Knoxville Whig and chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1875-1882, 1875-07-14
" WANTED. A CANDIDATE WHO
Is NOT A CANDIDATE"

metropolitan newspaper, written by
some savant in politics in the en-.
deavor to prove that ANY man who
desires the office of President of these
United States is by reason of that de-
sire necessarily unfit to be President"
the argument of the writer being a
repetition and reiteration o.. that stale
old demagogical assertion that =" the
Office should seek the man, and not
the man the Office A more unrea-
sonable and asinine judgment than
which can not be found.
We are aware that it has come to
be considered by the mass of the peo-
pie that Office seekers are the last
persons to be trusted in office, and
that a great many Of our political of.
fees are filled discreditably by those
who have sought for them unworthilv.
But that it is to be accepted as n fact
that an office OF the character of that
Of the Presidency. or any other, is to
be held as so sacred and holy thing
rs that every citizen of the country is
to VOW in the spirit Of shamefaced-
ness and self depreciation in its ex-
allied presence; and to consid
er it crime to be ambi.
tious for its possession, is an
assumption at once false and dishon-
orable And 1t is our deliberate
opinion that if either proposition is
to be entertained. the converse of the
one thus heralded. which is, that any
man who does not aspire to the office
is not fit for it, is the nearer correct.
Why should it be considered crime
to desire preferment? Is ambition
so unholy sentiment that men are
to be punished for entertaining it by
ostracism? Such views. carried out,
would soon relegate any people to the
ranks of barbarism and eftete stu.
pidity rs people. Does it not fol,
low in reason that a man who desires
preterment and elevation to Office
will seek to perfect himself in the art
of government. and in those en-.
lightenments Of understanding of its
duties and obligations which will
enable him to discharge them we'll
and truly, and in such manner as
shall afford satisfaction to the people,
whose gift the Office is? Or do men
seek office in order to disgrace them.
selves in the exercise of its functions
through ignorance of their nature?
Such an assumption would be the
sheerest nonsense. While on the
other hand, shall it be expected
of men who neither seek nor desire
office, that they shall endeavor to
properly understand the duties and
become better posted in the matter of
the obligations and the best methods
for their discharge of positions they
never intend to fill? All this talk of
men being best fitted for office who
never seek for nor desire such prefer.
ment is the veriest twaddle. and
comes, in nine cases out of ten, from
disappointed Uriah Keeps in politics,
who are always so humble but af.
ter all mighty cunning" and only
waiting for the opportunity to play
the part Of the tippler who wouldn't
touch the vile stuff, never. unless Won
insist and will put little sugar in
ii" and in the indulgence of the hope
} that the insistance may follow. The
best Speaker the House of Represen
tatives ever had was a gentleman
who had the honestv.to ayow that he
had long desired the Office, and had
sat up later Of nights studying par,
liamentary law to qualify himself fol-
the office, years before he was elected
The best rulers the world has ever
seen have been men who were
emulous to govern, and have
excelled because they were SO,
while the weakest and most despica.
BILE have been men who have had
their greatness thrust upon them.
No, gentlemen of the press and
country, let us not be ready to
be trapped with such chaf of
opinion Jas atiirmed) of obscure men.
who hope to reach Office by shouting
such bosh, and applying it to their
betters; but look for a candidate
who is ambitious to excel and emu.