The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1876-10-26
Statesmanship.

In the midst Of the cOmmotlOn
incident to a political campaign, it
is always important, but not always
easy, for the public mind to be di
rected to the question of high
craftsmanship as bearing upon the
candidacy of such campaign. At
such a time the calm observer will
discover that, though politicians be
numberless, statesmen are few; that,
though office seekers are about US
in muItitudinous throngs, among
them even the lantern Of Diogenes
might fail in the search for a states
man. Men are now heard harangue-
ing large crowds upon questions
appertaining to national polity and
public interests with huency that
should argue great proficiency in
craftsmanship; yet it certainly hap
pens not infrequently that these in
structors of the dear people give
utterance to little more than empty
words-words calculated rather to
excite than to instruct. ElIphaz
the Temnite was certainly not the
most cheering of friends to his af-
flicted friend Uz; but he said some
wise, even if not comforting things;
such, for instance, as this: "ShalI a
wise man utter vain knowledge, and
fill his belly with the east wind?
Should he reason with Improbable
talk, or with speeches wherewith he
can do no goodY" Political pro-
ceedIngs certainly can not always
be pronounced free from unprofita-
BILE talk, and in Presidential cam
paigns the land always abounds
in speeches wherewith the speakers
can do no good, and which are little
more than roughly dishing up the
east wind as political food for the
hungry multitude. This is pre-
cisely what tire true statesman
avoids, and just what the dema-
gogue delights in.
1t seems to be forgotten that
craftsmanship is not an amateur
science which any aspiring politi-
clan may master in a day by the
perusal of party platforms and po.
liticaI creeds. Still less is it an at
tainment conferred by inspiration
upon a favored few. What Aristo-
tie said of philosophy may be said
Of statesmanship-"it is the science
of sciences" Such a science comes
to no man by inspiration. The in
hating breath of popular favor has
often made politicians, but it has
never yet made a statesman.
Our republic, with all its lowell
ness, is not paradise Of innocence;
and our people, with all their sterl-
ing qualities, are not angels. Ii
they were, statesmen and statesman
ship would not be so sadly in de
mand. And it is precisely when
most in demand that the public at
tention is apt to be absorbed in mi
nor matters. Surely then it is the
time to exhort the people to look
for craftsmanship among those who
aspire to rule over and legisIate for
the State and the nation.
A great community aiming to
govern itself by ideas rather than
by coercion-by the power of pub
lie opinion instead of the power OF
the swords a spectacle worthy Of
the admiration of every age.
The public mistake and misfor
tune are, that the people have beer
too prone to put notoriety in Office
and neglect. craftsmanship in oul
State and national councils; to al
low men Of small wisdom to repre-
sent them in public affairs and tC
exercise authority in high places
A popular simpleton who has never
done any harm; an industrious ia
natic who has never done any good
the talented rascal who makes mer
chandise Of his political villainy
these and such as these, it must b,
considered, are not the character
to lead the age and guide the desti
) ny of this great country. States
manship must be its warder and it
guide; that craftsmanship that see
in government nothing but what i
F. profoundly practical and pre-emi
nently useful; that amid surround
= ing connections can act wisely ant
well. and that prosperously guide
e public events by wisely conforming
to that Interchangeable law which un
derlie all development and progress
Such craftsmanship is found i
such men as John c. Brown o
Isham @. Harris.
TE;ud yUOrIS