The New York herald., 1876-03-19
lesson for Lent-sTnnuence-
society and Politics.

One OF the singular developments OF the
sad time upon which we have fallen is the
high price demanded for social and political
influence. 1t is a question worth con-
sidering, in this Lenten time, when, if we
are not above the admonitions Of the season,
we do well to look after our shortcomings
as people In the earlier days of the
Republic, before we thought of centennial
celebrations or post-trade stores for
friends" or third terms for q President,
the only qualities for which professional
men sought compensation were industry,
integrity and learning. Men rose be-
cause they were men. Statesmen were
content with their salaries. Lawyers like
Emmett and Pinckney earned fees by hard
work. Secretaries of the Treasury like
Hamilton gave their days to the public
and sat up all night. as we learn
from Taleyrand, to earn bread for
their children. Such men as John Quincy
Adams did not hesitate to become college
professors, and a Macon left the halls of Con-
gress to 60 back to his farm and live on his
harvests. We do things differently. When
our public men have no other career they
cultivate Influence" Sometimes it assumes
an epicurean shape, as the world has
been informed by that classical statesman.
Sam Ward. Sometimes it consists in the
knowledge of those games of skill in which
our ex-Minister to the Court of st. James
has attained worldwide fnme Some
times q yacht is oil that is required, as
the great gun-burster Wizard has shown in his
dealings with the Secretary of the Navy
Sometimes it is found in the possession of
those qualities which adorn drawing room
and drive away the ennui of long sea trip,
as in the case of "Gentleman George" Pen
dleton. Sometimes it is in having friend in
the Treasury Department, as when Ben But
Ter found Richardson who would approve
the bills ofa Sanborn Sometimes it is an old
army association on the Plains as Ingalls,
learned to his advantage when Meigs was
sent away like another Uriah, in order that
he might work his will upon the Quarter
masters Department. Sometimes 'infu-
ence" comes in the shape of brotherly love-
as Brother Orville is busily engaged in ex-
planning to examining and cross-examining
Congressman.
Sometimes we have the value of Gin
fuence" as the means of increasing ones
honest income at the Bar, as many eminent
members of the Bar Association find in
obtaining references and receiyerships.
Sometimes it is an advantage to have
access to the columns of a newspaper,
as the records of our courts will show.
Our whole government is permeated by the
vicious system of influence. 1t gave US
judge the other day when we had a gentle
man nominated to the Marine Bench who,
although his claims had been vetoed by an
overwhelming majority, was strong enough
in his ''infuence" over an affectionate
Governor to obtain what the people denied
him. Influence reigns in Washington, at
Albany and around our City Hall. How
much better it would be if we could
only come back to the time when all men
were equal before tho law and in every
branch of the government. Young men
coming into public life may say, and truly,
that there is no use of study or ability or
diligent labor to acquire opportunity when
a whispering courtier or favorite lounger
about an editorial room, or a simpering
drawing room favorite may achieve so much
more than is possible to the greatest ability.
The whole business is rotten, rotten to the
core.
This would be an interesting theme for
Brother Moody, if that popular evangelist
could be induced to give us Lenten dis
course on mere worldly affairs. The bane of
al ;,,t tla
likes and dislikes sway the decisions of cabi-
nets and legislatures. When Mr.. Kerr be-
came Speaker his first thought was to reward
those who had been "true to him." AS a
result we have had o Committee on Ways
and Means which gives the Senate nothing
to do a Committee on War Expenditures
which br ngs a War Secretary to the bar of
the Senate under charges, and sends away
the witnesses necessary to condemn him;
Committee on the Judiciary, which knows
little about law. If fitness, merit,
party standing rather than ''inhu-
ence' had controlled the mind of
Mr. Kerr we could have had an effective
House. The democratic party in the House
is rich in men of capacity. They unfortu-
nately lacked the influence" They knew
not the ways by which Morrison and Knott
arose. SO cronies are showed to the front,
legislation drags and the interests of the party
and the country suffer. The same is seen in
our own dark lantern Tammany Hall. When
John Kelly came into the control of that
powerful organization the democratic party
was at his feet. He had only to call to his
side the men of character and experience
with which it abounds. Old divisions would
have been healed, bad men would have been
expelled, Tweedism would have been de-
stroyed. But Kelly was abreast of his time
Il