The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1877-11-15
Personal Politics.

Personal Politics.
When personal politics rise higher than
State politics the public interests are IN
danger, and will likely be very mnca neg
,ec;ed, il not become seriously impaired.
Virginia has at last seen the day when she
has suffered immensely from this cause.
When ambition for personal promotion a"'
nnrsonal benefit becomes very s'rons
a,oorcst nubl;c men the measures OF pupiic
ro,icy arc employed 70 promote TINS a','ui'
fion without especial regard to the PUBIC
,,o,,arc Men in public life form comb'na-
.;ons that arc designed to enure to their ad-
vantage to give them positions that ahoFo
.,,,orumeuts or secure influence and promi-
ncnce for themselves. Measures are re-
cardcd by them with view to their popu-
Iar;ty: and 80 they are likely to please the
masses. i, matters not whether they be wise
and bcscticial to the State or not.
We hardly think any rejecting man Will
disputc the assertion that in great degree
Srs,e po,icy has been studied by our mo-
ders legislators with reference more 10
popularity than TO its propriety or JUS
lice. Never at any former time was there
such passion for public Office in Virginia
and never such an abandonment OF consc!'
enuous scruples as to the ways by which
Office should be acquired.
/. is deplorables There has been shame
lessneSs in the employment OF the methods
for getting into position that people thirty
wears ago did not dream OF as possible.
The chief part Of the agitation and excite"
men, Of the recent campaign in this State
was occasioned by the unscrupulous arts
ard DISSEMINATION OF men debauched by eN-
ccssiye ambition to get into the Legislature.
This is bad for the State. 1t is rapidly
tending to the destruction OF the principle
OF public virtue aud patriotism, and subor-
dlnatng all sense and devotion in reference
20 the public welfare to mere personal am
bi,ion and strategy.
We sometimes feel a hope and sort OF
trust that the approaching Legislature may
be able to make some Roadway against this
tendency OF State affairs. There has been a
sufficient lapse of time to enable us all to
see the evil and the disgusting nature OF
personal partisanry, and 1t may be hoped
that public sentiment may have gathered
strength enough to put some check upon it.
Certainly il this could be done in any State
il ought to be done in Old Virginia. We
dare trust that the mcmbcrS-eiect to the
LEGISLATURE NAV be in frame OF mind to
discountenansc open and unhlushing per-
sonal partiSanry in its attempts to control
State legislation merely for the advantage
OF personal aspirant$. Every man should
address himself to the consideration Of pub
lie measures solely with reference TO the pub
lie good. Any man who could be guilty OF
pro5aning his sacred trust by hendlng pub
lie policy to the advantage OF personal am
bitlon is traitor to the public welfare. and
il nc has any remains OF conscience in his
mind he could not escape his own censures
and modification. Every man should feel
that he Is his country'S defender, and the
slightest intimation that he could outrage his
high obligation by pervertnS his influence
and his vote to any advantage other than that
OF the State be should resent with the pride
and indignation Of a hish-souled Eirginian.
What could we think Of Nirginian who
should hide in il corner or parley IN secret
conclave about bartering his influence and
his vote to secure the advancement OF some
plotting schemcr, 10 be the partisan OF whom
is degradation to which no honorable repre-
sentative OF the Commonwealth can descend.
In history numerous are the examples
that show that when pablo men lose their
public devotion. and employ their talents
and influence in promoting their own pri-
vate objects and personal ambition, the State
is in peril. The schemes, iealousies, and
conflicts that spring up amongst these cor
rupt men have brought disaster upon States
and affections upon people that could not
have flowed from any other cause. In the
crusades the Holy Land, and the cross itself,
was lost Just for the corruptions, personal
jealousies, and riyalries Of the leaders OF the
Christian army.
In Virginia this vicious tendency in pub
lie life has gone to Il fearful extent, and we
tell the people and their representatives that
the best interests OF the State and the virtue
and safety of society demand that it shall be