The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1874-05-08
POLITICAL MORALITY.

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POLITICAL MORALITY.
We hear 3 great deal nova
days about the rule of second
rate men," and there are many
good people who fancy that thu
country is suffering from the lacl
of great craftsmanship amone
our lawmakers and the executive
officers of the government. There
Is q measure of Justice in thi.
Judgment, without doubt, but il
does not cover the ground. There
is, at least, ability enough among
these men to carry their policy
whatever it may be. There is nc
lack of ingenious subtertuge, fal
reaching intrigue, bold and pow
erful leading, and personal infiu
ence and public eloquence, to com
pass any end desired. There is
no lack of instrumentalities tc
push any approved party scheme;
to forward any special interest;
to advance any sectional policy;
to secure the personal aggrandlze'
ment OF any pet Of q cabal
From the low standpoint of the
prevalent political 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
It is not ability that is wanting;
it is morality.
Have we at the head of the
government a man of high-toned
morality2-a man whose supreme
desire is to do right?-Who, above
all personal interest, above all par
ty policy, above all the influence
of corrupt men, is exercised by
the dominant purpose to keep his
conscience clear and his handa
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 brides which power and wealth
hold IN their hands, and regard
less of all the threats of unprin-
cipled DULLES and intriguers? We
are not called upon to answer
these questions; but all those who
feel compelled to give them a neg
atlve reply hold in their hands a
sufficient explanation of the evils
from which the country suffers to-
day. 1t is not necessary to point
to the Credit Ao6ilieT, or the Sal
airy Grab, or any of the corrupt
schemes by which these men be
tray themselves. A low morality
among our legislators and rulers
gives, all through, by a fatal ne
cessity, immoral legislation and
immoral administration. If this
low morality exists, every interest
of this great country is at its mer-
cy. All the national questions
that arise must be settled by it.
1t vitiates the national policy; it
poisons every political measure;
1t narrows everything down to the
limit of its own party and person
al interests.
The people of America richly
deserve the infiiction of all the
evils from which they suffer-
From the time of General Jack
son to this day there has been
practically but one rule in the Sc.
lection of q chief magistrate, and
that rule has been mainly follow
ed in the election of our national
legislatures. This rule is known
as availability" Each party has
put forward for its leaders, little
and large, those who for any rea.
son seemed likely to get the great.
est number of votes. In no in
stance during this period have We
had in the presidential chair o
first class man. Some of oul
presidents have been good, but
weak; some have been old politi
cal trimmers; some have beer
Doors who were the laughing stocl
of the nations; some have beer
mulish and ignorant. Certainly
no one has stood upon an equality
with Washington, Jefferson anC
the Adamses. The question o
morality is not one with which
our people have concerned them
selves at all. Men have been cho
sen because they were not states
men; because they were unknown
because they were popular will
the rabble; because they wer'
. good soldiers; because they coulC
get votes. We do not know O
one man during the whole perioC
who has been chosen because h
was a Christian gentleman an,
statesman, and so above all un
worthy lnotivee in the admistra
ton of the duties of HIS Office
Of the rules that prevail in tn
election of our national iegisla
tors our readers are good judges
and they know that almost every
l thing else is considered befor
l morality. There are men of in
fiuence in both Houses of Con
2 gress whose personal character
and histories will not besr inspeG
: ton for 8 moment-men wit
whom no one can cene into asso
: citation without q stain.
: Far be it from US to deny tn
presence of good men in Congress
: There are as noble men there Il
IS day as there ever were, but the
: influence is nullified by their ba
and INSCRIPTIONS associate
q Some of the very men who al
trusted least by the country, an
/ whose moral reputation IS q stenc
e in the nostrils of the world, al
i most prominent in the nation
: councils and most powerful in IL
3 direction of government patro
. age.
+ We long ago ceased to expe
n perfection in the world of polite
u but the duty of every honest ms
3 to try for it never ceases. Wh'
&c we get honest men in the places
Is trust-men with whom honor
l. more than money, and duty mo
Z than preferment, and country mo
G than party, and God more ths
@ all, we shall have wisdom in Il
re and purity in administrator
y Personal immortality and wi
n craftsmanship cannot exist I
OF gether, and until the Americ
es people insist that their public 81
N wants shall be gentlemen, at t
N least, they must expect to suf
II. st large from the conflicting pc
Is eies of selfish and corrupt men.
u DR.. j. G. Holland; Scribner's
a May.
it The average Burlington, 10y
OF saloon keeper must be bad indie
lie IaaYnad diviua IN that CiEv