Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1876-12-02
The Election of U. S. Senator's.
ARTICLE |.
A Sick Nation Requires Statesmen.
BY J. NJ. MASON.

we do not champion any particular candidate.
1t matters not TO tue State nor does 1t concern
us personally who is elected, provided he Is an
| able aud honest gentleman.
! At time like the present, when the country
is bleeding anl the people distressed; when
our prosperity is wrecked and our institutions
threatened when the ship loosened from her
mornings is drifting into unknown and dan
gerous water, it is suicidal to elect ignorant,
selfish and corrupt political tricksters to This
high AMI responsible position During pros
perity. when society is secured, when business
is uninterrupted aud the Nation moves on,
progressing AMI expanding, it is comparative
| ly easy 20 devisa legislation suited to the re-
! qnirements of the occasion, and the pubiic
veal takes but little de;rment from the pres
ence of one OF two une1ucated Den or knaves
in the Senate of the Uaited States. 1t Is true,
in contrast with Bayard, Thurman and other
senators their ignorance and unhtness make
them conspicuous as objects OF commis eratlon
and pity; it is true, sinc5 the State Is judged
and measured by the men we send to Wash
ington, they bring disgrace and discredit upon
the Commonwealth, yet, rs the farmer Will
harness sorry horse when the balance OF the
team is strong and the load is light: so, may
we tolerate Oh imbecile or rascal in congress
when the Nation is in repose and there is no
special need for statesmen. Bat the caiami-
tous situation of this country demands the We
~ first order of educated Intellect, the highest
grade of political ability, the most exalted pa
triotism and the most profound craftsmanship.
When business is lourishing and the usual
course of custom comes to the merchant, be
nav leave his counting-ro1m in charge OF a
clerk, but when trade is spasmodic and preca-
| ,ious the heal Of the house must manage al
fairs in person and be will fail or succeed ac-
cording TO the intelligence and education he
brin gs to his work. Upon precisely the same
pfin cip!e, when the country is in desperate
crisis we should call into the public service men
of learning and intellect.
When sickness invales the family circle we
summon physician. Suppose t,co doctors
are within reach: Que, ignor ant and uutanght,
who has never read book upon medicine aud
whose education ID 80 deficient that he would
not understand il if he did, VINO has passed his
life in different and foreign pursuits the o.
.her, man Of strong mind, who has spent
long years Of study 20 acquire that knowledge
which is requisite 30 deal in,ellgsntly with
disease; which doctor shall we call,-ibe ig-
noramuS or the scholar? To travel a rough
and difficult road with heavy load shall we
take horses that lack strength, muscle and en-
dUrance, or shall we put into harness the best
and strongest animals in the stable?
Never since the adoption of the Constitution
was there greater need OF capacity Tor the
affairs Of goyernment and political learning. Il
is q notorious fact that for more than ten years
past, with few honorable exec ptionS the
| L.. Il Nhn sfsae of ar
best and ablest men, The councils at Wash
ington have lacked craftsmanship. Money.
and not brains; cunning, not honesty; craft,
no, sagac.y; iriokery, not patriotism; pre-
sumption, not leaning have been the elements
of success. Our party leaders have been poll
ticians and not statesmen, and the government
has been maneuyred to advance individuals
and not TO promote the general welfare. Hence
Congress has evaded the decision Of nearly ev-
cry great political problem that has arisen in
the administration OF she government. Our
laws are series of crude devices and make
shifts to meet the isolated demands of indivd-
ua instances Of emergency, rather than sys-
TEN of permanent legislation based upon dis
tinct and wel-de6ned scheme OF governmental
policy which contempla;es the well being of
all parts Of the Union. There ave to-day a
greater number Of vital issues of the most ssu-
pendous importance, waiting TO be decided
than at any period in our previous history
Upon the determination OF these issues depend
the fate Of our institutions and they must be
decided within the next few years.
These questions which pertain TO the future
policy and polty of the country must be elm
ina ted and presented 10 the people as tangible
iss ues. Until they are settled the Nation will
no, regain It's former prosperity Although
the mana gers OF party politics may keep them
out of discussion still the masses are conscious
that there is a wide diversity Of opinion among
those entrusted with the conduct of public bus
mess. Hence 20 one regards any statute as
permanent, or pre,ends to anticipate tie d.
.ection and course OF legislation.
Here is the whole secret of that feeling Of
doubt and insecurity, that unspoken sentiment
Of anxious expectancy which pervadcs the
community 1t may not fnd expression in
logical language, but Il reacts with silent yet
prodigious force upon business energy aud be-
gets stagnation 10 trade Ii affects every one
according to his position in society contract
ing the income of the banker IN his palace, it
curtails the scant earnings OF the orphan who
cries for charity upon our streets And since
uncertainty in politics paralyzes enterprise,
there will be no return to prosperity until cap
tal acquires confidence in the wisdom aud SKA
bity Of legislation. Bot legislation cannot
be firm and permanent unless it proceeds upon
some fixed and definite plan of state policy
yet, it is evident that policy cannot be adopt,
ed while every political problem is held in a.
beyance and that these problems must be ad
iourned during IA intev-regnum of Statesmen.
An incident of recent date will illustrate
this matter and bring these views within the
grasp of the most superficial observer. We
offered a tempting Investment TO Wall street
Banker and his reply exhibits, in a single SEN
tence, the origin and cause Of this general and
continued depression in every branch Of indus
| try: " | do not understand the trouble" said
! he, " but politics are 10 muddle and | will
not do business when cannot estimate the
risks" This gentleman of liberal education,
skil,ful and Informed 10 his particular vocation,
comprehends tina, he does not understand those
| circumstances which disturb society, but he is
taught by intuition that trouble and danger
! Turk in the fogs aud mist of these political
complications Hence he withlraws his mo-
ney from productive industry He has sufi-
cient learning to appreciate thst 10 man can
deal inteli,ently with the perplexities Of our
presen, situation unless be has made these
matters of state policy special study. 1t re-
GuireS one kind of knowledge 20 manage a
saw-mil and another kind Of knowledge to