The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1878-09-05
COURAGE IN POLITICS.


The lack of boldness which latter-day
politicians display in Congress and out OF
Congress, is beginning to be one OF the
most serious evils the American people
are compelled to encounter when they
attempt to select men for high positions
of public trust. There is scarCelyan EN-
inent statesman Of the present day who
will venture to express his views on any
of the mooted questions agitating the
country, preferring to be non committal
and ambiguous rather than risk his popu-
larity. Ifa bill is introduced in the leg
isature, the author invariably apologies
for having new idea by promising it
with long preamble or a dozen where
ases. Should an important measure,
embodying sound but unpopular princtl-
ples. come up for final consideration, the
statesman, who prides himself on polit'
ical sagacity, absents himself, and fails to
be present to cast his vote for or against
the proposition. A machine politician,
when interviewed concerning some new
question, carefully lodges the issue, thinks
it will become important in the future,
but has no views to advance, as other
topics deserve his exclusive attention.
The tariff and financial questions are the
all.absorbing topics in the United States
to-day, yet how many members OF Coh-
gress are willing to put themselves clear
ly and unequivoCally upon the record as
hard-money or soft-money men, as pro-
tectionists or free.traders. The influence
of a moneyed manufacturing interest on
the one hand, and the power of national
banks on the other, serve to intimidate
political aspirants. Men will declare
themselves in favor of unrestricted free
trade, but when asked whether they are
in favor of abolishing the tariff on pro
ducts of manufacture, they reply that
the country has not reached the time
when such policy would operate bene-
hcially. They display considerable en-,
thusiasm in defending honest money, but
are as mute as oysters when called upon
to discuss the present system OF national
banking. This timidity was conspicu'
ously displayed by few members OF the
last House of Representatives, who fall
ed purposely to be present when the
vote creating the Investigating commit
tee was taken. But few of those point
ical towards have been renominated by
the Democrats for Congress, while Alex
ander H. Stephens, although he bitterly
opposed the measure, will probably be
restored to his seat next fall. Men may
think that by sacrificing their indepen'
dence they increase their chances for ad
vancement, but history proves that idea
to be erroneous. What the people o.
the United States admire in their repre-
sentatives is that bold and fearless man
ner which all genuine statesmen possess
These are critical times-times that try
mems souls, and times in which only
the courageous can conquer. If we can
not elect men to Congress who can make
its halls resound with eloquence equal tt
Patrick Henry's, let us select warriors
for the arena of 1879 and 1880, endowed
with the courage Of Clay or Webster
There are men in the country who viii
never seek a political position, and whC
have faculties which no machine polite
ian can ever possess. They would rep
resent their constituents, and if CalleC
into the field, would bring about re
form. The Democratic candidate in tn
third district, Mr.. Macmahon, is one o
this number, and deserves not only tn
support of all men who admire sagaCit.
and courage, but is entitled to thei
hearty support at the coming election
Butler Co. Democrat.