The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1877-04-18
Hce-Seelklng and RensiOnfng
Dead Beats.
he Rditor Of the hforristown Gazette:
"--------7s--- Oaln stI7EH L1lnRs
And overcDgae as like n aammeri
Without our speclal wonder q


Without our Special Wonderf"
To the Editor of the hIorristown Gazette:
Oflce-seeking has become branch of
our everyday business, as much as keep
ing school, measuring tape. for farming.
In former times, men took to politics to
give zest to a life already replete with
pecuniarY indulgences, as those in the
'isere and yellow Leaf take to religion
as solaeing comfort against things that
are past. and to pave the way TO a very
desirable futurity. But now, politicians
are of no peculiar class or condition of
citizens, whose success depends on
brains, patriotism, or integrity, but upon
the principle of confidence, cheek and
bravado. If man doubts the fact, let
him look around him. Who fill ma
jority of our legislative and Congression-
al offices Why is it that dacyers are
particularly felicitous in running for, Sc
curing, and usurping most of all the i'm
portant offices under government? Be-
| cause, gas, lungs, India-rubber lungs and
everlasting impudence are the winning
cards A man might as well try to take
| a s'nip1 with the imam in the moon, or
to bale the Mississippi dry with a tea
spoon, as to hope for seat in Congress,
| merely upon the possession of patriotic
principles, ability, or refined integrity.
Yes, or to convince old bowling Wendell
Phillips, with all his Puritanical horde,
that their ideas of government were not
inspired by the Almighty, and are not
| the true principles of human happiness.
The Federal slate for these sublunary
precincts has been smashed. Consterna-
ton, bowling and crashing of teeth, are
to be seen and heard in the camp OF the
faithful. Since the recent fall OF STa0ac,
the thermometer has fallen; in fact, it
is down to zero. The spectacle is sor-
rowing to beholdi Our people win soon
learn a principle, that the offices do not
constitute the government, notwith-
standing the teachings of Grantism. A
majority of the people care very little
what party the ofice-holders belong to-
so long as they are honest and capable.
Office-holders are servants of the sOver-
eign people; but Grantism has inculca-
ted the idea that the government belongs
to the ''ins,' and who, with but few in
stances, act with disgusting insolence.
hope soon to see the long talked of re-
form in civil service. Hereafter the
Country will be more exacting. The
season of office brokers, of cliques and
rings, should end. No broken down
citizen, or dead-beat, who has failed,
miserably, in all his undertakings, should
be pensioned by the government, just
because he is what is popularity called ga
good fellow" or because he is an object
of pity and sympathy. No man has
any such claims on the government, or
for political preferment on the people.
The government, municipal, State and
National, needs and demands the ser
vices of its best material and for which
it pays the highest price. There is too
great disposition among the people
to attend to other peoples business.
Whenever a man fails in all the ven
lures of life, his last resort is to teach
a free school or be pensioned on the
Government. Human nature has great
many weak points, and no few bipeds
have great itching after notoriety and
fame. Fame is not unlike CREASED pig,
always hard chased, but too slippery for
everybody to hold on to. Observe the
grand dashes made by cords of folks, from
snob to mob, patrician to plebeian, in
their gyrations to form circle, in which
they might be the centre pin! This de
sire or feeling, is a part and parcel of
human nature; you will observe it every
where.
The order of things, as arranged by
our ex-judge, was destined to turn out
many holder of fat office, many pat
riot overlooking with patriotism, and
turn in class, whose devotion to the
cause of party was manifest by the dirty
work and bulldozing engaged in during
the canvass. Gentlemen, get Wendell
Phillips to do your cussing; he can do it
SO artistically. His grandfather learned
the first rudiments of scientific cuss-
words while engaged in stealing niggers
in Africa and shipping them to America.
For one time the man who knows pref
ty near everything has been beaten.
However, some folks are easily gloritied.
| once heard of man who became so
elated because he was elected corporal in
the militia, that he went home, wollop-
ed the children and put silver plate on
his door, And another was so overjoyed
the first time he saw his name in the
list of letters advertised in the post
office, that he called his friends together
and put them through on oysters and
champagne.
1 have never cared tinker's curse for
glory myself; the satisfaction of getting |
quietly along, while in pursuit of bread, |
comfort and knowledge, has sufficed to
engross my individual attention. new
err sought distinction, but have had it |
thrust upon me more than once, and the |
last effort of the kind was SO particularly |
striking that must relate it to you, conf |
dentially, of course. In passing through |
the cars, an old gray-haired, specialized |
gentleman poked out his hand and said, |
GLOW are you, Mr.. GibbsY' Hobbs, |
did you say9" I answered, thinking he
was going to charge me with dishonor-
ing the Democratic party, and swindling
the State, "Aint you the Secretary of
State, Mr.. Gibbs?" That mistake was
glory enough for MEEKER.
Something Beautiful,