The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1879-10-25
PROFESSIONAL POLITICIANS.
Some Ripe Remarks by PARKWAY
Exchange.
New Orleans Picayune.l

If any political philosopher of Louisi.
ana should undertake to write treatise
upon "the cause and cure of professional
politicians" he would not find it neces-
sary to go beyond the boundery lines
of his own State to obtain an abundant
illustration of his theme. We may say,
indeed, that Louisiana has been the hot
bed, the nursery, the harem and the
home of the particular species Of the ge-
nus homo under consideration.
Notwithstanding the fact that the
State was we'll supplied, not to say over
stocked, by its native growth of that Pc
culiar staple, We have for many years re-
ceived heavy importations in the same
line from four quarters of the habitable
globe. The commonwealth has been in
tested by cultured philanthropists
from New England until it has become
little more than common poverty. 1t
has been compromised out of all recogni-
ton of itself by broad, liberal cosmo-
politan zen of genius from the Middle
States. 1t has constructed ideal roads to
ruin, and taken short and easy lessons in
bankruptcy, under the inspiration of
powerful minds from the far and farther
West.
Our education under these influences
is admirably epitomized in the brief his
tory of young merchant who went in
to business with partner who furnished
the experience, while he himself furnish
ed the money. At the end of a year a
slight change had taken place in their
relations; our friend had the experience
and his partner had the money. The
bearing of this anecdote, as Capt Cutie
would have said, ''lies in the applica-
ton"
So intimate is the acquaintance of our
public with the dark ways and vain
tricks of the professional politician that
we need hardly define him. lie is man
who lives by office and for office. He
runs for office when he is out, and he
holds on to Office when he is in. Some
times he is a candidate, and sometimes
he is an holder; but be is always
either one or the other, and frequently
he is both. He belongs to no party; but,
as rule, all parties belong to him. His
accomplishments are as various, and his
methods are as mutifarious as his neces-
sites are numerous. He can draw up a
Democratic or Republican platform, a
hard money or a soft money manifesto,
With as much ease and precision as he
can stuff ballot-boX or repeat bogus
vote. He can adapt himself to any stu
alton, and has no objection to living in
the country when he cannot find a place
in the city. If he cannot dwell within
the tent he is willing to be door-keeper.
He is too liberal, too versatile and too
progressive, of course, to have any fixed
principles He goes in on the ground
swell and ebbs back with the tidal wave.
1t is one of his favorite maxlms that only
fools are consistent; but when occasion
ally he finds himself cleft" so to speak,
high and dry on the s(ingly beach, he
pulls long face, and says he would rath-
er be right than to be presldent-for
this man INDUCES in sentiment when he
is not otherwise employed.
If there is one feeling more deeply
seated than any other in the professional
politicians breast, it is his boundlcss
contempt for the unprofessional polit-
clan. He thinks duck with an unlbre-
la, or hog with side-pockets, a far Less
incongruous and ill-conditioned creature
than an average man of business by
some popular fatuity forced into office.
1t is the contempt which the steck-actor
has for amateurs or which the old salt
has for land-lubber.
You may imagine yourself, if you
, please, the political, social intellectual
and moral equal of your ward club; but
, just go into that assembly of notables
and undertake the role of an active par.
ticipant, and you will very soon be made
to feel that you are an impertinent in
truder. You see you are an unprotes-
sional, an outsider and muff, generally
You are expected to stay at home and at
tend to your own business, which is tt
: subscribe to the campaign funds and
. vote the straight ticket. If you have
any other mission in life, or excuse fol
existence, the professional politician, fol
. his part, fails to see it,.
We need not argue that this is a mos
. preposterous state Of affairs. You writht
under it, good easy man; but the ques
ton is, what are you going to DO about
it7 Get up and denomce the profes
sional politicians, and tomorrow som'
ring-organ will reply that you are trying
to discourage the discussion of public
! questions, and will remind you that eter
-: nal vigilance is the price of liberty. De
clare yourself against ward-bummers
= wire-workers, shoulder-hittes, and al
that ilk, and you will be held up to th'
e scorn of your fellow-citizens as bloatet
D aristocrat ready to grind and oppress TIN
t poor and unfortunate. Oppose candi
e date who has been chronic Office seek
/ er all his life, and whose supporters ar
S for the same class, and you will be toll
e that he is man of experience, that he i
e a tried public servant, and that for hav
e ing held 80 many offices he ought to b
l. rewarded with more Offices. Propose il
e opposition a man who has exposed hi
life for his people and sealed his devotion
d with his blood, and some smart journal
e ist will sneeringly remark that he is