Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1882-05-17
How TO Succeed in Public Life.

huh w cuNNUCu III uDllO IIit.
Rev. LYMAN ABBOTT, Dear Sir:-Yours
of the 18th was duly received, but the
press of my public occupations has pre-.
vented my attending to the matter until
now. enclose replies to the questions
you suggest.
!. Ought young man TO plan for him.
self political career, or ought in America,
no man to enter politics except as he is
drawn or driven into them by circumstan-
ces?
l think q young man ought not 10 plan
for himself such career, in the sense of
making it an object of his life to hold
The true and safe theory of republican
goveroment is that no one has right to
be elected or appointed 10 office, but that
the whole body Of the community has a
right to select and choose those citizens
for office whom they think to be the best,
or the best attainable. And the same
principle holds good in cases in which the
appointing power is lodged in the hands
of a governor, head of department, or
president. Every man, young and old,
onght to be politician in the best sense
of the term; that is, one who is taught in
the science of government, and who is
familiar with that branch of ethics which
relates to the practical creation and eNecu-
ton of laws to the greatest advantage of
the whole mass of the people, with due
regard always TO the rights Of mnorites
and individuals. But he who makes it his
mission in life to be the one to be chosen
to make or execute the laws is necessarily
either a constant onice-seeker or Office
holder, OF both; and he becomes, in most
instances Justly liable to the suspicion that
he is inspired by solfishness and not by
patriotism. In such case, even if it be that
it is country first and himself last that
he wishes 10 serve, his usefulncs is great.
ly impaired; for confidence in our rulers
is no small clement in good and success,
full government.
a young mans object should therefore
be, think, to pursue n private calling,
and with that to cultivate the largest pos.
sible acquaintance with public affairs and
the principles on which they should be
conducted; to always participate in cleo.
tons, and to leave public donors and re-
sponsibitics to seek him, and not he
them.
,. What kind of preparation may "a
man mako for 4 political career; what
line of studies should he pursue; and what
is likely TO be the practical value of tho 60
called schools Of political philosophy?
If he is not TO be what we have already
spoken of as undesirablc-a life long office
seeIlcr--a young man would not of course
make any special preparation for polit-
ioal career. Tho same studies that would
make him best fitted to discharge his
political duties as Il private citizen, and
best fit him to prosecute and protect his
private business and other private rights,
would. in general, be most useful for him
should he be called to assist in admins.
terlng the government.
Besides tho simple scholarly attachments
almost indispensable to the carrying on of
ANY business, an accurate knowledge of the
history and constitution Of his own state
and of the United States, of the laws Of
civilized countries on the subjects Of cdu.
cation, crime and punishment, taxation,
marriage and divorce, paupersm and other
subjects of social science, and of the broad
principles and application of what is
called public law, would cover the largest
part of the subjects with which he would
have to deal as legislator or an admins
trativc officer. 1t hardly ncod he said that,
if no were TO be called to a judicial sta
ton, special and exhaustive study of the
law in detail, together with n knowledge
Of its actual practice, would be indispans
able. The so'called schools of political
philosophy would, to mind not already
trained to logical and discriminating
thought and experience in the practical
working of affairs, be more likely in most
instances to mislead than to teach truly.
.. Is it possible for man, under ordi.
nary circumstances, TO succeed in political
life without manipulating caucauSes and
conventions and entering into political
bargaiusto secure political influence and to
control nominations and conventions?
This in regard to elective places, practi-
cally depends very much upon the condi.
tons of society in the particular commu-
nifty in which the voting power is TO make
the choice. If the majority Cor in case
of existing divisions OF parties,
a considerable portion) of the voting
power be ignorant, prciudiced or vicious.
the probability Of the selection OF tho filte>:
is naturally small, and the chance of ccc
ton Of any party or of no party is at the
minimum. Ignorance Of public affairs is
not Of itself SO great an evil as the others !;
for many honest ignorant persons are
quite wise enough to know that good gov
eminent is the best for them, and to know
that the best person TO ontrust with the
duty of securing good government are the
men whom they know to be Of high stand
ing for capacity and uprightncss. But II
community in which the people, or II
considerable number of them, are corrupt
is bad case indeed. The state or cily in
which tho controlling votes are for sale,
either for ready money or TO be paid for
with places or legislative Jobs is probably
worse for being under Il republican form
of government than if it were deprived of
self-government entirely. Fortunately,
such cases arc not frequent; but when
they exist it is not easy to come to an
office without using tho methods named
in your question, But even then, if The
honest citizens will persist, in spite of
party nominations, in voting against all
candidates believed to be bad men, the evil
| is likely to he cured in time. Parties aud
caucallsCs arc Indispensable meaus for
united effort AS well Tor good citizens as
bad ones; for success cannot he attained
without concentration Of tho power of
those who think alike as to measures or
men. But in tho greater number OF tho
states and communities OF this country
real and permanent success III political
| life docs not, think. require or admit
either manlpuations or bargains. Tho
| people OF republic CT No are to have
faith in the value of free Iustltutons) must
be supposed to prefer capacity, honor, can
dor and Independence In their public scrv
ants rather than intrigue and selfSeoking;
and, il SO. tho long run must prove here,
as in everything else. that honesty is the
best policy.
!. What is the function of the politician
or statesman in II free republic like that
of America In what sense is ho teacher,
10 what representative, and in what u
leader of public sentiment?