The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1875-08-13
EMPORIA NEWS.
llOEs FOLrrICn PAN:

quaiinc0tlons OF various patriots LOT
the GOvernorship, an Office to be filed
by the people fifteen months Of.
Neither are we surprised to hear
knots Of men upon every hand discuss
ing the SenatOrshIp year and halt
distant. Kansas was born amid pO-
litIcal turmoil. There rushed here am
bilious men from everywhere, to be In
at the division OF offices, and many
have waited till they are heart-sIck for
a favorable stroke OF political light
ming. The early struggle bred q pro-
cession Of statesmen, nearly all Of
whom thought themselves ut for Gov
ernors, Congressman and Senators. A
few were content with Indian agen-
cies. And the people who have come
since, have exhibited wonderful pre-
disposition to the disease. Kansans
take to politics like ducks TO water.
The red-shIrted patriots Of '55 to 80,
could all make speeches, and all want
ed to be captains of the everywhere-tO-
be-fOund companies OF ''tads'' organ
lied TO fight for freedom. Most Of
them were fonder, however, of "shriek-
ing" for tile glorious bird from store
boxes than they were Of lighting. The
delegate convention was their best
hold. They loved it. But alas, the
war made havoc, one way and another.
In the ranks OF the old crowd.
Pnf xvhak fnkandaH IN c.U x.,han
we commenced, was that it has always
been q matter of establishment to us,
in view of the fearful warnings before
them, why so many of our men aspired
to the coveted positions named above.
When We consider the work, worry
and trouble OF getting one of these Of
tices, to say nothing Of the cost In cash,
and OF heldlng them amid the camOr
and abuse heaped upon them after
they are obtained, we are surprised
that so many citizens of the State seek
to trOd the thOrny paths to prcferment.
We do not, to-day, think of a man IN
Kansas who has occupied one of these
positions, aud retired from them with
a reputation worth having. Kansas
has been q hard master on her public
servants, and has consigned them to
ignOminy or Obseurity with n relent-
less hand. Let us refer briefly to the
fate ola few OF our officers, and then
let the asplrant look ut the names and
fate of those who have "gOne on be-
fore" AMI reflect whether IL pays to
seek an Office In Kansas. Charles Rob-
insOn was the first Governor, and
came within niche of being impeach-
ed for misdemeanors. lie Is a man OF
brains, but can't revive. His Secreta-
~ of State and Auditor were driven
from office and the one that survives
has hardly been heard of since. Mar
tin +. Conway, our first Congressman,
is n shabby lOafer in the streets OF
Washington. Jim Lane, after obtain
ing a recollection to the Senate, shot his
brains out, driven to the act, no doubt.
by the strife, ordinations and recrim-
nations of political excitement. SEN
ator POmerOy went to the Senate
twice and went to the bottom In at
tempting a third election. The de-
nOMment Is known to all. Even II the
charges against him were all untrue
and he was as pure as An angel, would
those to-day who love peace, quiet and
happiness and the sacred influences Oi
home, trade their reputation and en-
iOyment for his twelve years in the
Senate. And here troops up from the
ranks of Obscurity, f. G.. Ross, man
slnned against more than slnning, we
know. He Is to-day working as jour
printer. How many of our readers
know that he was ever United State:
Senator? Ross, did it pay you to go u
the Senate, and really and honestly
would you go through your five years
there again for five years of quiet en-
joyment In your present position
Marc Parrot, OF LeaYenwOrth, wen
out of the position of Delegate to Con
gress and has been unabieto rise. W.
are one of those who believed he ough
To have been promoted, but he wa
thrown aside for less worthy men
Years ago Thos. Carney made a mos
excellent Governor. 1t came nea
running him In business, and hattenet
him politically. He was one of th
best officers the State ever had, bat oh
scurity was his fate. 5. j. Craw for
and James NJ. Harvey were each Gov
ernor four years. Not one fourth Q
the people know to-day that the form
er ever occupied the position. TIL
latter furnishes bright oasis In til
desert of failure and Obscurity, an
when an occasion offered he went u
To the Senate. We guess Caldwe
found, In his brief but brilliant career
that office hunting did not pay, and
would probably take an extraOrdinar
inducement to get him to enter Oh
arena again. But we had almost fol
gotten q bright luminary OF our form
er political history. For six years Sic
ney Clark walked up the marble steI
10 the hall Of the house of represents
tives. He strutted his brief day an
then went down, down, until lie WI
politically ruined. He was strong'
than the usual run of Office seekers, bl
the jealousies of political strife be
him, and literally run him out OF KaI
sas politics. This In the prime of h
manhood, and nothing but his II
domitable will and energy will ev
send him up again, and even these ms
not be strong enough to save him.
There IL the array of our politician
and their fate. Who can reflect al
then desire to follow them. Does
pay? The love of power leads me
on. These had their day, and now .
how much power they exert. Kal
sas politics Is . sea which no one nee
desire to sail, unless he has the abili
and true greatness to Outride Il
storms which are sure 10 surrouI
him. Every man who has tried It
far has gone under sooner or later, al
some OF them very deep. The histO
of the American States shows but fe
Instances of men, out of the thOusan
who have entered the whirlpool, WI
have had the power Within themselv
to leave behind them names Wor
havtnO The nnosnSaek Ia nnlv 0Ioom