Weekly graphic. [volume] (Kirksville, Adair Co., Missouri) 1880-1949, 1880-11-06
Responsibility Vf Public Men.

By fuDIS UiSll VIC mSIH tNOSC VIII
belong to some oac of the learned pro-
fessions, as ministers, teachers, editors,
physicians and lawyers, also those who
have been elected to positions of po-
litical power, 70 fill offices Of trust and
profit. The individual members OF
both these classes hold positions OF
such influence in the community, that
they onght to be model men in all the
relations of life. The moral tone and
social order will not be better than the
average influence ofthese prominent
and sample citizens. How necessary,
therefore, that their conversation be
chaste, every act sincerely honest and
transparent, and the whole bearing
dignified and courteous toward all
even the poorest and most unfortunate
Usually sharp competition in the pro.
fessions tends to sift out the quack in
medicine, the petifogger in legal prac-
tice, and the ignorant, conceited char
latan in each Of the teaching profess
sions Also because of this competi.
ton any specially immoral course is
detected, exposed, and the guilty par.
ty becomes warning to others. Blu,
such has been the almost despotic
power ofpolitical parties, especially Of
the democratic party, in this republic
that if one succeeded IN getting the
nomination, no incompetency, nc
want of social purity, or business in,
tegrity has prevented an election; moi
that the people are dishonest, but such
has been the course of political mana.
gers and partisan papers that few re-
orts are believed. Here, then, the
responsibilities begins with those who
are called by caucuses and conven.
tions to manage party canvass. A
move in the right direction
was made by the National
Republican Committee when Phillips
was arrested and tried for libel. an act
called by democratic party henchmen
a practical joke. But we wish to
speak more especially Of those chosen
to Office by the suffrages of the peo.
pie. They are chosen by small ma
jority usually, to represent the party
view of the methods of administration
and so far are ameEable to their party
for their course in Office. But they
are to represent constitutional princl-
pies Of government not affected in the
abstract by change Of parties, They
are to be conservators of t'e spirit,
customs, memories and institutions
that are the animating soul of our
body polite. They ought to rise above
the narrow prejudices and corrupting
influence of an overstrained party
zeal, remembering that the few who
constituted tn ir election majority
were with difficulty brought to the
view they finally sustained with their
vote. Every man elected is therefore
under much stronger obligation to the
whole body polite than to the party
electing him to Office. The body po-
litic is to be served faithfully, the par
ty electing merely how it is to be done
as they believe most efficiently.
As apublc servant he is responsible
for every act and word that is evil in
its influence upon society. He is
bound to always set an example of the
best manners and purest morals of the
people he represents. Profanity, bet
ting, the coarse swagger of the loafer,
dram drinking, are alike under the ban
of the majority of the people. They
are indications of corrupt moral con-
dition that amounts to the advertise
ment, "for SALE
We rejoice that we can point with
pride to the men nominated and elect
ed by the republicans of this county,
and our only regret is that we did not
secure the election of so pure and
able man and republican as H. F.
MILAN to preside in the courts of this
judicial district.
If any candidates hereafter wishes to
secure his election and run ahead of
his ticket let HIM first secure the oppo-
sition of the Democrat.
The republicans did splendidly in tbe