The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1876-10-03
StateSmanShin Wanted 4.

notion incident to a Presidential elec-
lien, it is always important, but not
always easy, for the public mind to be
directed to the question OF high states
manship as bearing upon the candidacy
Of such political campaigns. Under the
excitement of partisan rivalry and the
stings Of personal yituperation, the pub
lie mind is apt to be the least, just when
It should be the most, attentive to the
high calling of craftsmanship, and the
selection of statesmen to instruct the
oeople and to direct the destinies OF the
commonwealth. AT such times the calm
observer will discover that, though
politicians be numberless, statesmen
are few; that, though office holders and
office seekers be about us in multitudin-
Gus throngs, amongst them even the
lantern of Diogenes might fail in the
search for a Statesman.
In seasons like the present, men are
everywhere heard haranguing crowds
Of other men upon questions appertan-
ing to national polity and public inter-
ests with a fuency that should argue
great proficiency in statemanship. Yet
it certainly does sometimes happen that
these instructors of the people give ut
terance to little more than empty words;
words calculated rather to excite than
TO instruct, to darken counsel rather
than to illuminate reason. Eliphaz the
Temnite was certainly not the most
cheering of comforters to his afflicted
friend, the man of Uz. He neyerthe-
less said some wise things, even If not
comforting; for he said: '@Shall 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 good?'
Political proceedings certainly can not
be pronounced free from Improbable
talk, and in Presidential campaigns the
land abounds in speeches wherewith the
speakers can do no good, and which are
little more than delicately dishing up
the east wind as political food for the
multitude. This is precisely what the
what the demagogue delights in.
1t seems to be forgotten that states
nanship is not an amateur science which
any aspiring politician may master OF a
summer afternoon by the dreamy perusal
Of party platforms and political creeds.
Still less is it an attainment conferred
by inspiration upon any favored few. 1t
may be said of Craftsmanship as Aris-
tOtle said of Philosophy-'it is the sci
Rnce Of the sciences" Such science
comes to no man, be he priuee or
politician, by inspiration. 1t was the
mantle of prophecy, not of statesman
ship, that diyinelY fell upon the shonl.
hers OF successor. The initiating breath
6popular favor hath, in many instance,
made politician; it never yet hath
made Statesman.
Our Republic, with all its loveliness,
10 not paradise Of innocence; and our
people, with all their sterling qualities,
are certainly not angels. II they were,
statesmen and craftsmanship would not
be 80 sadly in demand. And it is pre-
uisely when most in demand, when the
management of the Government is to be
entrusted to new hands, that the public
attention is apt to be diverted to other
questions, and to be absorbed in the
MINOR matters of party ascendency.
Surely then 10 the time to exhort the
political soyereigns of the country to
look for craftsmanship among those who
aspire to rule over and legislate for the
people of the nation.
Our political system, it is said, is but an
experiment; and all philosophy teaches
that an incomplete experiment proves
nothing. But, are we never to get
beyond this experimental condition.
Is our craftsmanship to resolve itseli
into nothing more than an infinite
series Of expedientss To those de.
vices known as political expedients," )"
true craftsmanship attaches little faith
and yet they constitute the whole creed
of the mere politician. To the poli-
tieian, anything is expedient that pro-
notes s''neess' to the statesman moth.