The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-09-27

and amateurs may study, practice and per-
feet themselves In all the arts Of which they
profess to be amateurs and proficients. But
they must not, even to direct and discipline
or complete their dramatis persOnH, secure
the services Of any OF the experts or profess
SIGNALS In the political drama.
Though such profession Is not recognized
one, the term OF professional politicians ap-
plies to large class. which has always ex-
listed In all political communities, to wit:
those who take pleasure, pride and perhaps
profit, in canyassing the votes OF the people,
In making combinations, In agitating, Gre
ating, and working to advance their own or
the interests Of their friends In respect to
public offices and honors. and In giving even
undue proportion Of their time, labor and
talents to supply the lack OF such patriotic
devotion ard self-sacrifice on the part OF the
great majority Of their fellow citizens, who
decline even to appear IS amateurs In such
| character.
These are the professional politicians, SO
much reprobated by the Pcdpause To them
| must be added all who ever having held office
seek to retain the same or to rise still higher !;
all who have had experience in office, In gov
eminent, In political affairs. What right has
q man to embark In the sphere through
which oil the great statesmen, politicians,
ministers, rulers and legislators have had to
paste tread the devious paths and breast
| the dangers, trials and vicissltudes Of polit-
ioal contest, to accustom themselves to all
the habits and ideas OF the people In their po-
litical thinking and acting2 Have not oil
our great men had to serve this probationf
/ Who have been your great Presidents, your
Senators, your political chiefs, but those who
have passed this political curriculum? "AhV'
quoth the sentimental Dame on Camp street
these great men were great at the start
Inherently great; they would have worked
their way to distinction and renOWn without
any skill In or knowledge OF political methods
and practices"
We have read Of no such instances In oul
history.
1t is true, we have elected Presidents whe
boosted, or their frients did, that they were
not politicians. They had brief terms OF ser
, vice and life. They were soon deyoured, lik'
Actnon, by their own dogs Of politicians, Q
} which they kept near them larger kennels
| than their predecessors who were their owl
| politicians, who ran their "own machines'
Why dwell, on such arrant nonsense rs Till
: idea OF having perpetual game and excite
J ment OF politics, Of constant elections, uni
i versal suffrage, OF conflicts and rivalries
i aspirants, and avoiding the creation OF clas
OF politicians such as the Hcayune describes
o There will always be such class In ever,
! com munity where the elective system exist
: and offices are open to the ambition, energ.
j | and experience OF political methods
: This class, however, will diminish when tn
8 Picavnne shall succeed in arraying sufficient
i ~ large force of Its amateurs to fill the plac
OF the professionals from the ranks OF its vas
/ majority OF easy-going patriots, who yaun
) their Indifference inexperience and ute
+ ignorance Of politics and politicians. Unit
Q the PIC succeeds In arousing the people to
sufficient interest In their political affairs T.
! enable them to dispense with the services Q
/ those whom 1t describes as professionals, 1t
t lectures will produce upon the popular min'
i no other conviction than that so vigorousl.
t expressed by that ilustrious warrior Hanni
6 bal, after listening to the lecture OF the Romal
e doctor on the art Of war, for which SEQ Plu
g tarehs Life OF Hannibal.