The Weston Democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1875-current, 1876-12-18
THE ELECTION OF U. s. SESA.
TORS.
ARTICLE |.
A Sick Nation Requires Statesmen,


az - " FfHeS"s
Our people should be awakod to the
Importance Of tlectiug to the Senate Of
the United States two gentlemen who
arc trustworthy and capable.
We desire it to be distinctly under
stood that NO do no. champion any
particular candidate. 1t matters not
10 the State nor does il concern US
personally who is cl,oted. provided he
is an able and honest gentleman.
At time like the present, when the
country is bleeding and tho people dis
Iresscd when our prosperity is wreck
ed md our institutions threatened /;
when the ship lOoscned from her moor
iugs is drifting into unknown and
dangerous water, it is suicidal to elect
Ignorant selfish and corrupt political
tricksters to this higa and responsible
position. During prosperity, when
'ciety is secured, when business is
uninterrupted and the Nation moves
on progressing and expanding. it is
comparatively easy to deyisc legisla-
ton suited to the requirements Of the
occasion. and the public veal takes
but little detriment from the presence
Of ono or two unedacatcd men or knaves
in the Senate Of the United States 1t
is true 70 contrast with Bayard. Thur
man and other senators their ignorance
aud unftness make them conspicuous
as objects Of COMMUNICATION and pity /;
it is true. since the State is judged aud
measured by the men We send to Wash.
ing,uu, they bring disgrace and dis
credit upon the Commonwealth, Jet,
as the farmer will harness = sorry
horse when the balance Of the team is
strong and the load is light SO may
we tolerate an imbecile or rascal 10
Congress when th, Nation is in repose
and there Is 40 special nc cd for states
men. But the calamitous situation Of
this country demands the very FIRST or.
der Of educated intellect, tho highest
grade Of political ability, the most ex-
alted patriotism and tho most profound
stAtesmanShrp
When business is fourishing and
tho usual course Of custom comes to
the merchant, be may leave his coun.
,ing-room in charge Of q clerk, but
when trade ID spasmodic and prccsri-
Gus the bead OF tho house must man.
age affairs in person aud be will fail
or succeed according to the intelligence
aud education he brings to his work.
Upon precisely the same principle.
when tho country is in a desperate
crisis We should cali into the pubic ser.
vice men Of learning aud intellect.
When sickness invades the family
circle We summon physician. Sup.
pose tro doctors are within reach =
one, ignorant and untaush.. who bui
never reada book on medicine and
whose education isso deficient that he
would no. understand it it hc did,
who has passed bis life in different and
foreign pursuits ;-the other a mar
!. Of strong mind, who has spent long
years Of study to acquire that knowl-
edge which is requisite to deal intclli-
gcntly with disease; which doctor
shall We call,-tbs ignoramus or the
scholar ? TO travel rough aud diff
cult road with a helvy load shall we
take horses that lack strength, mus
Gle and endurance. or shall we put in
to harness the bOst and strongest ami.
mails in the stable?
Never since the adoption Of thu Con.
stitution was there greater need oil
capacity for the alfairs Of government
aud political learning. It is notori.
Gus fac, that for more than ten years
past, with a few honorable exceptions,
the country has not received the Eervi.
cos of htr best and ablcst men. The
councils at Washington have lacked
Craftsmanship. Money and not brains
cunning. not honesty; craft, not sa.
gacity trickcry, not patriotism Pre-
sumption. not lea rniug have been the
elements Of success. Our party lead.
ers have been politicians and not states
mea. and the Government has beef
manpurred 10 advance individuals and
not to promote the general welfare.
Hence Congress has evaded the deci,.
ion Of nearly every great political
problem that has arisen 10 the admin.
istration Of the government. Our laws
are a series Of crude devices aud make
shifts to meet the isolated demands OIL
. individual instances Of emergency
rather than 4 syStsm Of permansn,
legislation basel upon distinct and
vell.defned scheme Of governmental
policy which cou.enplates the we'll be-
Ing Of al parts Of the Union. There
aie to-day greater number Of vital
issues Of tho most stupendous impor,
tauce, waiting to be decided. than al
any period in our pre- tiOus history
Upon the determination Of these issuel
depend the fate Of our institutions and
they must DO decided within the next
few years.
These q uessions which pertain to The
future policy Of the country must be
eliminated and presented to the people
as tangible issues. Until they are set
tied the Nation will not regain its for.
mer prosperity. Although the mana
gers Of party politics may keep them
out Of discussion. still tho masses are
concious that there is wide diversity
Of option among those entrusted with