The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1874-06-30
Friend At,er Friend Departs.

tits said that Judge Wilson, of this state,
returns home from congress utterly dis
gusted with public life, and determined to
take no further share in politics. Dawes, of
Massachusetts,, has declared his intention
not TO run for congress again, and George +.
Hoar, of the same state, has published a card
in which he proclaims that he win not allow
his name to be used i'm connection with any
Office whatever Is there no significance in
such facts rs these? There was time when
It wss considered an honor to take part in the
management OF the affairs of the nation. 30
great that few would willingly forego
IL. The best faculties of mans mind were
called into constant and vigorous activity in
the public service; and the greatest abilities
had opportunities in it for the accomplish
ment of the greatest good, thus realizing for
the statesman the Grecian philosophers
definition of true happiness. If the best
men of the country are retiring private
life, it may be inferred with tolerable GER
tsinty that public life has ceased to give
them those opportunities for honest and
manly action for which true mans am
bition strives. Such contingency can only
arrive when corrupt men obtain the chief
places in the administration of the govern
ment, and use their power for indi-
vidual advantage rather than for the general
good. Such periods Of political degeneracy
are not rare in the history of the world; aud
by every sign of familiar infsmy, il is clear
that we are in the midst of one of them Leg
islation is bought and sold, almost every
Office is purchasable, and public position is
made a means Of enjoyment rather than a
place for laoor. 1t is an era like that In
which Walpole ruled England, by money,
and on the maxims Every man has his
price," and 81 never knew a woman refuse
money but one. and she took jewels" When
such spirit exists in high places, virtue
shrinks from the public service, where res
the only reward to be had in
the management of affairs. An
honest man in company with a set
of knayes under such circumstances is in
deed in pitiable condition, for he can
neither share the plumber nor prevent the
robbery, while ne is condemned for the COM
psny he keeps. 1t is common in such an
party to withdraw into opposition or into
private life. There is consequently ali
ebbing away of ability and honesty from the
administration, but the return of the tide in
due time is sure. 1t is not necessary, in il
Illustrating the incompetency and dishonesty
ofthe republican party as it now exists, to
point to the detected frauds and criminal
Of xvbi hos x-aI
guilty. more startling proof of its
is afforded by the
fact that such men as Sum-
ner. Seward, Chase, Schurz and. Greeley
deserted its ranks, and that others like Judge
Wilson, Mr.. Dawes and Mr.. Hosr throw up
their commissions and withdraw from active
service. 1t can hardly be said in explana-
ton of the retirement of such men that they
consider the work to be done of compare
lively little Importance, or that they with
draw from WEAKNESS in doing good rather
than from lack of sympathy in the works of
iniquity. Neither can it be urged with any
show of truth that the abuse of the press
has driven them from the political arena to
the sanctuary of private life; for they be-
long to that class of men who have escaped
newspaper censure to great extent, and
many of the politicians whom the
press mas attacked still stubbornly maintain
their positions. The simple fact of the mat
ter is that the best men of the party are
withdrawing from participation in public
affairs from disgust at the dishonesty and
Encouragement of the administration.
When they next make their appearance it
will probably be in the cause of a better |
government.
A rch fleet and OntracIsr as Homfefdes