Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1881-02-04
0mce-seeking.

Otfice-Seeking
The hunger and thirst for Office, d
late years, has had n wondrous effect
upon the minds Of great number d
persons, and the dear people are con.
tinually harassed by those who are anx.
ious to serve their country in fat of.
fee, where there is little or nothing tc
do. Men are not content, as in former
years, to pursue the business occupations
of agriculture, t,ade, mechanic arts, OF
the profession, either of which il at
tended to with proper diligence and pru-
dence would afford u competency Tor
themselves and families. To hold an
office has really become an intatuation
that absorbs all the thoughts of some
people. even to the neglect of their legiti-
mate business, and whether qualified or
deserving, they without the least mod
esty, put themselves forward and most
urgently press their imaginary claims
upon the people with all the persuasive
power they possess and every concoited
idea of the mind is brought to bear to
win the hearts Of those they angle for.
Courteous and cautious they are all
things to all men and full of promises.
Their syren voices and smiling faces
and friendly grasp of the hand, are, in
deed, very captivating and almost ire
sistible, and before the unthinking and
guileless voter knows what he is about,
he has pledgel himself to dozen or
more candidates. There are various
ways and methods by which men are
enlisted in the cause of certain candi-
dates, and who at once become their
most vehement trumpet blowers, and
woe to those who dare oppose. Each
candidate for public favor thinks he has
the better claim upon the party and
cannot brook opposition from any quar-
ter, and thinks every body must agree
with him in his high opinion Of himself,
otherwise he imagines you are his per-
sonal enemy, and his contracted and self
ish mind puts mark upon you for fu-
ture occasion.
The possession of an office is not, un-
less very lucrative one, any advantage
to the possessor, particularly where they
are of uncertain tenure as most offices
now are. Tho man who once gets n
taste of the sweets of Office, seldom after
rises from the slothfulness which it
naturally engenders, and ever after be-
comes chronic ofiice-seeker He is
like fish out of water and as anxious to
get back to the stream of ease and
plenty which affords livelihood with
out extracting the sweat from the face or
taxing the mind.
The man who has not the industry or
capacity to attend properly to his own
business is not apt to be fit person to
manage the affairs of others in salts
factory manner, and, therefore, ought
not to be chosen for a public position of
any responsibility. No party is ;usti6a-
BILE in selecting unworthy and incompc-
tent men for Office when there are so
many to be selected from who are in
every respect worthy and capable To
effect such desirable object, it needs
but that the masses of the party have
free participation in its councils aud their
rightful voice in its management, and be
not controlled by any clique or the die
tation Of any bosses. It is seldom the
people err, if left to express their free
will, and are not influenced or hum
plugged by wirepullers for their own sell
fsh ends.
1t is true, tho Offices created by the
laws and constitution must be filled, and
few are proof against the sweet seducing
charms Of office, but they ought to be
occupied by those who are known to be
capable and honest" two essential
qualifications, and such meritorious men
can at all times be found in any commu-
nifty, IL the people are left to choose for
themselves, and their wishes are not
frustrated by well-laid schemes of adroit
politicians.