Middletown transcript., 1875-04-03
The Model Statesman.
Lecture by Hon. j. Proctor Knott.

The following extract is taken from
lecture delivered by Hon. J. Proctor
Knott, at the Academy Of Music, Phila.
Monday evening, March 15, 1875:
With the model statesman the great
leading object in life, the one which
concentrates all the energies of his in
tellect, and influences every sentiment
and emotion of his soul, the one, in
fact, upon which his very existence
seems to be hinged, is to get into office
Yet. paradoxical as it may appear, his
modesty is frequently so excessive, SO
utterly and completely overpowering,
especially in our ewn country. that he
uses every possible precautiea to avoid
betraying the slightest evidence of such
an inclination, constantly and almost
irresistibly impelled by an all-control-
ling impulse to exchange the quiet en-
joyment of those soothing and refining
pleasures of private life which he loves
SO we'll and for which he is so eminently
fitted by nature, for the cares and res
possibilities and perplexities Of the
public service. like the .timid maiden
who feeds in secret the delicious yet
devouring fame of her hearts first fond
affection, he ''let's concealment, like
worm i the bud, gnaw on his damask
cheek" until some covert enemy or
overzealous friend, without his know
ledge or consent. ru,hlessly drags his
blushing merits before the public gaze
in a forid eulogy published in some
newspaper over the signature Of "Vox
Populi," MANY Voters. "The Labor
ing Masses" or some such suggestive
name, indicating that down-trodden
and long-suffering people have fixed
their eyes upon him as their last hope
in their dire extremity, or, perhaps,
until some convention, which be had no
agency whatever in packing. put him
forward as the gallant standard bearer
Of his party and the champion Of the
untutored sons of toll or, peradven-
ture, until some immaculate State
Legislature, SO pure that the very de-
mon Of malice itself would acquit it of
the slightest suspicion Of corruption.
thrusts him against bis will into seat
in the Senate, there to toll for six long
years under a grievous load Of public
care snperadded to the crushing weight
Of his own ponderous intellect. And
then, when he is finally called to fill
some position for which his very soul
has yearned for years, which has been
the constant burden Of bis thoughts by
day and the inspiration Of his dreams
by night, what spirit Of humility and
self-sacrifice he exhibits !? How reluct-
ant he seems to assume the RESPONSE
bilities, and how little be appears to re-
gard the honors and smolunents Of the
proffered place! How sincerely and
he regrets that one more
worthy than himself could not have
been found to fill it! Yet, how cheer
fully be submits to pecuniary loss, per-
sonal inconvenience, and the derange-
ment Of bis private affairs when some
great popular emergency requires that
be should immediate himself upon the
altar Of his country's service in some
lucrative and honorable position
The public good is always the
guiding star, the supreme controlling
motive Of the model statesman. 1t is
for the public good be lives and moves
and has his being. For the public
good he consents to burden himself with
an oppressive load Of official cares. and
he would have US believe, no doubt,
that it is for the public good that be
should draw bis salary punctually upon
the day it is due There is one thing,
however, which be has never been
known to do for the public good, from
the earliest organization Of civil govern
ment among men down to the present
time-he has never been known to re-
sign lucrative Office for which he was
totally untitled in every particular.
There is scarcely anything within the
entire range Of human affection which
may not, under certain circumstances,
be surrendered with cheerfulness. Even
life itself is frequently resigned with
pleasure, but an incompetent official,
once in possession Of paying position,
hangs on to it with grim determina-
ton and deathless constancy which
would have added brighter lustre to
the crown Of Christian martyr.
LOVE FOR THE DEAR PEOPLE.
Actuated, as he invariably prsfesses
to be, by pure and unselish devotion
to the public good, no matter under
what form Of government be my be, it
is but natural that in one organized
like cur own, where the dispensation of
place and power depends in a great
measure upon the popular will, the
model statesman should not only mani
fest the warmest regard for the indi-
vidual prosperity and general welfare
Of the people, but the loftiest admira-