sectional policy; to secure the
personal aggrandizement of any pet OF a cabal
litical morality, there seems to be abundant
intellectual ability to carry any desirable
measure. It is not the brains that are at fault !;
it is the heart. 1t is not ability that is want
ing; it is morality.
Have we at the head of the government a
man of high-toned morality "a man whose
supreme desire is to do right 9-who, above all
personal interest, above all party policy, above
all the influence of corrupt men, is exercised
by the dominant purpose to keep his conscience
clear and his hands clean, and to serve his
people with answering integrity? Are the
leaders of our national councils and the men
of influence there, trustworthy men Are
they men who take the straight path of duty
and follow it, irrespective of all the bribes
which power and wealth hold in their hands,
and regardless of all the threats of unprinci-
pied bullies and intriguers We are net call
ed upon to answer these questions; hut all
those who feel compelled to give them mega
tive reply hold in their hands sufficient ex-
PLANTATION of the evils from which the country
suffers to-day. It is not necessary to point to
the Credit Mobilier, or the Salary Grab, or any
of the corrupt schemes by which these men
betray themselves. A low morality among our
legislators and rulers gives. all through, by a
fatal necessity, immoral legislation and i'm
moral administration. If this low morality
exists, every interest of this great country is at
its mercy. All the national questions that
arise must be settled by it. It vitiates the ma
tional policy; it poisons every political meas
ure; it narrows everything down to the limit
of its own party and personal interests.
The people of America richly deserve the
inflietion of all the evils from which they
suffer. From the time Of General Jackson to
this day there has been practically but one
rule in the selection of chief magistrate, and
that rule has been mainly followed in the cleo
ton of our national legislatures. This rule is
known as stavailabity." Each party has put
forward for its leaders, little and large, those
who for any reason seemed likely TO get the
greatest number of votes. In no instance du-
ring this period have we had in the presi-
Dental chair first-class man. Some OF our
presidents have been good, but weak some
have been old political trimmers ;some haveb been
Doors who were the laughing stock of the ma
tions some have been mulish and ignorant.
Certainly no one hasssstood upon an equality
with Washington, Jefferson and the Adamses.
The question of morality is not one with which
our people have concerned themselves at all:
Men have been chosen because they were not
statesmen; because they were unknown, be-
cause they were popular with the rabble;
because they were good soldiers; because they
could get votes. We do not know of one man
during the whole period who has been chosen
because he was Christian gentleman and
statesman, and so above all unworthy motives
in the administration of the duties of his Office
Of the rules that prevail in the election of our
national legislators our readers are goodjudges,
and they know that almost everything else is
considered before morality. There are men of
influence in both Houses of Congress whose
personal characters and histories will not bear
inspection for moment-men with whom no
one can come into association without stain.
Far be it from us to deny the presence of
good men in Congress. There are as. noble
men there to-day as there ever were, but their
influence is mullifed by their bad and unscru-
pulous associates Some of the very men who
are trusted least by the country, and whose
moral reputation is stencil in the nostrils of
the world, are most prominent in the national
councils and most powerful in the direction
of government patronage.
We long ago ceased to expect perfection
in the world of politics, but the duty Of every
honest man to try for it never ceases When
we get honest men in the places Of trust-men
with whom honor is more than money, and
duty more than preferment, and country more
than preferment, and country more than
party, and God more than all, we shall have
wisdom in law and purity in administration.
Personal immortality and wise craftsmanship
can not exist together, and until the American
people insist that their public servants shall be
gentlemen, at the least, they must expect to
suffer at large from the conflicting policies of
selfish and corrupt men.
A QUEER PRoCEEDING.-A Paris CORES
pondent of the London Times relates \ very
curious case which occurred recently in one of
the tribunals of the Seine. M. Guizot, the ven
erable historian and statesman, now in his
eighty year, brought suit against the
Empress Eugene, as guardian of the minor
son of Napoleon III, ignoring the law fixing
the majority of the prince at eighteen, which
age he has reached, not to collect debt from