The Weston Democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1875-current, 1875-03-29
COSGREssMEx OUT OF BUSINESS.
An AuecdOIC Of IIHeolp-TLr Old Member
to be Provided for.

An AuecdOIc Of TInralp-TLr Old sIembeu
Iabc Provided for.
The number Of gentlemen who wen
members Of the last United States Con
gress, and who were not elected to tlt
next, is very large. During the admin
istration Of President Lincoln Senator
from Western State calledat the Whit
House to present his successor, who WI
to take his place in the Senate Chambtl
within few days, The President re
ceiyed the newcomer cordially, and sail
he was always glad to welcome to Wash
ington new men, fresh from the people
"And yet, " he added, with a doloruui
expression, 81 don't know that can
say quite that sinccforevery new friend
l receive / have an old friend who has 10
be taken caro- Ola sort Of lame duck,
You know" This was n pretty broad
hint to the outgoing Senator; but II did
not prevent him from applying for bu,
reau in one Of the departments within 4
week.
To m average ex.Congroasman, says
the New York Times, life among his
constituents in simply intolenhle. HI
is no longer the little magnet of his dis.
trict to whom flock siiitors, hat in hand
and eager for iayos, With human
iicklenGss, his old admirers turn their
faces toward the now Representative
they are no longer his constituents, Of
whom BIO spoke proudly when he nd.
dressed the nation through the columns
OF the Congregational Record; aud an.
other. man supplies them with public
documents and garden seeds. He would
like TO be "let down easy" IL he must
return to the dizziness Of his own place
One or two terms in Congress must un.
1T him for the old pursuits, It will take
him long to be used 10 the new order OF
thing. In Washington he spent most Of
his time in marble palace, waited on by
obsequious servants, his errands run by
pages who came at the clap Of hishands,
his personal convenience and comforts
ministered unto at the national expense.
And, even il he were indifferent 10
the sweets Of office, he lived in o stirring
and hndling mental atmosphere; II he
had any wits at MI, they were sharpened
and exhilanted by daily contact with
bright mon. Is itany wonder that he
does not want to go back to the dull
round Of his native village or inland cityl
Somehow, a foreign mission is thought
to be the best refuge for Congressional
flame duck" to quote Lincoln's epithet.
There nre not many Hrst.nte places at
home, and these are usually filled by
local politicians, or, what is worse, BY
men whose removal would make great
popular cutlery. Many a Congressman
seems to think TINT his service in the
House, where he Inns made Tor printed
speeches, voted on bills, and hunted
offices for his constituents, has peculiarly
fitted him for the exercise OF diplomatic
talents i'll q country Of whose location on
the mp he is uncertain, and whose
language Is to him sealed book. II he
regards foreign appointment as any.
thing more than IN absolute sinecure, lie
thinks he is "smArt enough to get ahead
Of them foreigners" even il he does not
speak their language. A frst-class
foreign mission is his objective point
he glides down the scale under the force
Of circumstances, What miner would
call "tho tailings" Of tho mass Of Con.
gressmon out Of business drift into
clcfkships, claim agencies, and the
lobby.
We have no privileged class Of Office.
holders in this country. With some OK.
captions, ex.Congressmcn make tho ouly
caste which resembles that Of other m.
tons. Washington is siren which
charms even the wisest. Not every
senator and Representative who has
spent few years there has tho dignity
or self.respect which sends himpleasant.
ly back to his old calling and his own
fellow.citizens. This is great pity: for
bright, sensible man who has come
out OF Congress unscathed and blame.
less ought to DO better citizen and .
moro intelligent leader Of public
opinion for his experience. The country
cannot afford to lose his services and in
tiuence. Even II he has accomplished
no great thing in Congress, Il is a waste
Of promising material to bury him in thu
United States legation at 1cllnboe, the
consulate at Flor del Fuma, or in the
classmates Of the Interior department nj
Washington. From the host Of men
who went out Of office at the end Of the
Forty-third Congress, there were many
who returned TO their constituents and
took up the old thread Of life without
any scnsc of defeat, 1t would be bet
ter for the country, and for OK. Congress.
men, il there were more such. We can
imagine that the heads of tho govern
mont profoundly wish that there were
fewer hanging about Washington, whit.
ing for something, and making life n
burden to themselves mud others.