Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1877-07-05
Uses an1 Abuses or Politics.

- eo00sauy 4ooo ot the community,
- been fruitful theme for ph,loso.
.aEs 10 dilate upon. and there Is prob
6awriter od any note who has not
ea NJ pssnciples on whieh'it b
- H. elsses 1o~Aiek n
= 1flsss:s.sss : = sss ss :
80 6sPdrss 10 make himself known,
- By his ability. magnetic influence
and far seeing judgment succeeds in be-
coming leader is considered st sub
ject for public criticism, we end that
the love OF politics has permeated al
most every class of society. 1t is part
OF our national life: il is the pivot round
which all things turn, and even those
who do not make it a study. and who
remain passive and Indifferent to pub
lie affairs, when the commission of
some wrong wakes them from their
lethargy, attribute the evils which
startle them to a detect in politics.
Edmund Burke once observed that
1.-THE very name Of politician is sure
to cause terror and hatred" and al
though we have not yet reached that
condition here, there are many who
have lost the interest they once took in
municipal or national affairs simply
because OF their disgust at the actions
OF those who have made politics a pro-
fessIon, and their belief that they have
been the cause Of that venality and
corruption in the control Of affairs
which have done so much to bring
cities and States into disrepute. That
It is the duty Of every citizen to take a
share in the government Of the coun-
try Is an axiom which will not be dis
puted. And the only question to be
considered is how far they are justified
IN using the detection of others as an
argument for withdrawing from per-
sonal participation in public affairs
themselves, and if they do not BY that
course invite continuance of the very
evils which they would wish to see
suppressed. Lord Macaulay, IN writ
ing to friend in New York IN the
year 1857, used the following Ian
guage: "The day will come when IN
the State Of New York a multitude of
people none Of whom has had more
than half a breakfast or expects to have
more than half dinner, will choose a
Legislature. Is it possible to doubt
what sort of Legislature will be chosen ~
And, although This was written to sup
port the theory that institutions purely
democratic must sooner or later DESTROY
liberty or civilization, or both. vet il
is equally applicable TO our prior as
sertion that the withdrawal OF all in
terest by honest and intelligent men in
the management OF public affairs indi-
rectly brings around their control bv
the very worse elements OF society.
When we consider the conditions whic h
prevail in that city, the debt under
which she labors and the constant
weakening of all the sources of her
power by greed and rapacity, We can
well understand why men of honor and
urobity\ should despair of ever again
seeing a change for the better. And
yet it is equally as plain that if the
power which now expends itself i'm de-
nouncing those who have thus sue
ceeded IN crippling a municipality lad
been utilized at first in trying to sub
vert all attacks upon its credit and
good name, there would to-day have
existed the elements Of prosperity, in
stead of those of decay and ruin.
If the matter be considered quietly
and dispassionately it does not seem to
be incompatible with a mans business
or professional duties that he should
at least devote some little attention 10
politics. By this we do not mean to
imply that branch which is merely de-
voted to trade, barter, intrigue or per-
sonal preferment. 1t is possible for a
men to do good without ever becominy ?
professional politician or an Office
holder. He may not be versed in the
intricacies Of the law, and may be a
stranger to the science OF jurisprudence.
And yet he may understand sufficient
OF the principles which gbvern the adj
ministration ofthe higher and unwritten n
law Of equity, right and justice to
entitle him TO be called upon as an ar
bitter to settle disputes and difficulties.
He may be unacquainted with the
modern pharmacopeia, and vet obser-
sauou aHu experience may nave taugnt
him the use of those simples which ma
ture provides tor her children. and
which are able to alleviate pain and
strengthen weakness. And although
be is not learned in the dogmas Of theo-
logians, his blameIess life and his ideas
OF moral reotitude may fit him to ad-
minister consolation to the suffering
and hope to the spiritually despondent.
So. therefore. although mans igno-
rance of the technics of law, medicine
or theology do not unfit him for being
either physical or moral instructor. it
does not follow that his innocence OF
statecrsft or of the tortuous windings
BY which so many reach TO place and
power render him untitled to take his
true position as a con serrator, howev-
er humble, OF public morals. assisting IN
his own limited sphere TOW ards helping
on good government.
The great danger, however. lies in
this, that when 4 man once enters the
arena Of politics the influences with
which he is begirt are Of such nature
that force ofcharacter and power TO re.