The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1877-04-14

In the chronicles of Esop is recorded
the experience of worthy peasant who
had donkey to SELL With the purpose
Of disposing Of the animal he set forth for
the market town, accompanied by his little
son. As a considerate father would, he
placed his son on the beast and trudged
along himself by his side in the most faith
erly aud selfapprOving manner. "HoW
cried the first man they met "this is
dntiful son, to be sure, who rides while his
old father walks !" Anxious for public
approval, the father and son changed
places, aud then the barbarity of the father
was censurcd, because he rode and allowed
the tender feet Of the boy to encounter the
fipts. Then the father dismounted, and
the three walked along together. The
next comment was "Well, its quite time
your sold your beast If you have not sense
enough to use him while you have him"
The father then remounted and took the
son up behind him. The next conner
wished them JOY of their sale If they meant
to break the creatures back with such a
load before they took him to market. In
despair, the puzzled couple finally hung
the donkey by his four heels on u pole and
then marched to market-literally making
the beast a burthen So they reached
that climax Of absurdity to which anybody
may attain who strives to please everybody.
Poor advice is very cheap, aud is liber-
ally rendered, and especially by those who
lose nothing in any event by the gift, hav-
ing no responsibility, but who may gain
largely, if il is followed, at the expense of
him who follows it. Criticism, and espe-
cially ignorant criticism, is just as cheap.
To the fair and impartial expression Of
opinion, however, upon public men and
matters, there can be no objection, on the
contrary honest comment is freeman's
duty. And it is also his discipline; since
to be able to speak impartially man must
understand what he is talking about. To
be thus qualified he must become versed
in history, and in polities-properly so
called. And his opinions must be guided
by principle, not by personal preference,
personal dislike, or partisan feeling He
must also not be averse to praise where
praise is due, though it be due to one who
is not of his own party afiiliation.
1t is to be remembered, too, that the
man in any responsible public position
must choose between measures and between
men; and to choose one thing is virtually
to reject another There is no such thing
possible as pleasing everybody, for the
very essence of government is the action
of an umpire. To decide in favor Of one
thing or one claimant, or one policy, is to
decide against all others, or at least to put
them in allegiance; and he who has no set
tied purpose does not act-he only drifts.
Whoever accepts Office in free country,
whether the position be the highest or the
lowest or anywhere between, whether ju-
dicial, legislative, administrative or minis
terial must prepare himself for objections,
unasked, and expect commentator only
when he clearly earns it, whether the pur-
chase be premeditated or undesigued. OBJ
jections he viii find in abundance; com
mendation is quoted high or to be had on
terms (as they say in Third street, not
made public. Meanwhile the great con-
stituency, the people, whose interest is
more in national results than in the per-
sonal claims Of those who directly produce
them, look on quietly while things are not
absurdly wrong, and complacently while
ordinary life keeps its channels There
is more than art-wisdom--in Sidney
Smi,b's da6n;t;on oc n s,ood ,,oyornr,o,t