Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1878-08-29
The Science Of Government.

government Is science, and one OF the
| most abstruse. Statesmanship involves
great qualities, well developed. 1t is COM
/ paratively easy to become a lawyer, q
! preacher. a physician, q machDist, a car
penter, or q mason; or even u geologist,
an astronomer or biologist. A statesman
needs all talents. He deals with men. with
laws, with institutions. The problems set
before him In . free country like ours Is
how to secure the greatest good for the
greatest number; how to enable all to
work together nnder general laws for ma
tional prosperity and happiness. In our
complex civilization many questions Of po-
litical economy arise, upon which the best
OF men differ. Shall We have protection or
free trade? Shall the Government provide
the currency, or the banks? Shall we en-
courage commerce by subsidies7 How
shall we secure faithful service and divide
responsibility? Shall We shu. out foreign
ers or welcome them? II We receive them.
on what terms1 Shall we carry on great
systems Of public improvement, or leave
all to private enterprise? How shall cor
poratiOns be treated, especially the great
railroad corporations which control trans
portationS These are all serious aud diff
cult questions In the science OF govern
ment, and success depends upon answering
them wisely. The country is strong enough
has resources enough to survive many
blunders; but the mistakes We make tell on
the workingmen more than any body else.
Wise, free government gives all fair
chance. IS far as possible, in the race Of
life. Bad government gives to him who
has an advantage greater advantage. II
helps TO make the rich richer and the poor
poorer. \ dishonest currency or heavy
taxation cheats the workingmen and the
honest producer, but they favor the spec
ulator From the foregoing 1t will be seen
that our great duty in politics is u select
honest and intelligent men to make our laws
aud fix our policy. Iii not horny hands"
tha: are required, but clear, level heads
and honest hearts. Would a legislature or
a congress composed of "horny handed
sons of TOLL be wiser, braver, more en-
lightened or more incorruptible than one
composed Of men selected for knowledge
and honesty? And how long would they
continue to be "workingmen' after they
became statesmen an1 politicians, Would
their virtue depart as soon rs their hands
ceased 10 be "horny1" We have been
fortunate in this country in having some
able statesmen who have deserved and en-
joyed the confidence OF the people. In the
gray dawn OF the republic there were men
OF great organizing power-clear-eyed
honest, hard-headed, brave, wise men.
They prudcntly steered clear Of reefs on
either side. They limited the Government
snd still preserved order. They saved the
true and good and destroyed the false and
evil. Did they do 1t any worse because
they we're not "workingmen Franklin
was a wotkingman but a workingman ac-
cordiEg to the American idea. who by in-
dustry. temperance and prudence became
a capitalist and an employer Of others.
Washington was not what would be called
to-day ''workingman." Neither was
Madison, Adams, Jefferson, Hamilton, Jay,
Morris or Hancock. Yet they did their
wor. well and were trusted, and what they
did was In the interest Of workingmen.
Frankn and sherman did not stand ln
this company because they had hard bands,
but because they had sound heads. Dan
iel Webster WAS the son or a workingman,
but his father used to say he sent lin TO
college because he was good for nothing
else. Yet there are some who think Dan
iel Webster was greater Statesman than
Dennis kearney. Charles Sumner was
not a workingman. He was q scholar and
perhaps never had a callous on his white
hand. Yet he ennobled labor by his lifc's
work. Henry Wilson was "worhingman'
10 his early days, and be worked hard to
educate himself that he might be fitted for
public servN. He came to be 4 states
man in time, broadening aud increasing
his Intelligence constantly, but his best
friends always felt that he suffered in com
pari.on with his compeers because he
lacked edu cation ia his youth. John A.
Andrew was only = "worhingman," iuas-
much ss be worked his way through COL
lege, but who among the Labor Reform
ers" Of the day is a better lr lend OF the
workiugman than was that great-hearted,
leve-headed statesman? II IS needless to
extend the list. The science of govern
mcnt is complex and difficult II is not
"workingmen' or capitalists We want in
legislative halls. but honest, brave, wise
men. No man can 10 ahead Of US In de
precating the purchase of Office by rich
men. Let the workiusm.n put that down.
That Is in their power. But 10 praise and
vote for a man because he is 4 ,o0rkingDsaR
or 10 denounce and vote against man be-
cause he is a capitalist. Is the most drivel-
Ing idocy ever recommended to the citi
z-ns OF a free country.-B ost0H Herald.