The Dallas weekly herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1885, 1874-01-03
STATESMANSHIP.

There is no country in the world that
has been more prolific of true states
manship than this country; nor is
there one in which the mere charlatans
of party have been more numerous.
And it is easy to account for the factin
both instances. Under our free insti-
tutions, the people being the source of
all political power, men OF ambition,
whether for high or low places, are put
upon the alert to see what they think
will please the people. Some of them,
moved by motives of high patriotic re-
gard for the public good, with brains
broad enough to comprehend in all
their amplitude great questions involv-
ing the vitality of the government,
walk boldly forward without waiting
to see, by whom they are followed,
clearing the way as they go, asserting
principles and leaving light behind
them. Others fold their arms, sit in
silence at some point of observation,
watch the popular current as 1t flows,
and when they are satisfied that there
is no danger of its turning, leap into
it with shout; swim up abreast with
the foremost men, and, If possible,
ahead of them; claim the first reward
for their services, and too often secure
it at the hands Of deluded people.
The first class we have represented is
composed of statesmen, the second of
demagogueS.
All men are not statesmen, however,
who are esteemed so by themselves and
Others who have accepted their own
assumption of the fact which is not
fact. He who talks little, but learnedly
about governmental matters of grave
import, solemnly draws parallels in the
different histories ofdifferent ages, and
magisterially refers to abstract ideals
in political philosophy as afiording the
only true tests for the truth of doctrines
under discussion, may appear great;
but he is not necessarily so. Such men,
i'm truth, are not only utterly useless in
shaping practicable policy for the
conduct of public affairs, but they serve
to retard the movements softhemachin-
cry they are unable to direct. They
are theorists, dreamers and drones
in politics. They are always fault
finding, because there is nothing suffi-
ciently approXimating perfection to
please them. They are opinionated,
eXacting, precise and so infiexible that
if they must lower their naughty chins
to enter doorway, they prefer to re-
main outside. They brook no opposi-
ton. They are beyond the reach of
argument. They listen to no terms of
compromise. The world must move as
they say it should, or they will not
move with it,
True craftsmanship is.not made of
such stuff. He who has the mind to
take in the situation, in all its length
and breadth and depth, with all 1t sur
roundings, and the heart to do what
the actual interests of the people re-
quire to be done, is the best type of a
statesman. The impracticable politi-
cal philosopher may picture to us on
paper state of things much more de-
sirable, much more beautiful than any
we have ever had. But he forgets that
he has it all to himself in his theory,
and that he must take men as he finds
them, not as he would have them !;
that he may think as he pleases, but
that others will exercise the same priv
ilege.
The statesman who deserves the
name keeps his eye steadily fixed upon
the principles by which he is guided;
but because he is driven from the direct
course by which he would attain his
object he does not give up in despair,
or refuse to go further, but moves on
ward and makes his way as best he
may to the end at which he is aiming.
Demagoglies endeavor to please the
people, regardless of the public inter-
ests. Statesmen endeavor to advance
the interests of the people, regardless
of the artifices of the demagogues to