The Republican journal., 1877-06-14
The Definition Of Politics.

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are requested to forward the sums due.
The Definition of Politics.
There is an inclination among many
otherwise we'll informed people to con-
found politics with mere office seeking
and to hold politician to be one who
has no other aim than by small arts to
raise himself to some place, and to real
ize its pay and perquisites This is far
Ultimate sense, deals with all the affairs
of government. We like the exposition
given OF this matter by the intelligent
editor of a leading western paper. He
says that, concisely stated, politics is the
''science of government" In Il govern
ment like that Of the United States the
duty to study politics is imperative, for
the theory is that it is a government of
the people, by the people and for the peo-
pie. This duty applies to municipalities
as we'll as to states and the general gov
eminent. Instead of degrading the stu
| dent, politics ought to elevate those who
seek to solve its problems, and give dig
nifty and scope and grasp to the intellect
ral faculties, for it deals with questions
OF the most vital Importance. The study
OF politics takes rank with any Of the
" learned professions = law, medicine
and theology-and the fundamental prin-
ciples should be taught in all the schools
in the land, and might, with marked pro-
priety, take the place Of studies of vastly
less Importance.
A writer in the New York Times says:
A very distinguished man-perhaps the most
distinguished American in public life-made this
remark to me few days ago. IF our people
could only be got ont of the groove OF pol
| tiles. and would turn their minds to commerce.
we should have era in this country Poll
ties" he added, have depressed everything"
1t is quite polite that ''our people
should get out Of the marrow groove" Of
politics, and that politics should be made
to signify something else than securing
office by fair means or foul, which, by the
way, is not politics at all, whatever else it
may be. 1t SO happens that the ''science
of government" has to deal with finances
and commerce as we'll as taxation, armies
and naylcs, and in the near future these
subjects are to be forced upon the atten-
ton of the people with more than usual
emphasis. 1t has been shown that ''Great
Britain, 10y taxing only nine articles, and
placing all others on the free list, re-
ceived revenue of f20,903,S5z in 1874,
say SlO4 800, 900, Of which almost all was
counted net; while the United States,
with nearly 5000 articles, only 1927 900
GOO is expected up to June, Of which SO
600, 900 were used up by custom house
expenses"
This f2O903,S57 was raised as follows:
f7,O46,937 in cigars and tobacco, &C.
sos ,2O5 in brandy and wines, E3,4l7 $50
in coffee and tea, t3,2o3,O5l in sugars
and molasses, t4SO,63S in dry fruits, cur
rents, etc, and f207,747 in trihes 1t
occurs to us that in the science of COY
eminent there is much in the above tig-
ures worthy Of careful study, and that it
is a branch Of politics woefully neglected
in the United States In fact it will oc-
cur to a good many people that Morton
could protitably lay aside his bloody shilt
and southern hates and address himself
to the consideration Of more important
subjects, with real benefit to his own
reputation us well as profit to the coun-
try. 1t is generally understood that Great
Britain is now doing the greater part of
the carrying trade of the world and that
she is also building the ships for all mara
time countries. This subject has been
mooted time and again, but SO far poll
ties, in that large and broad sense which
lnsures and secures benefits to the indus
tries of the country, has not been applied
The marrow, instead of the broad groove,
has been preferred, and hence politics
have been brought into disrepute. Poll
ties suggested the building of the Suez
canal extended civilization and the ne
cessltles resulting thcrefrom. The growth
of commerce, as also the better protection
of distant colonies, now makes the Suez
canal an important factor in the politics
OF Europe. In this connection it may be
remarked that !; canal across Central
Il II e
portance to the future welfare of the
United States than was the Suez canal to
European interests. With the Central
American canal constructed, we control
absolutely the commerce of the South
American states bordering upon the Pa
citic. OF these the commerce of Chill is
set down at $70O0O,OOO, of which the
United States now obtains about $780,
600 annually, and the remainder goes to
France, England and Germany. This
trade can be directed to American ports,
but it will require on the part of the
United States prudent legislation and
broader comprehension of the situation
than has hitherto been exhibited. We do
not intimate that the United States shall
build the Central American canal, but it
may take such an interest in the enter
prise as will insure its construction, and
thereby solve some of the most important
commercial problems of the times. 4
writer, i'll speaking Of the Suez canal,
says:
The Suez canal cost about S9i 100000 gold 1t
is 90 miles long, and two narrow to let two large
vessels pass without switchings and sdings Yet
it has passed vessels of nearly 20 feet draft and i3O
feet long. The first year it was opened to general
trade, 1870, only 49l vessels went through repre-
senting tonnage of about 4S7 900. But in 1873
it passed ,496 vessels, IS per cent of which were
British and the tonnage had risen to nearly 5000
600. The canals receipts amounted in the last
year named, to s5,7777 ,260 gold, and for 1876
nearer S6,000,0O0 at the rate Of increase. John